possible tank crash

my friend decided to jump from a 40 to a 90. before switcing anything over i warned him if he moves all it may crash. I tested his water with a hydrometer. it tested 1.028 a lil high we all agree so i told him when mixing up the 90 take 15 gallons treat it with aqua clear but no salt to drop salinity.of course he had to add anothe 50 gallons of water we mixed up the other 35 gallons with salt this morning his tank was reading 1.015. I told him thats because the salt still hasn't all disolved. he was using the instant ocean salt mix.ok so heres the ?
1.by adding the 15 gallons non-salt drop it that low
2. how long does it take for that amount of salt to dissolve into a tank.
3. by using the old 40 and throwing in 50 new water will that cause a mini/full cycle?

 

First, is there anything in the tank, if so how is it doing?
The 15 gallon of non-salt water could have dropped it that low.

2. Usually with IO it dissolves pretty quickly, you may not have added enough.

3. The water has nothing to do with the cycle. (unless there is ammonia or nitrite in the water) If his old tank was up for a while, then there should be no problem.

 

crabs snails couple star polyps.. he used straight tap water.... I have done 5 gallon adds to my tank several times in a row without the use of salt. for instance it would read 1.025 and after the 3rd installment of freshwater no salt added it would read 1.022. he took everything and switched it imediatly. the tank was about 2 months in. but his was reading 1.028 before doing anything to it. i would think by addin 15 gallons of freshwater into mine it woulda droped like that as well even over a period of 2 weeks
IMO. i think the salt hasn't fully disolved yet. as u can take a dish set it in your tank put 1/2 cup salt in it and it will still have some there 2-3 days later even with circulation in the tank. i could b wrong i dont know that much bout it. but i know i have added 15 gallons in 2 weeks in my saltwater and only droped 2 points

 

If you're adding newly-mixed saltwater without making absolutely sure all the salt mix is dissolved, you're asking for trouble.

Part of the water change process is the mixing, then the addition, then the testing of the new salinity. If you're not allowing the salt to dissolve before adding, then there are several problems. First, you don't know the salinity of the water you're adding. Second, the addition will have salt grains in it, which can kill the delicate tissues of corals on contact. Lastly, you can't test the resultant tank water because of undissolved salts.

Please don't take this as a flame, because it's not. Your friend would be well advised to use a bit more caution when doing water changes or adjustments, or he's heading for problems.

 

as i told my friend this and later today i found out he added a additional 10lbs of salt to his tank.. i told him to give it time to let the salt disolve first.. al he has for current flow is a h.o.b filter and a small filter pump pushing water around. SAD PART IS i tried to tell him his salt was high in the begining and by addint the fresh water will drop it some but not that drastic.we set up the 90 yesterday and he sed his tank was still reading at 1.016.now he is blaming me for his tankcrash....although i did warn goin from 40- 90 with a 125% water change may cause problems.

 

i forgot thanx sparky and guitar man... i warned the possibilities of a crash and possible re-cycle but he chose not to heed my warning. as of late last nite the brittle star was ripping itself apart.

 

Omg

Tap water,,wow ...if any thing lives it will be amazing!

IMO it will takes days 2-3 in a trash can after mixing salt+conditioner. Please tell us he did that at least....did he add salt in to his tank just right in? "if yes" = bummer

OMG,
Mike

 

going from 40 to 90

Going for 40Gal to a 90Gal is not hard at all. even with all new water.

But "here's the thing"

You must have the salt water all ready be fore hand and tank all ready cycling.

Really it's like having 2 tanks going,,then you can take the rocks and change them,,and fish,,etc..this is after testing,and making sure there's bio in the tank before you change.

Just a after thought,
Mike

 

1.by adding the 15 gallons non-salt drop it that low Yes, it could possibly.
2. how long does it take for that amount of salt to dissolve into a tank.
That depends on way too many factors. More importantly you should NEVER EVER be mixing salt in-tank. Salt should mix with the water in a seperate container for around 24 hours before adding to a tank.
3. by using the old 40 and throwing in 50 new water will that cause a mini/full cycle?[/quote]
The water shouldn't. But, what did he did he do in regards of transferring rock, adding rock, and the sandbed?

 

unfortinately when i talk to him today he sed he added another 10lbs of salt.... so im guessin he dumped it straight in.... now when i was ther we mixed it in te water ....kinda went like this
1. 1/2 tsp tetra safe aquasafe.. suposed to make water instant for tanks
2. filled 5 gallon jug full water
3.he added the salt shook jug for bout 5 min. then dumped in tank.....

granted for freashwater tank i have used straight tap with no conditioner...
with a saltwater i wont take that chance for anyone hell i let him use my chemicals to help him out and his tank problems are being blamed on me.... LESSON LEARNED trust me on that... do what u feel is right for your tank... but if it comes to someone elses live n let live or die. by their hands.