Specific Gravity::What SG level do you target and why??

I try and for the most part maintain my salinity at 1.026, natural sea water.

 

I'm the only 1.023 guy?

 

I try to keep mine at 1.025. never tried lower than 1.24

 

1.023 for 2 reasons,
1. My LFS keep their SG at this level, so anything that I purchase acclimates very well and quickly.
2. I have both corals and fish, this is a good middle point for my set up and everything is thriving, and fish have plenty of O2, and I don't have to do water changes very often, maybe 10% twice a month.

 

I used to keep it at 1.024-025. I experiemented with 1.026 and found my corals responded well. So I keep it there. 1.026-1.027 is my new range.

Anything below 1.025 and I am unable to maintain my target params for Ca/Alk/Mg. Which are, admittedly, on the high side.

If I need to lower it by one point I just wet skim until it's down. This usually takes a few days but that's fine. The extra skimming doesn't hurt.

If I want it down quicker, I siphon out about a half gallon (that does about 1 point with 55 gallons of volume (estimate)). While it's being siphoned, the ATO is making it back up instantly.

If I need to raise it, I top off with SW which happens to be at 1.026 bc I keep it on hand to match my DT.

It is rare I have to do this though since I have an ATO... the last time I did it was due to replacing rockwork and it was off less than one point.

 

Thanks for the great inputs. I'll write up a summary based on these inputs.

I happily spent the night acclaimating my first fish additions to my tank. A True Perc, a McCosker Flasher Wrasse and a Yasha Goby with Pistol Shrimp joined today as well as several new corals. Everyone seems to be doing fine.... except I can't find the shrimp. He was so tiny, I am concerned. Corals opened up very quickly. I have the corals in tubberware at the bottom of the tank for now. Need to figure out exactly where to put them all.

I'll post a similar poll on other parameters and seek out your adjustment techniques to build my NASA procedure for reef tanks. Hope this helps others as much as it is helping me!

Thanks
Mark

 

Here is what I wrote up on Specific Gravity for desired targets, measurement options, isolation steps, recovery steps and related articles.

Comments appreciated. I plan on doing these for each parameter... helps me learn.

Appreciate the help in gathering this knowledge,
Mark

http://www.3reef.com/forums/blogs/mmcdonald/specific-gravity-notes-307.html

 

1.025 or try to anyways.

What does everyone use to test for s.g.???

 

Interesting thread M

Good question, you can't beat a properly calibrated refractometer IMO.

 

i hate using my deep six hydrometer. its hard to trust. i always wanted a refractometer but everytime i walk into my lfs i simply get distracted by the corals. like mosquitos to a light trap. but ive had my tank for over 2.5 years so i must be doing something right