is my Sg too low to start a reef?

El Langostino · 02/09/2006, 10:38 PM

My 90 gallon has been set up for 2 months now and I want to add coral but my refractometer keeps giving me salinity readings of around 1.020 to 1.021 only. Is this going to be too low for most coral? How do I go about gradually raising the Sg without harming my fish? thanks

wrott · 02/09/2006, 10:44 PM

Yes, raise to 1.025 by topping off w/ salt water.

El Langostino · 02/09/2006, 10:46 PM

Thanks for the advice. I actually started doing this today,...should I let my maxi jet mix in salt for a gallon or some other small amount for the standard 24 hours or does it matter?

piranhaking · 02/09/2006, 10:47 PM

also when doing your water changes you would use replacement water with a slightly higher SG.

wrott · 02/09/2006, 11:00 PM

I would just stir salt w/ a spoon and add--no need to wait.

El Langostino · 02/09/2006, 11:01 PM

Excellent, thanks.

johnvu713 · 02/09/2006, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by piranhaking
also when doing your water changes you would use replacement water with a slightly higher SG.

why would you do that?

When water evaporated, in main tank, that automatically raised your SG level

AquaReeferMan · 02/10/2006, 12:41 AM

Yes but you have to add more water in there to top it off. If you add fresh water the salinity will get lowered back down, thats why you have to top off with saltwater then.

02/09/2006, 10:38 PM	#1
El Langostino Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 384	is my Sg too low to start a reef? My 90 gallon has been set up for 2 months now and I want to add coral but my refractometer keeps giving me salinity readings of around 1.020 to 1.021 only. Is this going to be too low for most coral? How do I go about gradually raising the Sg without harming my fish? thanks

02/09/2006, 10:44 PM	#2
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	Yes, raise to 1.025 by topping off w/ salt water. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

02/09/2006, 11:00 PM	#5
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I would just stir salt w/ a spoon and add--no need to wait. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

02/10/2006, 12:41 AM	#8
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Yes but you have to add more water in there to top it off. If you add fresh water the salinity will get lowered back down, thats why you have to top off with saltwater then. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

02/09/2006, 10:46 PM	#3
El Langostino Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 384	Thanks for the advice. I actually started doing this today,...should I let my maxi jet mix in salt for a gallon or some other small amount for the standard 24 hours or does it matter?

02/09/2006, 10:47 PM	#4
piranhaking Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 321	also when doing your water changes you would use replacement water with a slightly higher SG.

02/09/2006, 11:01 PM	#6
El Langostino Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 384	Excellent, thanks.