So I topped off a little more than normal and my salinity dropped to 1.021. What is the safest way to get it back up to normal? Maybe a little anal but I drip my top off water so as to not cause a drastic change. Would it be best just to wait a day or two and let evaporation bring it back to normal then mix my top off water to 1.023?
That would be a perfect way. You don't want to raise it to fast .002 pts, some fish can't take it, it can be lowered faster then raised.
I am afraid that I am not near as meticulous about such changes in salinity, I am afraid that I am not patient enough to drip acclimate 180 gallons of water that is off by in salinity by that margin. Maybe I should be but I have seen no effect by adding salt to a tank by direct dilution.
What's everyone thoughts on this post... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fis ... -fish.html extracted... Mix the salt according to the salt manufacturer's directions (as to how long to mix). (NOTE: The salt manufacturer should know how best to mix their salt into water, however studies have shown that the most stabilized water is achieved after about a week of mixing. This extended time is connected to gas exchange and the chemical reactions going on in the water between the various salts and the gases in the surrounding air.) In no case would I recommend mixing for less than 48 hours. It has been discovered that bad salt mixes will usually 'show themselves out' within the first 48 hours of mixing. If the mixed salt is cloudy or partially undissolved in 48 hours, there is something wrong. No good salt mix should leave a noticeable residue. (NOTE: Some unusual/less common artificial salt manufacturers may depend upon mixing to chemically react their chosen ingredients. Such manufacturers can recommend up to and including 2 weeks of mixing!). What most hobbyists don't understand Stephanie is that the important part of preparing new salt water isn't dissolving the salt, but what happens after the salt dissolves. When the different salts dissolve they react with each other. Some salt formulas actually create different chemicals over a short time. Advanced hobbyists know that in about 48 hours salt blends that were improperly formulated will usually show themselves. Thus in the post at the beginning of this thread, it clearly advises that mixing be done no less than 48 hours OR preferably one week. Not sure where you found 2 weeks. Keep in mind that the expert on the salt formula is the manufacturer of the salt. They know what is best -- providing you find the technical (not sales) person in their organization to tell you how long their product should be mixed to achieve chemical stability.
Chris I would never ever add salt to my system straight out of the bucket, it needs to mix with the air and let the different buffers mix, and I don't want that residue coating my tank that every salt has to some extent, especially with sps. I don't agree with it taking 48 hrs or one week, I guess if you have a automated mixing system and big vat to hold it in, that is fine, and for sure it doesn't hurt, but necessary?, IMO, no. Since I change 5 gals., twice a week, I let mine mix in a 5 gal. bucket with a PH for 24 hrs, Have never had an issue. I always roll a new bucket around for awhile to kinda mix the granules up some from settling from vibration in shipment and ALWAYS test A,C,M, on the first batch mixed from the new bucket, to see where it is and if I need to buffer anything before adding.
