raising salinity

[jcgigler]

How much salt do I add to top off water if I want to raise salinity? My salinity is 1.021.

 

[Kitty]

I would add the same as if you were doing a water change. It's always 1/2 cup to each gallon. That way, your salinity goes up, without your livestock going into shock.

Be sure to measure salinity after each time you add the water, though - until it reaches the salinity you would like to hae. (I keep mine at 1.025)

 

[jcgigler]

I am confused. Do you mean add i/2 cup per gallon of the top off water or the number of gallons in the tank?

 

[ss95003]

What do you usally make your water change water at? 1.021 - 1.025, whatever it is make your top off water that. over the next couple of days you will see a slight increase in salinity. when you get where you want to be, then go back to straight ro water.

 

[jcgigler]

okay, I get it.... I want correct salinity for corals which is higher right?

 

[Guest]

Yes, a s.g. of 1.025 is a good final target.

 

[Kitty]

Right! Sorry about that. However much water you are adding, add salt just as if it was a water change.

 

[Rick]

You just make up a batch of saltwater premixed that has a specific gravity of 1.025 if that is your target. Then as the water evaporates, instead of putting in plain water to replace it, you use the saltwater that you have made up.That will slowly raise the specific gravity. You just keep checking until you have reached the target level in the tank, then you just go back to replacing the evaporated water with plain ro/di. And then from now on mix your saltwater for water changes to the same level as your tank target level.