I have a 55g tank with 2 figure 8 puffers. When I got them they were in FW so I let them settle for a week in FW. Then I started adding salt. I had some help working out how much salt I needed and it turned out that I should mix 12 ounces of salt in 5 gallons of water for 24 hrs. Then add another 5 gallons of water (so that each week I would take out 10g and add 10g of salted water)
The first week I added salt, the SG was 1.002, 2nd week 1.004, this is the 3rd week and the SG is reading reading 1.003 or maybe 1.004. I'm using a refractometer so it is pretty accurate.
Any ideas what is going on? I thought by this time it should be 1.005 or 1.006 This is my first brackish tank so I'm still pretty new to it.
SG Help Needed!!!!
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hiemstra23
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spoot
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What is the sg of your water change water? If the water change water is 1.003 or 1.004, you will not be able to raise the SG more than this; since when you do water changes, you are replacing the same SG water that you are taking out. What you need is water chage water that has a higher SG, so that the total amount of salt in your tank will be increased with the water change. Hope this helps.
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hiemstra23
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spoot
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Measuring by ounces is not the most precise way to do it, since salt absorbs water in the air thus changing it's mass. Next time you do water a water change, measure the SG of the water change water before you put it into the tank. It should be easy since you are using a refractometer.
When I do water changes in my brackish tank, I dissolve the salt in a 3 gallon bucket and pour it into a holding tub. Then check the SG of the holding bucket.
If you want to raise the SG of the tank with a 50% water change, just make the SG of the water change water about 0.002 higher than that of the tank. In theory it should raise the tank SG by 0.001.
If the SG of the water in the holding bucket is too low, then just make more water with more salt and test the SG again. You'll get use to it in no time.
When I do water changes in my brackish tank, I dissolve the salt in a 3 gallon bucket and pour it into a holding tub. Then check the SG of the holding bucket.
If you want to raise the SG of the tank with a 50% water change, just make the SG of the water change water about 0.002 higher than that of the tank. In theory it should raise the tank SG by 0.001.
If the SG of the water in the holding bucket is too low, then just make more water with more salt and test the SG again. You'll get use to it in no time.
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hiemstra23
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Boxermom
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Spoot is correct, the salt will absorb moisture from the air which throws off the measurements. Raising it by .001 is fine, it doesn't have to be .002.
Tina
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spoot
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heimstra23,
There really an accurate way to tell you how much salt to add.
When you want to raise the SG, just make half your water change water the way you are doing it now. If the SG is lower than your desired tank SG, just add more salt to the next half of the water change water.
You are changing that much water, so even if the water change water is 0.003 more than your tank water it won't change the tank SG by that much.
There really an accurate way to tell you how much salt to add.
When you want to raise the SG, just make half your water change water the way you are doing it now. If the SG is lower than your desired tank SG, just add more salt to the next half of the water change water.
You are changing that much water, so even if the water change water is 0.003 more than your tank water it won't change the tank SG by that much.
Add the normal amount of salt. Let it settle for a bit to make sure everything's dissolved, then use your refractometer to check the s.g. of the water you're changing. Not sure what the amount should be, exactly (math isn't my thing.)
As well, as Boxermom said, you don't *need* to raise it 0.002/week. That's the absolute MAXIMUM. You could do less if you like.
Besides, aren't f8's supposed to be around 1.005-8 or so? You're nearly there, no need to rush it.
As well, as Boxermom said, you don't *need* to raise it 0.002/week. That's the absolute MAXIMUM. You could do less if you like.
Besides, aren't f8's supposed to be around 1.005-8 or so? You're nearly there, no need to rush it.
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hiemstra23
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I just dont get how anyone measures the salt, perhaps Im just not very smart. If you cant measure it by weight then can you measure it my volume?? tablespoons?? It just seems like everyone is telling me to throw in "some" salt , mix it up and hope for the best, seems a little off to me. Seems that it lacks accuracy.
Then again like I say I don't get the concept perhaps . . I dont know
Then again like I say I don't get the concept perhaps . . I dont know
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The package will give you a crude measurement in cups for how much to use to make regular seawater. Lets say you want to make brackish water with and SG of 1.006. Since full sea water is SG 1.024, you want to use 1/4 the ammount the package says to use per gallon. Then, after its throughly mixed, you use a refractometer or hydrometer to measure what actual SG you have, and either add a bit more water or salt to get it exactly where you want.
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hiemstra23
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Thank you, that helped me to understand a bit more. So are you saying to me that I need to make the SG of the mixture in my bucket the same as I would want my tank? (not sure if that makes sense) To use you example... if I want my tank at 1.006, then the mixture in the bucket needs to be 1.006?
When you say add a "bit" more salt or water, could you give me an example? Do you mean like a tablespoon of salt... or a cup of water? or more or less.
Sorry if I'm confusing you.
When you say add a "bit" more salt or water, could you give me an example? Do you mean like a tablespoon of salt... or a cup of water? or more or less.
Sorry if I'm confusing you.
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Boxermom
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Its hard for anyone to give you exacts on how much of each to add in order to raise/lower the salinity. 
Depends on too many factors.
