Guaging your Salt level in your tank

Hi Fellow Aquarist,

I have read that your temperature in your tank should be between 73 - 80 degress is that correct? Also I read that when your reading salt levels in your water, and if your temp is over 80 degress that you should add .020 to your reading.

For example if your hydrometer reads 1.019 your suppose to add 0.20 to your reading, so it's actually 1.021 instead, is that true? if not what's the proper way to read your salt level using a hydrometer, thanks any help is always appreciated.

Tyslin

 

Try and find an automatic temperature compensating (ATC) refractometer and you won't have to worry about it. If yours isn't one then I am sure the proper instructions are included in the case.

 

Thanks for the infor on the refractometer Justphish, but you didn't answer my question. Do you have any info on my questions?

 

Regarding spacific Gravity(SG), water tends to become less dense as the temperature goes up. The SG. usually goes down by .0002-.0004 for every 2degree increase in temperature according to Moe's conversion chart(1989) found on page 161 of Reef Aquarium vol.3 by Delbeek and Sprung!
As for the temperature of your tank, it is better to have your tank water at a lower temp than high!!! You avoid corals and fish releasing gametes into your water polluting your tank among other things. Also, DO(dissolved oxygen) become less if the temperature of your water increases, possibly leading to suffocation.
The thermal tolerance for corals is roughly 82-87 degrees, however again it is better to be lower than that gradient than higher.
The main thing to strive for is the stability of your water temperature. That is more important than anything else, ie, alkalinity or pH swings. Your tanks inhabitants will thrive in a temperature range between 72-78 degrees with a fluxuation of a couple degrees either way won't be much of a problem IMO based on readings and also my tanks respondings.

 

Hey Coral can you give me an example with numbers based on your statement below thanks Dude.

The SG. usually goes down by .0002-.0004 for every 2degree increase in temperature

 

Table III
Approximate salinity, in parts per thousand, for the hydrometer reading at the indicated temperature
Temperature Specific Gravity

Here's the tables which demonstrate this issue. For instance, at 76 degrees and 1.025 SG, you are at 35ppt salinity.

F C 1.020 .021 .022 .023 .024 .025 .026 .027

74.0 23.3 28.0 29.3 30.6 31.9 33.3 34.6 35.9 37.2
75.0 23.9 28.2 29.5 30.8 32.1 33.5 34.8 36.1 37.4
76.0 24.4 28.4 29.7 31.0 32.3 33.7 35.0 36.3 37.6
77.0 25.0 28.6 29.9 31.2 32.5 33.9 35.2 36.5 37.8
78.0 25.6 28.8 30.1 31.4 32.7 34.1 35.4 36.7 38.0
79.0 26.1 29.0 30.3 31.6 32.9 34.3 35.6 36.9 38.2
80.0 26.7 29.2 30.5 31.8 33.2 34.5 35.8 37.1 38.5
81.0 27.2 29.4 30.7 32.0 33.4 34.7 36.0 37.4 38.7
82.0 27.8 29.6 30.9 32.3 33.6 34.9 36.3 37.6 38.9
83.0 28.3 29.8 31.2 32.5 33.8 35.2 36.5 37.8 39.2
84.0 28.9 30.1 31.4 32.7 34.1 35.4 36.7 38.1 39.4
85.0 29.4 30.3 31.6 33.0 34.3 35.6 36.9 38.3 39.6
86.0 30.0 30.5 31.8 33.2 34.5 35.8 37.2 38.5 39.8
87.0 30.6 30.8 32.1 33.4 34.8 36.1 37.4 38.8 40.1

However, this is the easy way to do it. Even most elcheapo hydrometers adjust for temperature automatically.

 

Randy Holmes-Farley - Chemistry In The Aquarium
Randy Holmes-Farley is more of a professional than I am. Hoefully this will make it easier for you though it is rather complex!!
The chart By Moe I can't find online!!!! SORRY!

 

Hey Guys is it true that bacteria will thrive in high temps? If not then what temp does bacteria thrive? Thanks Coral and Inwall75

 

Bacteria will thrive under many temperature fluxuations! However, you have to be careful as I have pointed out in other threadswith higher than normal temperatures(82-87 degrees)! With higher temperatures, you run the risk of two main drawbacks!!!
One: High temperatures increase the demand for oxygen, while the solubility of oxygen is decreasing. You can alter this outcome by increasing/ exposing as much of the air/water interface that you can which adds beneficial oxygen to your water to avoid suffocation by fish especially. The higher the temperature of your water the less Dissolved oxygen your water can hold! Natural thermal tolerance for corals is 82-87 degrees! Also, you have to try to keep your temperature as constant as possible and avoid more than 1-2 degrees of fluxuation for best results!
Two: With higher than normal temps, you run the risk of corals, Tridacna's and fish possibly releasing gametes into your water creating a polluted environment, increased carbon dioxide and skimmer failure due to the released gametes, leading to suffocation or tank wipeout in the most severe cases!!!
The most important thing is for you to increase the amount of aggitation at the top of your water column(air/water interface) to offer optimal dissolved oxygen and removal of excess carbon dioxide!!!

 

CR what is gametes?? I run my tank at 80, so im not to worried, but ive never heard of that term before.