Salt hit my LTA

[KathyC]

Tha's good news so far, would be better if the LTA opened all the way back up, but by not being dead yet - you still have a chance for it to all work out

What is the SG at now?

You can feed it a small piece (about 1/4" x 1/4"- since you haven't been feeding it and I don't know how big it is , nor should you give it too much since it isn't in peak form right now) of fresh seafood. Many folks feed pieces of silversides (they are a small fish, I believe you can get at Asian markets I've heard, someone please correct me if this is incorrect), or go to the supermarket and get a fresh raw shrimp, or a scallop or the like. If you cut it into little pieces - feed the LTA a little piece, cut up the rest and pop in your freezer. You can then feed it a little piece every few days- after you thaw it out

 

[seldin]

Another place for silver slides is a bait store. I used to buy a lot for about $7.

 

[jenpo76]

My sp is at 1.019 the mouth is open allittle but her tenticles are moving alot better today and the clown seems less frantic! Her color also came back. But I know u guys were saying things about the mouth should never be open. So that scares me! Do you guys think I should wait untill it's mouth closes untill I feed it ? Or should I tr now ?

 

[jenpo76]

I Also have a hammer coral, frogspawn, pearl coral, torch, pulsing Xenia, blood shrimp, lightfoot crab, sea egg, some gobies and blennies. All of which seam to be doing just fine.

 

[ming]

My sp is at 1.019 the mouth is open allittle but her tenticles are moving alot better today and the clown seems less frantic! Her color also came back. But I know u guys were saying things about the mouth should never be open. So that scares me! Do you guys think I should wait untill it's mouth closes untill I feed it ? Or should I tr now ?

It went from 1.017 to 1.029 and back down to 1.019?
:lost:

 

[jenpo76]

Yes I havnt done anything yet and it went down.

 

[seldin]

...It went from 1.017 to 1.029 and back down to 1.019?...

Reef tanks should have a salinity of around 1.025. So if you by accident placed a lot of salt in the tank. It will take a few hours to 1 day to stabilize and then give you an accurate reading.

So I am guessing that you first had one reading, had the accident and it stabilized at 1.019. That is if your reading is accurate. If it is accurate corals can not live at that salinity.

I think you have to take your water to a LFS and let them test the water. It does seem like you are "lost"

Normal salinity does not vary like that. Such that if you had a Salinity of 1.025 and added to much salt, then your salinity will jump, but it will normalize at some reading.

I do not understand how your salinity will go from a low reading, to a high reading and then back again, unless you are changing water and salt concentration.

If for some reason your salt readings are accurate, this is not good for reef animals. These animals like good healthy water but also need stability.

 

[KathyC]

Jenpo - what are you using to check your salinity - a refractometer or a hydrometer?

You need to correct the salinity in the tank to 1.023 - 1.025

Here is a tool that explains how to do so in a SAFE way, please do let us know if you have any questions.
http://saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/SalinityAdjust.php

 

[jenpo76]

Thanks for the info I'm going to raise the sp tonight once a day 2 gal at a time ( 50 gal total) until it's at 1.025 oh and I'm using a hydrometer. I think I might not be waiting long enough for the salt to stabilize in my prep container 5 gal. Before checking the sp I usualy wait 5 min is that long enough?

 

[KathyC]

Thanks for the info I'm going to raise the sp tonight once a day 2 gal at a time ( 50 gal total) until it's at 1.025 oh and I'm using a hydrometer. I think I might not be waiting long enough for the salt to stabilize in my prep container 5 gal. Before checking the sp I usualy wait 5 min is that long enough?

5 minutes??? Not enough time for the salt to even melt
At an absolute minimum a few hours, ideally overnight...with the water being areated by a pump.

You need to rinse a hydrometer after every use with unsalted water and must be sure there are no bubbles on the arm when doing a reading.

 

[jenpo76]

Thanks so much I have had freshwater for years. But this is my 1st try at salt!! After work I'll get a setup so I can let the water marry! I'm suprised that I havnt killed anything yet!!!!