Once you have the tank salinity where you want it, yes, you make the water in the buckets the same salinity as your tank. But while you are still raising the salinity to get to your target point, you still need to continue raising it no more than .002 per change.
(Believe it or not, I'm still stuck at work.
Hubby's on his way though so I should be home in an hour and a half or so, but you'll probably already have gone to bed. I'll log on as soon as I get home, just in case.)
Depends on too many factors. Once you have the tank salinity where you want it, yes, you make the water in the buckets the same salinity as your tank. But while you are still raising the salinity to get to your target point, you still need to continue raising it no more than .002 per change.
(Believe it or not, I'm still stuck at work.
Hubby's on his way though so I should be home in an hour and a half or so, but you'll probably already have gone to bed. I'll log on as soon as I get home, just in case.)Tina
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
Puffers: Auriglobus silus x1, Tetraodon travancoricus x1, Tetraodon turgidus x1, Tetraodon miurus x1, Tetraodon nigroviridis x2, Tetraodon baileyi x2, Tetraodon lineatus x1, Tetraodon palembangensis x1
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hiemstra23
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hiemstra23
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I'm not sure if this is going to help or not, or if you're still wanting help, but...
There is not "exact" way of doing this. Once a package of salt is opened, you can no longer expect the salt to stay the same "dryness." Salt starts to suck in moisture the second it has the chance to. So if you're measuring based on weight, or volume (grams/ounces/etc, or tablespoon/cup/etc) then after the first time or first couple of times, it was start to become inaccurate because you don't know what the moisture content of the salt is anymore.
So, for example, normally say you're using 12oz of salt. After a while, the salt in your package will start to suck up moisture, making it heavier. So after a while "12oz" will contain less salt than "12oz" at the beginning, because there will be water with the salt, too. So, if you keep measuring s.g. based on weight or volume, your s.g. will eventually start dropping, cuz the actual amount of salt in "12oz" will start decreasing.
Is that making any sense? Sorry it's kind of going in circles.
Anyway, that's the reason everyone keeps telling you there's no "exact" way of doing it. If you're lucky, the salt should stay about the same humidity, so what you can do (and what everyone recommends to do) is to use your "12oz" of salt as a starting point. Mix that first. Let it sit for a little bit to make sure all the salt it dissolved. Use your refractometer to check this water. Once you have that number, you can adjust accordingly.
Example (completely hypothetical):
Your tank is at 1.006 s.g., which is what you want to maintain.
You mix up a batch of the "12oz" of salt. Let it sit for about 10, 15 min or so. Measure with your hydrometer. Say, the hydrometer tells you your s.g. is 1.005. You add a small amount of salt (arbitrary, can use a tablespoon if you want, just something that's convenient), stir and let it sit for another 10, 15 minutes. After, you test the water again, say it says 1.006. You're done, and ready to change water. If you overshot, so your s.g. is 1.007 now, you add a little bit of water, stir it a bit and measure with your hydrometer again. You keep doing this until you get the desired s.g.
It sounds like it will take forever, and the first few times it may, but after a while, you get the hang of it, and can guess better how much extra water or salt you will need to get your desired s.g.
Hope that kind of helped...it's hard at first, but it'll get easier
There is not "exact" way of doing this. Once a package of salt is opened, you can no longer expect the salt to stay the same "dryness." Salt starts to suck in moisture the second it has the chance to. So if you're measuring based on weight, or volume (grams/ounces/etc, or tablespoon/cup/etc) then after the first time or first couple of times, it was start to become inaccurate because you don't know what the moisture content of the salt is anymore.
So, for example, normally say you're using 12oz of salt. After a while, the salt in your package will start to suck up moisture, making it heavier. So after a while "12oz" will contain less salt than "12oz" at the beginning, because there will be water with the salt, too. So, if you keep measuring s.g. based on weight or volume, your s.g. will eventually start dropping, cuz the actual amount of salt in "12oz" will start decreasing.
Is that making any sense? Sorry it's kind of going in circles.
Anyway, that's the reason everyone keeps telling you there's no "exact" way of doing it. If you're lucky, the salt should stay about the same humidity, so what you can do (and what everyone recommends to do) is to use your "12oz" of salt as a starting point. Mix that first. Let it sit for a little bit to make sure all the salt it dissolved. Use your refractometer to check this water. Once you have that number, you can adjust accordingly.
Example (completely hypothetical):
Your tank is at 1.006 s.g., which is what you want to maintain.
You mix up a batch of the "12oz" of salt. Let it sit for about 10, 15 min or so. Measure with your hydrometer. Say, the hydrometer tells you your s.g. is 1.005. You add a small amount of salt (arbitrary, can use a tablespoon if you want, just something that's convenient), stir and let it sit for another 10, 15 minutes. After, you test the water again, say it says 1.006. You're done, and ready to change water. If you overshot, so your s.g. is 1.007 now, you add a little bit of water, stir it a bit and measure with your hydrometer again. You keep doing this until you get the desired s.g.
It sounds like it will take forever, and the first few times it may, but after a while, you get the hang of it, and can guess better how much extra water or salt you will need to get your desired s.g.
Hope that kind of helped...it's hard at first, but it'll get easier