salinity

bruner54LB · 01-23-2008, 10:57 PM

This is my first time having a saltwater aquarium and my tank has been running for almost 2 weeks and its still cycling but the salinity was fine for a couple days and then all of a sudden the salinity started dropping off and i don't know if this is normal or its something i need to do.

Loman · 01-23-2008, 11:01 PM

bruner54LB

Welcome to the forum.

I am a bit surprised salinity is falling off. The more typical occurrence is that it will increase slightly as evaporation removes same water but leaves the salt content. How big of a change are we talking about here? Are you taking the readings with a constant temperature since that can effect your specific gravity.

bruner54LB · 01-23-2008, 11:12 PM

It dropped of a lot like it was about 1.023 an jus like the little arm on the hydrometer barely moved so like close to 1.005 or something like that but it dropped a lot

Loman · 01-23-2008, 11:15 PM

Given that you are new to salt did you tap the meter a bit to make sure all the air bubbles where gone (especially when it was high). Also you need to leave salt water in the hydrometer for 24 hours or so to get it to season, I have never fully understood why but that might be an issue too if it is a new hydrometer.

bruner54LB · 01-23-2008, 11:19 PM

Ill try leaving saltwater in the hydrometer for 24 hrs cause it is new and i have tried tapping so ill try that and get back to.

bruner54LB · 01-25-2008, 12:36 PM

ok i tried seasoning my hydrometer and i tried it to see if it worked and the arm went up and then jus fell all the way down again.

Tommy Gun · 01-25-2008, 02:54 PM

Hey bruner54LB - welcome to the forum!

What type/brand of hydrometer are you using?

Along with the bubbles on the arm, you also need to make sure that you set it down on a level surface or your readings will be thrown off.

Have you tried adding any salt to see if you can get that to change?

Are you mixing up your saltwater when it is warmed up to tank temperatures, or when it is cold? The temperature of water does play some role in what and how much it can hold.

bruner54LB · 01-25-2008, 03:18 PM

i have a deep six hydrometer and it was working fine even though it wasnt on a flat surface and i have noticed a small amount of salt build up on the outside of my protein skimmer if that makes a difference.

bruner54LB · 01-25-2008, 11:14 PM

i tried placing it on a flat surface and it still didnt work to

Loman · 01-25-2008, 11:43 PM

Can you get a higher reading ? If you mix up a small sample of water with a higher dose of salt will it read the high levels?