How to raise salinity safely???

[airbrnebkr]

My reef tank is currently at 1.023 salinity. Lately I have been reading that 1.025-1.027 is better for a reef tank. What is the safest way to slowly raise the salinity in my tank with out causing any harm or distress to the current residents?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[mogurnda]

You can reduce the amount you top off and let it drift up naturally. Then just use water of the desired specific gravity for water changes from now on.

 

[airbrnebkr]

Okay thank you. I thought that seemed like the reasonable solution but I didnt want to just try it and shock my current inhabitants. thanks again
Doug

 

[Deniz]

Originally posted by mogurnda
You can reduce the amount you top off and let it drift up naturally. Then just use water of the desired specific gravity for water changes from now on.

Hang on, I was advised not too long ago (just this morning actually) that you do not add salt when doing a 10% water change, that the salt doesn't evaporate and stays in the water...?

 

[mogurnda]

Sorry, I guess it was a definition problem.

Topoff: replacing evaporated water. Use freshwater.
Water change: Removing a certain amount and replacing it with saltwater.

For Airbrnebkr, I was suggesting he cut back on the amount of FW he adds for topoff, so the specific gravity can increase gradually. Then, the next time he does a water change, he use water at the new specific gravity (1.025-1.027), rather than 1.023.

Does that make more sense?

 

[mogurnda]

and...

remember to take it slowly. Some authors recommend changes no greater than 0.001 per day, and even that seems a bit much to me.

 

[airbrnebkr]

So when I do my next water change I should just up the salinity in the new water by .001? and then .001 the next time until I get to the salinity I want?
Doug

 

[mogurnda]

How often do you do water changes?
How much do you have to top off every week?

 

[airbrnebkr]

I have been doing about 20% water change bi-weekly and I top off daily just enough to keep my sump pump under water

 

[mogurnda]

Originally posted by airbrnebkr
So when I do my next water change I should just up the salinity in the new water by .001? and then .001 the next time until I get to the salinity I want?
Doug

Doug,
Since you're changing 20% at a time, upping the salinity by 0.001 will (in principle) only boost your specific gravity by 0.0002. Seems like you could boost the salinity of the input water by 0.002, or even a little more, and still be safe.