I'm surprised this is working for you. I lost 4or 5 nice colonies over a few months when my SG crept down to 1.023 because of a bad refractometer that was reading +.005. In my experience refractometers tend to creep up when not calibrated so I aim high at 1.028 to avoid going to low.
!!!HIGH SALINITY, AM I A ONE MAN GANG? OR ANYONE ELSE IN??
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I'm surprised this is working for you. I lost 4or 5 nice colonies over a few months when my SG crept down to 1.023 because of a bad refractometer that was reading +.005. In my experience refractometers tend to creep up when not calibrated so I aim high at 1.028 to avoid going to low.
Velcro
2500 Club Member
Probably an issue of stability more so than the actual salinity.
marco fish
Active Member
I also run 1.028Not so curiously, this is another one of those subjects that I seem to find myself and explaining and repeating more often than others. Anytime I'll send over some system param's if someone ask's, the very first response, and usually alarmingly so, goes "Whoa! is that a typo, or do you really keep your SG that high?" Likewise, sometimes after orders are delivered, I'll get the same questions after my water has been tested, the customer often concerned their own testing equipment may be off, or if I do in fact keep my salinity "that high".
The answer is yes! And it's short and relatively simply story as to why, rooted solely in anecdotal observation and minimal reaction. Truth is, I have been running my salinity at roughly 1.028-1.029 for many years now, and my sps along with all of my fish have been loving it!
Essentially what happened (and this is exactly how I explain it to people) is that, when I'd fill orders, back in the old system, I'd sporadically pump water back into the system with the flip of a switch. Same thing went for skimmer cleaning. I'd flip that switch and replace an "unknown amount of water", with another "unknown amount of water". No measuring of any sort. Purely based on "feel" and whether my float valve was submerged or not. Mind you, I am not suggesting anyone follow my lead on that pursuit. Just explaining how I did it.
Well, one day many years ago, and it really was one of those "well one day" type instances, I couldn't help but notice that my SPS were looking good, and I mean really good, like that thick powdery looking flesh that I had never quite been able to achieve, in all my years. I saw deep coloration and bursting new growth at every node. It was remarkable! Over all things were just doing much better than I was generally used too. After simple rundown of some basic params, the only real blaring change from my norm of many years, was that rather than seeing 1.025 on my refracto it was closer to 1.027.
this simply will not do
So over time, with my rouge water replacement methods, my salinity had crept up. And upon this serendipitous revelation, seeing the apparent effects on my own tank inhabitants, I have been keeping it high ever since. Really, it's just that simple. I stumbled upon something that seemed to be a good thing, and I have been riding high ever since.
So what do you think? Anyone else keep there SG higher than the "norm"? And if so, do you think you have seen any improvement in coral appearance and over all vitality?
Or, am I just wasting good salt on a whim and an accidental coincidence?
I commercial fish Yellowtail Snapper in Key West. I’ll bring home water from the Atlantic Ocean for water changes, and almost every time that I check salinity it reads 1.028. I’ll bring some water tomorrow to see what it reads. Very interesting thread, thank you Adam for sharing
Lousybreed
Well-Known Member
I accidentally was running my tank at 1.027 because of the calibration fluid had become more salty....assuming evaporation of water via diffusion thru the plastic bottle. And my observations were opposite! I had coral die-off on the undersides of my Acros. It went away once I fixed my issue.
Plus the extra cost of water changes is another negative. But if it works for you.....keep doing it! I put some Holy water into my system every so often...works great! Your mileage may vary
Plus the extra cost of water changes is another negative. But if it works for you.....keep doing it! I put some Holy water into my system every so often...works great! Your mileage may vary
OP
OP
I accidentally was running my tank at 1.027 because of the calibration fluid had become more salty....assuming evaporation of water via diffusion thru the plastic bottle. And my observations were opposite! I had coral die-off on the undersides of my Acros. It went away once I fixed my issue.
Plus the extra cost of water changes is another negative. But if it works for you.....keep doing it! I put some Holy water into my system every so often...works great! Your mileage may vary
Interesting for sure, I wonder if alk was boosted or something like that in your case that caused the coral to respond poorly
Interesting discussion. I would expect there to be some variation from species to species but there is an optimum salinity for corals physiology and a wide range of salinities tolerated.
OP
OP
Just discovered a bad hydrometer. Bought a refractometer and found my salinity to be over 1.035. Could have been this way for several months. No noticeable harm to anything. Xenia seemed to grow faster the last few months. Spent all weekend slowly adding fresh water and now at 1.027.
speedstar
Well-Known Member
I recently checked mine after not doing so for 2 years, as my inverts seemed to be moving slowly and I lost several snails and a tiger tail cuc. Not sure if it was related but salinity was at 1.029 dropping is slowly over a couple months back to .026~.027 seemed to bring more activity back and the starfish looks less sunk in. Not sure if related or not, the SPS were fine other than my Garf Bonsai it receded a bunch. Who knows it could be something else too not the best reef keeper only test ALK unless I note an issue.
OP
OP
Honestly, I'm curious about why you hadn't checks SG in so long? I find myself kind of randomly checking my salinity at least in the main maybe one a month. out of habit
I plan to run the salinity the same since all the sticks will come from you.Not so curiously, this is another one of those subjects that I seem to find myself and explaining and repeating more often than others. Anytime I'll send over some system param's if someone ask's, the very first response, and usually alarmingly so, goes "Whoa! is that a typo, or do you really keep your SG that high?" Likewise, sometimes after orders are delivered, I'll get the same questions after my water has been tested, the customer often concerned their own testing equipment may be off, or if I do in fact keep my salinity "that high".
The answer is yes! And it's short and relatively simply story as to why, rooted solely in anecdotal observation and minimal reaction. Truth is, I have been running my salinity at roughly 1.028-1.029 for many years now, and my sps along with all of my fish have been loving it!
Essentially what happened (and this is exactly how I explain it to people) is that, when I'd fill orders, back in the old system, I'd sporadically pump water back into the system with the flip of a switch. Same thing went for skimmer cleaning. I'd flip that switch and replace an "unknown amount of water", with another "unknown amount of water". No measuring of any sort. Purely based on "feel" and whether my float valve was submerged or not. Mind you, I am not suggesting anyone follow my lead on that pursuit. Just explaining how I did it.
Well, one day many years ago, and it really was one of those "well one day" type instances, I couldn't help but notice that my SPS were looking good, and I mean really good, like that thick powdery looking flesh that I had never quite been able to achieve, in all my years. I saw deep coloration and bursting new growth at every node. It was remarkable! Over all things were just doing much better than I was generally used too. After simple rundown of some basic params, the only real blaring change from my norm of many years, was that rather than seeing 1.025 on my refracto it was closer to 1.027.
this simply will not do
So over time, with my rouge water replacement methods, my salinity had crept up. And upon this serendipitous revelation, seeing the apparent effects on my own tank inhabitants, I have been keeping it high ever since. Really, it's just that simple. I stumbled upon something that seemed to be a good thing, and I have been riding high ever since.
So what do you think? Anyone else keep there SG higher than the "norm"? And if so, do you think you have seen any improvement in coral appearance and over all vitality?
Or, am I just wasting good salt on a whim and an accidental coincidence?
OP
OP
so...... I have actually. let my SG come down. it's way closer to 1.025 these days. no real rhyme or reason to it. I think just as it slowly went up all those years ago it finally dwindled down. lol. I have been doing WC's with new water at 1.025 though for sure. for what it's worth.
Now if you're wondering if I saw any significant changes, I can't say that I have other than my salt bags last a little bit longer.
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