Specific gravity

maybe 1.022 is recommended by them because they keep theres at that and I think it may be because it is a better SG for temp housing....if not I dont get it either...

 

LFS keep a low SG because fish are less active and easier to catch...

 

I keep my tank at anywhere from 1.027-1.029. There will be no harm, just make sure to raise it slowly.
On a note, natural reef water around the globe averages 1.028-1.030. So in reality, the "normal" ranges many keep their tanks at is much lower than what the creature would normally be used to in the wild. Why it is said to keep it low like that I have no clue. But I like to keep mine a little closer to the way good old mother nature designed her tank

 

I think the ocean's salinity's are rising because of man, don't know how much truth there is about it but I think I've read it a couple of times...

 

Actually, the opposite. They are slowly lowering due to the amount of ice (fresh water) melting off into the oceans.
Its what fuels that whole "conveyor belt shuts down due to the lower salinity levels and causes the next ice age" theory.

 

I have mine at 1.023 right now....just cycling the tank at this point......I'll raise it slowly.

 

Do you think LFS maintain the lower SG as a means of parasite control? I know 1.022 is hardly hypasalinity so not an effective cure for parasitic infections , but at lower levels maybe severe outbreaks are avoided and thus they are trying to protect their livelihoods

 

So maybe I'll leave it where it's at! I had read that lower salinity did decrease parasites and bacterial infections...

 

IMO they do it to save money on salt... they generally have a lot of water to deal with... I imagine salt would be a big expense.

 

To answer the original question, i always find it best to keep the salt level as low as possible depending on your setup. Corals need a higher salt level, but as far as fish are concerned the lower the better (obviously i dont mean so low your tank is nothing but freshwater). i keep my FOWLR at ~1.020 and all of my fish seem happy as can be. It helps keep disease to a minimum and (im pretty sure, have not done tons of research on the subject) it is less stressful on the fish since their osmoregulation systems dont have to work as hard to maintain and balance fluids and salts.