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| WTF did I do? |
 Nov 3 2009, 10:23 PM
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#1
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Nano Reefer Posts: 28 Joined: 18-October 09 From: Ontario, Canada Member No.: 47,888  |
Ok, so 1.5 weeks into my first tank. 7.5g 12'' cube.
My params were looking ok fo a cycle I guess. Ammonia, nitrate were falling all the fun stuff. Everything I dilegently read about here. Was In the middle of DIY lighting.(LED's) And Its time I thought for a tank top off. Well its a small tank so it only needed about 1 litre( I'm Canadian). Topped 'er off... All was well... I thought. Now my sg has dropped (1.024 to 1.021) so has my salinity. cleaned my hydrometer 5 times like a crackhead. Same result... what happened? I'm using distilled water as RO/DI is not available to me here for purchase, and I can't afford the home units... My brother in law assures me distilled is fine as thats what he uses. Hmmm? How can I fix this? Or is it serious? Am I panicking for nothing? |
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Nov 3 2009, 11:49 PM
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#2
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 ^rotating snakes!^  Posts: 14,002 Joined: 28-March 03 From: OKC Member No.: 3,226 |
 So, you added water and your salinity/s.g. dropped. This is what should happen. Salinity/s.g. measure concentration, and as you increase the volume (with water), you decrease concentration. However, it sounds like you topped off too much water (ideally keep s.g. around 1.025-1.026). What I suggest is marking a specific level on your tank (or filling the tank to a specific level) when it has the proper salinity/s.g. you want. Then, top-offs become simply raising the water level back to what it was. Distilled is fine compared to RO/DI, but even tap water would have lowered your salinity/s.g. To raise salinity/s.g., let the water evaporate and top off with saltwater at the desired salinity/s.g. This post has been edited by lakshwadeep: Nov 3 2009, 11:50 PM -------------------- |
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Nov 3 2009, 11:51 PM
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#3
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 MTOT Posts: 17,756 Joined: 29-January 07 From: Menomonee Falls, WI Member No.: 25,617 |
You never had your SG right from the get go. It needs to be at the correct level when the tank is full, then topping off will bring it back.
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Nov 4 2009, 12:12 PM
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#4
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Nano Reefer Posts: 28 Joined: 18-October 09 From: Ontario, Canada Member No.: 47,888 |
Thank you. I feel like a tool now.
The way I took things were my s.g would increase as water evaporated. So a top up waould bring it back. I do also have a mark on my tank for this. So it was panic for nothing. Lesson learned. |
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Nov 4 2009, 02:28 PM
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#5
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Nano Reefer Posts: 617 Joined: 30-December 08 Member No.: 41,226 |
QUOTE (SaltwaterN00b @ Nov 4 2009, 11:12 AM)  Thank you. I feel like a tool now. The way I took things were my s.g would increase as water evaporated. So a top up waould bring it back. I do also have a mark on my tank for this. So it was panic for nothing. Lesson learned. no worries everyone on here no matter how old learns something new 
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