Salinity too high??

[kennyminireef]

Hi all my question is my salinity for my tank is up at 2.5 is that too high?
I just bought a new hydrometer my old one broke and was way off with it's measure.

 

[little_fish]

That isnt a reading of any measurement of salinity that I know of.


Also you should be replacing the hydrometer every 6 months because they tend to go back. You should get a refractometer which will never go bad and is waaay more accurate. You can find them for around $20 on ebay and the calibration solution is around $3.

 

[kennyminireef]

Ok maybe I read it wrong! What should my salinity be?

 

[little_fish]

1.025

 

[AyeAye]

How much salt would you put in a 20g tank? in tablespoons? grams?

 

[little_fish]

its going to be several cups of salt and table salt wont due for our tank.

 

[AyeAye]

its reef salt don't worry... :P

 

[Northstar24]

How much salt would you put in a 20g tank? in tablespoons? grams?

Depends on the brand of salt, they all have different amounts required to mix at a specific salinity. The directions on the packaging should get you close, but I have found it almost always takes a little more then they recommend to get the salinity you're after. You really need at least a hydrometer or even better a refractometer for measuring salinity. When I replaced my hydrometer with a refractometer I discovered that it was off quite a bit

 

[AyeAye]

6 cups so far, hydrometer not moved. Put in more?

 

[little_fish]

I would go get yourself a refractometer, that doesnt sound right at all. I think your hydrometer is broken, which is a common problem

 

[wontonflip]

Wait for the salt to dissolve a bit before measuring, too. But yeah, get a hydrometer.

 

[Bifferwine]

You have to let the water and salt mix, preferably for 24 hours, before trying to get an accurate measurement. You should have a powerhead moving it all around.

 

[AyeAye]

well...i tested the hydrometer and put in a dense salt-water mix and the needle quickly went to the top. then i gradually replaced the salt water with normal water and the needle lowered correspondingly until it hit 1.025. I know what 1.025 water tastes like now...so I could...

 

[little_fish]

I would get yourself a refractometer, hydrometers are know for being wildely inaccurate and you have to replace them every 6 months anyways.

Look at this, same water, two different readings

 

[AyeAye]

right, ok i'll see about getting a refractometer. currently got the power head going.

Many Thanks