How to raise salinity safely?

[Gort]

I have a Solana 34 - the water volume is approx 30 gallons. I tested the salinity today at 1.022 - a bit low per my understanding for a reef .. 1.025 (??)

I do a 5-gallon water change per week. How fast (or slow) is it safe to raise the salinity to the desired target?

 

[akunochi]

I am assuming that due to the size of the tank there is no ATO?
In not then during your 5 gallon water change split the difference. so take is to 1.023/4 and then finish the increase the next week.

Personally if my salinity is low I just add a little salt to the ATO and then retest.

 

[Gort]

I am assuming that due to the size of the tank there is no ATO?
In not then during your 5 gallon water change split the difference. so take is to 1.023/4 and then finish the increase the next week.

Personally if my salinity is low I just add a little salt to the ATO and then retest.

The stock ATO on a Solana is 2 16oz water bottles upside down dripping into the return pump chamber. Crappy but fun if you like filling them up twice a day. After the water change tmrw I'll test again and use the ATO if need be - thanx.

 

[returnofsid]

Just remove your ATO for a few days and top off with salt water, instead of fresh water, until you're at your desired salinity.

 

[jgalvin]

Hey Gort, just start doing water changes at 1.028. For my solana i just bought the cheap JBJ ATO for $79 and had a bucket in the stand that held around 3 gallons, i could go 1 1/2 weeks or so withoug the container needing to be filled. i love having an ATO. i found the bottles humorous, i used them for a month or so.

 

[jgalvin]

btw, 1.022 is not that bad, many LFS use that. If you buy saltwater from denny's in kirkland they sell it at 1.022. I presonally keep mine aournd 1.025.

 

[Krish]

Just remove your ATO for a few days and top off with salt water, instead of fresh water, until you're at your desired salinity.

I'm with Sid on this. Easy way to go about it.

 

[akunochi]

Sid....stop stealing my ideas! LOL J/K HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hi Echo....meet echo!

I heard pouring salt into your tank directly onto your LPS corals worked.......























but seriously DON'T do that.

 

[Gort]

... I heard pouring salt into your tank directly onto your LPS corals worked.

Uh-ohhhhhhhhhh .. you mean you were KIDDING??

 

[mcoomer]

I wouldn't take your ATO out of service. If you happen to forget to set it back up you could push your salinity up too high. I'd simply mix up a batch of saltwater, add maybe 12 oz every other day, and let evaporation raise the salinity for you. 12 oz is a very small volume of water so it will take some time to hit say 1.026 from 1.022 but slow change is preferable to rapid. I've been doing the same thing on my little 20G workbench tank and after 6 weeks it's almost where I want it.

Mike