salinity levels

[dnnor]

i've got a 150 gal FOWLR tank, and my salinity level is pretty low (.016). I would love to add another fish, but i know i need to get that fixed first.

i plan to do a 25 gal water change today, my LFS has water that's (.025)

my question is, how long will it take to get it to a more acceptable level?
and how many changes do you think it will take to get there?

[JVITAL55]

You don't need to do a water change to bring up your salinity, you can just slowly add salt to your system. The key is, if you already have fish in your tank to bring up that salinity level very slowly. Let the fish slowly adjust. Sudden changes in the salinity level may shock them.

[Recty]

Do you ever mix your own water or do you just use the LFS store water?

If you mix your own, just mix up an especially salty batch, but try not to raise the salinity more than .001 or .002 a day.

If you only get water from the LFS, bring some home along with some extra salt and just mix the salt in, let it stir for a while, like an hour with a pump in the bucket, then do your water change.

I wouldnt just dump salt right into your tank, mix it with some water first, you can make it really salty water but dont put salt right into the tank.

[virginiabreeze6]

you can also use your newly mixed saltwater to replace evaporation. Monitor closely and it should increase slowly.

Just a thought, I have done this in the past

[Eggs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13885833#post13885833 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by virginiabreeze6
you can also use your newly mixed saltwater to replace evaporation. Monitor closely and it should increase slowly.

Just a thought, I have done this in the past


I do the same thing to bring up the salinity.

[dnnor]

I don't mix my own water yet because i'm still new to this hobby, I'm sure i'll learn to do that down the road. for now i do just buy it at the LFS....

Also, as far as evaporation.....my water doesn't evaporate very much. I'm thinking maybe 1 gal every 2 weeks or so, at that rate it would take awhile to use "top off" water to get my levels where it needs to be.

my tank is 150gal and it's covered completly, except where things come into the tank on the backside. should i uncover it?

[Recty]

If you decide to do the evaporation route, then yes, uncovering it would allow a lot more evaporation, which would allow you to add 1.025 water quicker.

You still will need to do water changes, just because your tank evaporates 5g a day and so you put in 35g a week of new water, it still doesnt replace what a good water change removes from your system.

If you've got the patience to wait for evaporation to bring your salinity up, that isnt a bad way to do it, but it will take a little while, whereas if you buy some salt and mix it in with the 1.025 water you already get from the LFS, you could have it up to 1.025 total within a week.