salinity.......too high?

Hey everybody! thanks for taking the time to look at my question. I just set up a new tank, used live rock and some sand/coral with bacteria already in it. I picked up some damsels and a percula clown. my salinity is a little high and i am worried and messing too much with it. the yellow tail damsels and percula are fine, but i have lost 2/3 domino damsels and the last one is swimming a little funny. what should i do?

 

its reading a hair under 1.030. it read 1.026 at the shop where i picked up the first fish that i put in. OK i will take a gallon a day out....i guess i am replacing it with fresh water??? do you think that would have something to do with my domino damsels going down and everything else being ok?

 

but i also added more live rock as i was adding the fish (after getting the reading)

 

to be honest, i set it up the day before i put the fish in. I had done this with my only other tank that was saltwater and i never had a problem ( but i also had alot of friends in college that came over almost daily and helped me out). i have always been a cichlid guy. i know its not wise to have fish in this soon, although i did add some water from a tank that was already established(3G), about 15 lbs of liverock and about 25 lbs of sand with existing bacteria in water. i figured all that and a few hardy starter fish might help jumpstart me again.am i crazy??

 

How are you measuring the salinity? Those swing arm things can be off a lot, esp. if you don't rinse them out.

 

no there is about 50 pounds of sand, just not all live, and there is alot more of lace rock. and 3 gallons of established tank water was all i could come by. i have to drive at least 20 miles to find a shop that sells anything saltwater, so i am working with what i can find.

 

marineland swing arm hydrometer

 

Those swing arms don't last forever...mine was way off and then I broke down and bought a refractometer....

 

Well, if you used live rock and live sand, you may not go through a cycle at all anyway. I agree that if you're using a swing arm, you may possibly not be getting an accurate reading (I had good luck with mine...gave the same reading as my refractometer). Better safe than sorry!

 

Those swing arm hydrometer are not very accurate try one of these:
https://www.petsolutions.com/Refractometer+I12518098+C1034.aspx

 

yes a refractometer is the only way to go

 

Cycle your salt tank

Read the article above. Your tank needs to be cycled. That`s why the fish died.