[qmonroe]

Ok my tank has been setup for a while now and last night i preformed a water change, but noticed everytime i preform a water change the salinity changes by a couple 1 or 2 ppts.

My question is when you are preforming a water changes what are the steps you take to preform them without the salinity changing?

Here are mine...

Step 1: Test current tank salinity
Step 2: Take water mixing water and get it to be the same salinity as tank water. (Here is where i believe i am making a mistake)
Step 3: Pour mixed water into sump
Step 4: Allow water to mix in tank water for 24 hours and test again...

Am i suppost to allow the newly mixed water get the same salinity as the tank water or should i be getting it lower seeing if i were to add the new salt water it would raise the salinity in the water.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[kevinpo]

Hello,
The new water you make up should mix with a powerhead and heater in it for about 12 hours to allow the components to completely dissolve.

Regards,
Kevin
PS: In an emergency it is OK to wait 30min or so before using the water.

[qmonroe]

Ok i understand that completely but my question is should the mixed water be at the same salinity level or lower to compinsate for the water taken out?

Because if i put the salinity at the same level woudn't the salt level in the take increase?

[romunov]

You should match the salinity. Evaporation of water doesn't change the amount (mass) of salt in the water, only the concentration.

What type of instrument are you using to measure salinity/SG? Either you're doing "something not right" or your device may be inaccurate.

[kevinpo]

I'm not sure what you are asking but here goes.
If you take out 5 gals from the tank and it is 1.024 SG then you should add 5 gals back at 1.024 SG. You will be removing the same amount of salt as you are adding back and the overall tank SG will remain the same. If you are trying to raise or lower SG then you will need to add more or less salt as needed. Between water changes you need to add water without salt to replace what has evaporated because during evaporation all the salt is left behind and the tank SG will increase.

HTH,
Kevin

[qmonroe]

Romunov,
I'm using a recatormeter but i'm really wanting to convert to pinpoint monitors because like you said i believe my reactormeter is giving me incorrect readings.

KEVINPO,
Ok thanks thats what i've been doing but i just wanted to make sure.

Thanks though guys

[BubbaWPB]

I would trust a refractometer over an electronic monitor any day of the week. Note that both the refractometer and the electronic monitor will need to be calibrated. I calibrate my refractometer with RO/DI water to 0. The calibration on the refractometer is much more stable than any electronic measuring device (IMHO).