Beginner advice on salinity - water changes and top off.

[cjlhessing]

Hello, I'm planning on starting a small reef tank - 20 gallons.

 

I've been reading up on things for about 6 months now, getting a grasp of whats what and I understand things for the most part but theres something I came across last night (the subject of spikes and drops) and can't seem to get my head around so hoped someone here can clarify my thoughts or confirm them:

 

Basically, salinity.

 

Apparently my tank is going to evaporate...nice...so when that happens the salt remains but the water evaporates, therefor the tank needs topping up, which must be done with freshwater as the salt is still there in the tank. And by fresh I mean RO. This can be done manually or via an auto topup though they have their own risks with going mad...So, assuming all goes well, 1litre has evaporated so 1 litre is replaced, would my salinity still be fine or would there somehow be a risk of a drop or spike even if the procedure went ok?

 

Second is the matter of water changes which have to be salt water for salt water. So again, assuming my salinity was at a level I want, I then change out whether manually or with an auto device with fresh salt water that is also at the salinity level I want (possibly just using carribsea salt-pure pre bottled water from start to finish) would my salinity be fine or would there be issues to cause a spike/drop?

 

I have seen there are ways to measure your salinity, even things to alert you to a drop or spike, and what I have possibly understood is that if somehow a water top up made a drop occur I would take out a cup of water from the tank and add a fresh saltwater cup in to increase salt levels (and then measure)....but what if a drop or spike happens after a water change where all I have done is remove salt water at a specified level and replaced it with exactly the same salt water with the same salinity....

 

Now I have my headache again.

You'd think I'd have figured this out in 6 months but nope:P

 

So if anyone here can help me understand this...I'd be so grateful!!!

 

If it helps you, 20 gallon tank will have a skimmer, media reactor, possibly auto top off and auto water changers (apex tutorials here I come) will have beginner types coral and a few fish - and I mean few

 

If I can understand this then I can start going forward and look to making my own sea water

 

Huge thanks to any and all and sorry if its a stupidly easy thing to resolve that shouldn't need help.

 

Chris.

[Deleted User 8]

Welcome to the forum! Good for you in doing research first, it often does not happen in that oder.

 

Here is the absolute best thing you can do in this hobby. All else is a compromise: Get yourself an RO/DI filtration unit and use it for making your own saltwater (the premixed stuff is way too much $$) and for making top off fresh water. If you have to buy water, get RO/DI water, not just RO water. Also, test all the water you buy (or make for that matter) with a TDS meter. Never trust the LFS, always verify with your own tests (or make them test it in front of you).

 

One rule to keep in mind is that you want to keep your salinity as stable as possible. The best way to do that is with an auto top off system that keeps your water level constant. You can manually top of every day, but that could mean a swing in your salinity. Bad juju. You don't need anything fancy for this. Two float switches (one for the pump and another for the high water shut off) and an Aqua Lifter pump.

 

As for water changes--keep it simple right now and don't bother with an automatic system just yet. They are more necessary for larger systems. Make sure your salinity and temp match between old tank water and new salt water when doing water changes. Remove a 2-4 gallons of tank water a week (a good time to suck out detritus) and replace with fresh saltwater that matches temp/salinity.

 

A good refractometer is a good idea too--take the money you will save with building an auto water change unit and get a good one.

 

Buzz

[cjlhessing]

Welcome to the forum! Good for you in doing research first, it often does not happen in that oder.

 

Here is the absolute best thing you can do in this hobby. All else is a compromise: Get yourself an RO/DI filtration unit and use it for making your own saltwater (the premixed stuff is way too much $$) and for making top off fresh water. If you have to buy water, get RO/DI water, not just RO water. Also, test all the water you buy (or make for that matter) with a TDS meter. Never trust the LFS, always verify with your own tests (or make them test it in front of you).

 

One rule to keep in mind is that you want to keep your salinity as stable as possible. The best way to do that is with an auto top off system that keeps your water level constant. You can manually top of every day, but that could mean a swing in your salinity. Bad juju. You don't need anything fancy for this. Two float switches (one for the pump and another for the high water shut off) and an Aqua Lifter pump.

