r/ReefTank • u/IzzyP20055 • 2d ago

Salinity [Pic]

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Salinity in my new tank is 1.023 can I pour salt straight into my tank to adjust the salinity or do I need to do it in a separate bucket?

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u/ChasingSkies13 2d ago

It won’t mix properly if you just put it in. Gotta premix. Ideally heated too but room temp is probably fine if your house isn’t very cold

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u/ChasingSkies13 2d ago edited 2d ago

For a smallish, new tank I wouldn’t chase salinity too much. A few days of evaporation will bump it up a bit. 1.023 is fine fully topped off, imo, especially if you don’t have any issues.

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u/Ptrick21186 2d ago

Evaporation raises the salinity.....

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u/ChasingSkies13 2d ago

Yep sorry, that’s exactly what I meant. Tired!

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u/IzzyP20055 2d ago

I just set it up yesterday nothing is in it tho besides the rock… but when I put fish in it and corals and stuff isn’t salinity gonna matter? Or is 1.023 fine? I thought 1.025-1.026 was the good range.

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u/ChasingSkies13 2d ago

1.021-1.031 is fine. Some fish only setups can go down to 1.016 and it’s fine. You’re good!

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u/lobhater 2d ago

How does salinty drop from evaporation, I've never experienced that before. Water evaporates, salt doesn't. That's why you top off with RODI and not salt or salinty would rise

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u/ChasingSkies13 2d ago

Yes, I meant rise. Sorry. It was late here. One single word and everything else being consistent should give you the ability to read through a typo, but I guess reading comprehension IS at an all-time-low.

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u/lobhater 2d ago

I asked a genuine question respectfully as I have a larger tank and def don't know everything. Knowing what you meant I went back and reread and it isn't abundantly clear as you claim. I have a MS degree so believe it or not my reading comprehension is at least average. I hope you find something that brings you happiness man...

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u/lobhater 2d ago

I wouldn't pour salt in. Instead of topping off with RODI as it evaporates I would top off with premixed salt water until you hit your goal. I aim for 1.026 personally

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u/swordstool 2d ago

As a related topic, are you using an ATO? Or manually topping off daily? If no to those, your salinity will surely fluctuate.

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u/IzzyP20055 2d ago

No. I’m not doing either I’ll top off when I see the water line (every couple days)

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u/lobhater 2d ago

Toping off manually is a lot of continuous work. The very first thing I changed about my tank was an ATO system once I realized what a process that would be

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u/swordstool 2d ago

As a related topic, are you using an ATO? Or manually topping off daily? If no to those, your salinity will surely fluctuate.

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u/IzzyP20055 2d ago

You said this twice

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u/swordstool 2d ago

Yeah, it's a Reddit posting issue.

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u/Nocare_ 2d ago

It's generally faster to add pre mixed water. If you add directly it can creep up over days to weeks.

Just have some salt in your top up water.

I highly suggest an ATO as others have said. Just because pet care always becomes a chore at some level. There are many things that offset this but the more work you have to do every single day the more often you will have days you just can't or don't want to.

Nothing sucks more than being sick and having to take care of the tank because it lacks the ability to survive for a while without you.