Have a RedSea Reefer 350, 91 gallons total. Currently topping off automatically with a Hydor ATO from a 50 gallon bucket of RO/DI, working out great. I got to thinking, I'd like to make life easier on water changes as well.
I'm currently evaporating about 2.5 to 3 gallons per week, and I'd like to do a 5 gallon water change every week.
It takes approximately 2.5 cups of RedSea salt to make 5 gallons of saltwater. If I added 2.5 cups of salt (I'll measure it exactly in grams but go along with me here) for every 8 gallons of top off water(5 change+3 evap), then I'd be adding 0.9 cups of salt (3/8*2.5) during the week as I make up for evaporation, slightly increasing salinity. Then over the weekend, I can simply take out a 5 gallon bucket of water from the sump, the ATO kicks in, and replenishes the 5 gallons - reducing salinity back to its target value in the process. Obviously monitoring of salinity and dialing in of salt quantity would be required, and the weekly 5 gal water change would be required to keep it in check.
Question - would that be too much of a salinity swing every week, 1 cup of salt for 90 gallons volume in either direction? Am I missing anything important?
I'm currently evaporating about 2.5 to 3 gallons per week, and I'd like to do a 5 gallon water change every week.
It takes approximately 2.5 cups of RedSea salt to make 5 gallons of saltwater. If I added 2.5 cups of salt (I'll measure it exactly in grams but go along with me here) for every 8 gallons of top off water(5 change+3 evap), then I'd be adding 0.9 cups of salt (3/8*2.5) during the week as I make up for evaporation, slightly increasing salinity. Then over the weekend, I can simply take out a 5 gallon bucket of water from the sump, the ATO kicks in, and replenishes the 5 gallons - reducing salinity back to its target value in the process. Obviously monitoring of salinity and dialing in of salt quantity would be required, and the weekly 5 gal water change would be required to keep it in check.
Question - would that be too much of a salinity swing every week, 1 cup of salt for 90 gallons volume in either direction? Am I missing anything important?