Salinity spike??

Hello All,
ive been having a huge problem with my salinity. I have a 65gal tank with LR and ATS. i live in a hot climate so the evaporation accounts for like 1/2g per day. my salinity is on average of 1.025 and this morning i woke up and it was up to 1.030!!!. i am very worried, i even bought a new hydrometer just to make sure that i didnt have faulty equipment. I use RO/DI water to fill the tank...ive had to exchange about 5g of water to get it back down to 1.026....a couple days on and its back up to 1.028....WTH???...i need some help of advice.

 

Hi,

I would first recommend you get a refractometer. it's worth every penny.

When the water spikes from 1.025 to 1.030, did you recently clean the aquarium? and was there any chance you swept off salt creep off the top of your aquarium or sump into your system?

but just as a point of thought, I'm almost 100% sure its a mis-reading on the hydrometer(s)

 

+1. I wouldn't trust a hydromemeter as far as I could toss it.
Another thing that often gets overlooked: Are you topping off with fresh or saltwater?

 

im topping off with Freshwater....so am i to assume that the two hydrometers are reading incorrectly??...then again its simple physics...if i dont put any salt in the system then how can it get more salty....

 

water evaporates not salt

 

How long are you allowing the salt to mix before adding it during water changes?

 

Oceanside? salty air? LOL, Do you use the same jugs for salt and fresh water. Maybe you dont mix salt fully and it settles on bottom and you add your fresh top off. Salt just dont appear out of thin air.

 

I get different readings depending on the temperature of the tank also. Is it possible that you temp has changed? Maybe its your temperature reading thats is off. Just a thought...

 

hmmm....some good idea guys, i will think of them. i have only done one water change since the tank has been up because my parameters has been good since. i dont wait till the water settles till i add...when i dont c anymore salt i just put it in the tank. other than that the tank is at a steady temp...i use a 1/10 chiller ($$$$$....so the average temp is at 79. the S has gone up now to 1.029. ...clowns look happy, zoos seem really cool...what do you suggest i do.?? replace freshwater till it goes down? or do i leave it?

 

I generally let my saltwater sit for several days before I add it to the tank so that it fully dissolves first (WRT a water change).



Make sure you are testing consistently. Same time of day and after you've topped the water off. If one test is before you top off and one is after, you'll see different readings.



For the hydrometer, be sure your thumping it to get the bubbles off the swing arm.


I also highly recommend the refractometer. So much easier and cleaner to use. More accurate to boot.