Where do you keep your specific gravity

I keep mine at 1.025 at a temp range between 78.9 - 80.1 F.
I agree with the previous threads - topping off with RODI does not change the SG. And also keep it consistent!
More importantly ... How are you measuring your SG ? By using a refractometer (that's calibrated with RODI) I hope!
Cheers!

 

[quote author=Scoffer link=board=General;num=1064249256;start=15#29 date=11/17/04 at 12:07:39]Oh man. Went to check mine and it was at 1.20. [/quote]


Scoffer,
I hope that you meant 1.020 not 1.20  

If so just premix some salt water and add this to your tank gradually when you top off your evaporated water, And test daily until you reach your target.......... John

.......... John

 

Scoffer,

I agree with Fletch, and that could be part of your problem with the coralline algae

Also, refractometer is the best way to check salinity/specific gravity, whatever....

Tresguey,

I believe ( and anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong!) that salinity is measured in PPM....eg. a salinity measurement might be stated as 30 PPM and specific gravity is the commonly used measurement for marine aquariums...1.025 etc. and is a measurement of density of water.

 

yeah, but I meant like a math equation (I wish) that was like :
75gal tank reading 1.021 , to achieve 1.025 add 1/2cup salt per .1000 ...or something to go by.
or just add a cup to the sump and check next day....(country boy way)

It.s at 1.022 now...so its getting better. Now my water temp is too low...at 75 right now. I guess Ill be back at the LFS and be gettin' me a heater ! 300 watt sumersible I suppose......

I can put the heater in my sump right? what about putting a heater in the overflow of my tank? or is that a no-no?

thanks again!

Scoffer

 

Well, first get your temp where you want it as that will affect your reading.

I think Fletch was suggesting your top off water be mixed to the correct specific gravity and as you get evap, use the corrected salt water each time until the whole thing is correct. I don't have a math equation or anything. I suppose you could mix the top off a bit higher than you want it to speed up the process a bit ;D

I would NOT add salt mix directly to the sump as that could be disastrous! It only takes a little to overdo it

 

you should keep your SG @ whatever your critters are used too.....fresh imports like high.....store kept (2weeks in captivity+) should be kept at the stores SG, i perfer to mimic the BRINEY deep.

 

I am by no means an expert here, but this is what I was taught and have used with great success when salinity has been low. Mind you, I am running 4 tanks right now so I have a bit of time in increasing salinity.

I add 1 cup of salt every hour. After the initial hour I check the salinity before adding anymore to see where I am of course. I add this directly into my overflow so that by the time it returns to the tank, it has been dissolved. I do not just dump the entire cup at once. I add a 1/4 at a time and watch for it to dissolve within the overflow and then add another qaurter. I have learned that this approach gives the fish time to acclimate to the increased salinity and does not shock them.

This is simply my approach that I was taught by someone who has been in the saltwater worls for 10+ years. Again, I have great success and it is a simple easy way to increase the salinity quickly without damaging livestock. To date, I have not lost any fish or corals.

Hope that helps.

T

 

[quote author=Scoffer link=board=General;num=1064249256;start=30#33 date=11/17/04 at 17:22:12]yeah, but I meant like a math equation (I wish) that was like :
75gal tank reading 1.021 , to achieve 1.025 add 1/2cup salt per .1000 ...or something to go by.
or just add a cup to the sump and check next day....(country boy way)

It.s at 1.022 now...so its getting better. Now my water temp is too low...at 75 right now. I guess Ill be back at the LFS and be gettin' me a heater !  300 watt sumersible I suppose......

I can put the heater in my sump right?  what about putting a heater in the overflow of my tank? or is that a no-no?

thanks again!

Scoffer
[/quote]

Well if 1/2 cup of salt mix will raise 1 gallon of water to 1.024 then it should raise 75 gallons up 0.0137 so 1/4 cup would bring it up .0068 and that would bring you up to 1.020+.0068= 1.027 so I would say you would need to add a little less that 1/4 cup of salt mix to your tank! just make sure that it is totally dissolved it in water before adding it to your tank. I would dissolve it in 1 gallon of water and add that slowly to your tank ............. John