What to keep salinity at

[btodd43]

Just wondering what is the BEST level to keep salt at. Right now I am keeping it at 1.023-1.024,using hydrometer checked accuracy against refractometer. :?:
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Mercedes T2

 

[Rikko]

The best level is the one you can maintain with stability. Natural reefs, I believe, are largely a bit higher - like 1.027. It doesn't really matter so much if you're at 1.020 or 1.031 so long as you can keep it stable over the long term.
Optimally, however, I think most people would tell you to run it at 1.024-1.025. I keep my tank at 1.0255.

 

[btodd43]

Thanks Rikko- Sounds good to me - I'm going to SLOWLY get it up there,in a couple months of water changes.
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Alcohol Rehab Forum

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

 

[Anonymous]

35 - 37ppt is a good salinity range for reef tanks.

If you're using a swing-arm hydrometer that hasn't been checked for accuracy then you have absolutely no idea what your salinity is.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Rikko- Sounds good to me - I'm going to SLOWLY get it up there,in a couple months of water changes.

The best way to raise salinity is to just topoff with normal saltwater instead of freshwater. The salinity will rise gradually and safely. Doing it with water changes can be too abrupt.

 

[btodd43]

Thanks-Guy I tested my swingarm against a refract-it was dead on (unbelievable) Right now I'm at 1.024 I'll get it up to 1.025/1.026 .It's funny tho the numbers on the swing arm are in red between1.020-1.023 Meaning? Keep it there? Everyone else says 1.025/1.026 NSW is 1.0267 So- Why wouldn't we want to be as close as possible to that- My tank inhabitants seem to be very happy even at 1.022/1.023 . Any way if you keep yours at 1.025/1.026 and you've had no probs then I will do the same :wink:
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Honda VTX Series

 

[ChrisRD]

The 1.020 to 1.023 range on your hydrometer is most likely left over from the days when it was commonly recommended to run marine fish-only systems at those levels (personally I've never seen any benefit from doing that BTW).

These days, and especially with a reef tank, most of us target natural seawater conditions. A commonly accepted average salinity value for natural seawater is 35ppt. Specific gravity of seawater with that salinity at 77 degrees F is 1.0264 which is where the recommendations above are coming from.

HTH