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Lowering Alk/ Raising Salinity
- Thread starter MichaelJ
- Start date
Five gal is a very small change for a 75, 15-20 gal would be more like it. I don't see any reason you could not do it every day for a week if you like (15-20).
Jim
Jim
OP
OP
MichaelJ
Reefer
Cool... I was just wondering, 5 gallons was recommended I think just to try to get the salinity up... to let you know, my tank has been up for a month, at the end of the cycle... all readings read 0 except of course the salinity and the Alk.
OP
OP
MichaelJ
Reefer
I think I will split it up, I did a 5g change today... will do a 20% on Monday.
I want a FREAK'N FISH!!!!!!
I know..... patience is a virtue ( I don't know who came up with that one
)
TomD
Non-member
I understand believe me.
If you properly acclimated a fish it should be fine as your tank is right now. Some LFS's keep the salt around 1.020 to avoid parasites or something like that.
Not that it is not a good idea to bring it up, I just think it is not a big deal. It would come up to that level with a day or so with no topoff. No need to go changing crazy water.
At the same time have you checked Nitrates? Sometimes they can be high at the end of a cycle where waterchanges will help.
High swings and high nitrate is what can harm inhabitants more than alk or salinity at that level.
If you properly acclimated a fish it should be fine as your tank is right now. Some LFS's keep the salt around 1.020 to avoid parasites or something like that.
Not that it is not a good idea to bring it up, I just think it is not a big deal. It would come up to that level with a day or so with no topoff. No need to go changing crazy water.
At the same time have you checked Nitrates? Sometimes they can be high at the end of a cycle where waterchanges will help.
High swings and high nitrate is what can harm inhabitants more than alk or salinity at that level.
OP
OP
MichaelJ
Reefer
Cool, I will wait till after the next good water change... I'm going to get a clown or two... how long should I acclimate them for?
Skiptons tested my parameters.... '0' on everything except Alk Nitrite 0/Nitrate 0/Ammonia 0/pH 8.2
TomD
Non-member
Some people do it a long time but I dont usually for more than 45 minutes. All fish are different in sensitivity. Clowns are pretty hardy in my experience so I think you will be fine. When I got my clowns they were my first fish. I was to nervous to acclimate and I threw um right in...not saying do that, DONT. But they are hardy.
You know the cups that hang on the side for the LFS guy to get the fish? I love those for acclimating a small fish because I hang it in the sump and maintain temp.
I like to test the salinity of the bag although not needed. I like to see how far off the salinity is to gauge how long my acclimation time will be.
You can use a drip line for a while or if you do not have one just add small amounts of water to slowly acclimate.
You know the cups that hang on the side for the LFS guy to get the fish? I love those for acclimating a small fish because I hang it in the sump and maintain temp.
I like to test the salinity of the bag although not needed. I like to see how far off the salinity is to gauge how long my acclimation time will be.
You can use a drip line for a while or if you do not have one just add small amounts of water to slowly acclimate.
LosingSleep
Non-member
When compensating for evaporation, top off with mixed water instead of plain ro/di. Should bring the s/g right up.
TomD
Non-member
I agree that would work but I feel that can be a little tough to gauge for a new person no?
One day missing a top should bring it up good and slow. Then just adjust at waterchange time to make up the level again. Just mo, nothing wrong with the above suggestion.
smcnally
Tankless
I would agree to top off with salt water until it raises. Doing a 10 gallon WC with water at 1.027 would take and enourmous amount of water changes to get it where you need it. Basically, if you do it with the WC method, you are only raising the salinity of 10 gallons of water by .002 which means you are raising the salinity of 75 gallons of water by about .000125. If you add 5 or 10 gallons more than your normal level and let it evaporate, you are getting much more salt into the tank at once (and it is still slow). I've been trying to get my tank back up to normal and it is taking me forever too...I'm up to about 1.022 right now and I've added 5 gallons of 1.027 to my tank over 2 days. I'd say I have another 4-5 gallons to go...
Dave
Formerly Rosey
You could add fish now. The salinity is closer now to what you will find in your LFS, than when you raise it to ~ 1.025. Bringing it up 0.001 a day is fine.
Clowns can be a little cranky after being transported. I would look for a clown from some one here or make sure the LFS has had them for a while. It didn't sound like you were going to QT your fish before adding to the display. Be extra careful about any fish that hasn't been in the store for a week or two. Also you might want to figure out what fish you are going to add and start with the least aggressive fish first.
Clowns can be a little cranky after being transported. I would look for a clown from some one here or make sure the LFS has had them for a while. It didn't sound like you were going to QT your fish before adding to the display. Be extra careful about any fish that hasn't been in the store for a week or two. Also you might want to figure out what fish you are going to add and start with the least aggressive fish first.
OP
OP
MichaelJ
Reefer
I started with topping off with mixed .....
How's your carpet? Hope everything came out alright...
OP
OP
MichaelJ
Reefer
Yeah, I don't have a quarentine started yet, I do have 20g long downstairs, but need some advice on getting one started. I will look on the forums first for some fish...
TomD
Non-member
I also said you could add now, but that is a great move Mike!
What do you want to know about getting it started?
smcnally
Tankless
It's still drying
I thought I lost ~ 5 gallons, but judging by my salinity issues it looks like it was closer to 10 gallons. I'm mixing more water up now. Everything in the tank looks fine, but not totally happy. My LPS aren't as full as normal and my paliwensis has all of its polyps sucked in.
I thought I lost ~ 5 gallons, but judging by my salinity issues it looks like it was closer to 10 gallons. I'm mixing more water up now. Everything in the tank looks fine, but not totally happy. My LPS aren't as full as normal and my paliwensis has all of its polyps sucked in.
OP
OP
MichaelJ
Reefer
Wanted to know if it should be set up like the tank I have, Sand/rock, do I need to go through the same procedure as my main tank?
TomD
Non-member
No for sand and rock. Many people just use a piece of PVC for shelter. I have a sponge filter in my sump that sits there until I am ready to use a QT.
I rinse it often so it does not lead to nitrate buildup.
I am not sure how others keep their QT cycled if they do not keep it running, or how they add something to avoid a cycle. I would think you do not want LR from a QT with incoming animals going back to the tank.
I rinse it often so it does not lead to nitrate buildup.
I am not sure how others keep their QT cycled if they do not keep it running, or how they add something to avoid a cycle. I would think you do not want LR from a QT with incoming animals going back to the tank.
OP
OP
MichaelJ
Reefer
True... maybe I'll check other threads out or start a new thread, I'd like to see how many people have them..
