The Puffer Forum

I'm trying to figure out how much to add to 15 gallons of water to raise it to the specific gravity of 1.004.

I will mix this after a 50% water change to my 30 gallon tank.

Instant Ocean Sea Salt instructions says to add 1/2 cup per gallon. And 1.5 Gallon will raise 5 Gallons of Water to 1.022.

So does this mean 0.75 Cups of Salt mixed with 1.5 Gallons of Water, will raise 5 Gallons of Water (to a total of 6.5 Gallons of Water) to 1.022 ??

How much Instant Ocean Sea Salt do you add to your mixing/reserve container for your brackish tank?

I just need some sort of starting point.

Firstly, you need a hydromemter or a refractormeter. Then, you slowly add salt to your dechlorinated water and measure the salinity. However, when you mix salt up, you have to add it to a bucket and let it mix between 24-48 hours with a heater and a powerhead.

secondly, you need to learn to read. 1.5 POUNDS (thats what lbs means) of salt will raise the specific gravity of 5 gallons of fresh water to 1.022, not 1.5 gallons of salt...

I have a refractometer.

I have a 15 gallon "bucket" full of water with Prime added. A powerhead to mix it, and a heater.

When you saw, slowly add salt... does that mean, add 1 teaspoon? 1 cup? I could add 1 teaspoon, wait a little bit, measure the salinity, but it would take a while if I had to add a cup at a time, mix, measure the salinity.

And I'm only trying to get to 1.004.

I would say add 1 cup at a time and let it mix for a couple of hours, then measure it.

LongGrain wrote:secondly, you need to learn to read. 1.5 POUNDS (thats what lbs means) of salt will raise the specific gravity of 5 gallons of fresh water to 1.022, not 1.5 gallons of salt...

Wow... a little harsh and angry.

1.5 Pounds of Salt Raises 5 Gallons to 1.022

4.5 Pounds of Salt Raises 15 Gallons to 1.022

0.75 Pounds of Salt Raises 15 Gallons to 1.004

Is that correct? If so, I need to figure out how many cups are in 0.75 lb of salt?

Nuclear_Glitter wrote:I would say add 1 cup at a time and let it mix for a couple of hours, then measure it.

Thanks! I think I got it.

Let us know how it goes.

You should only raise the sg of an established tank by 0.002 per week

For me it's generally about 3 tablespoons for every 10 litres to get to SG1.005 but the amount of salt you pick up is affected by humidity so try about 2 1/2 tablespoons for every 10 litres at first and add more salt/water as needed.

Adding 1 cup of Instant Ocean to 17.5 Gallons raised it up to 1.003-1.004 last night.

I'm going to wait 24 hours and check it again to make sure it mixed completely.

I'll add 14-15 gallons of this 1.004 to 14-15 gallons of 1.000 and end up with 28-30 gallons of 1.002. (need to account for substrate and everything else in the tank)

Did you follow my link?

bertie 83 wrote:You should only raise the sg of an established tank by 0.002 per week

He is doing a 50% change with freshwater and 1.004 to get the 1.002. I was going to point that out, too, but then I noticed in his original post that he said he was doing a 50% change.

Ah I see I thought he was aiming to get the tank to 1.004. Lol misread it sorry