 

As for water changes--keep it simple right now and don't bother with an automatic system just yet. They are more necessary for larger systems. Make sure your salinity and temp match between old tank water and new salt water when doing water changes. Remove a 2-4 gallons of tank water a week (a good time to suck out detritus) and replace with fresh saltwater that matches temp/salinity.

 

A good refractometer is a good idea too--take the money you will save with building an auto water change unit and get a good one.

 

Buzz

 

Hello Buzz, firstly thank you for the praise I feel a rather special noob now

 

I'll look into this RO/DI unit some more - I have come across them in my research a few times, not only as a huge cost saver in the long run but also being better overall. The one thing holding me back on further investigation is that they are spoken about as 'RO/DI' but the ones I can find in UK seem to be RO only and I can't find out if they have the DI part too. It could be Im just looking up the wrong thing...it may be that here they just call it RO but so far my emails to companies have fallen on deaf ears, perhaps a call to a reputable LFS or even public aquarium is in order.

 

Auto topoff, consider it ticked on the list for purchase. Seems simple enough just one jug full and one empty under the aquarium. Should that water for topoff be heated?? Thats something not even the guys at BulkReefSupply on YouTube mentioned .

 

The refractometer would be for measuring the salinity of the water I mix correct?

 

If keeping the salinity in my tank stable is just down to accurate auto-top offs and temp/salinity match on old water to new water than I think I will again take your advice and mix the water myself - I was worried that wrong types or wrong amounts could mess with that balance.

I was thinking of Red Sea Coral Pro salt, so once I can find out the measurement for the 2-4 gallons of water to make the correct mix I guess I can do that rather than buy the water direct. Obviously checking with a refractometer to make sure it is bang on rather than leaving it to a recommended of salt mix v gallons of water.

 

I guess all I can say is thanks very much for clarifying that and the advice.

It's much appreciated!

 

 

Chris.

 

 

*This is the huge benefit of having months to research things, if the tank was here tomorrow or next week Id be running around like a headless chicken but this way I have as long as I need to find out that average dose of salt to water, get a reputable refractometer, crossmatch my fish to coral needs, look up reviews of equipment etc. Thanks again for all your help!!!

[Deleted User 8]

You are obviously on the right track. You have the right attitute for sure!

 

This is an RO/DI unit: http://spectrapure.com/FACTORY-REFURBISHED/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System

 

No need to heat the top off water. Good question though. It should drip in slow enough that it should not matter.

 

Al\ways best to make your own water. You really need to control the most important aspect of reefkeeping. I would make up a batch of water, say 20 gallons and have it heated and ready to go. Use it for water changes and in case of emergency. Having water ready to go will come in handy, trust me.

 

Once you get the correct salt mix to water ratio down it is pretty simple to make saltwater. You just measure the correct amount and dump it into the fresh RO/DI water. Check salinty and adjust as needed. Match your temp to that in the tank, and Bob's your Uncle (unless he has bewbs, then he'd be your aunt)

 

Buzz

[cjlhessing]

You are obviously on the right track. You have the right attitute for sure!

 

This is an RO/DI unit: http://spectrapure.com/FACTORY-REFURBISHED/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System

 

No need to heat the top off water. Good question though. It should drip in slow enough that it should not matter.

 

Al\ways best to make your own water. You really need to control the most important aspect of reefkeeping. I would make up a batch of water, say 20 gallons and have it heated and ready to go. Use it for water changes and in case of emergency. Having water ready to go will come in handy, trust me.

 

Once you get the correct salt mix to water ratio down it is pretty simple to make saltwater. You just measure the correct amount and dump it into the fresh RO/DI water. Check salinty and adjust as needed. Match your temp to that in the tank, and Bob's your Uncle (unless he has bewbs, then he'd be your aunt)

 

Buzz

Hi Buzz, Iv managed to get my head around RO/DI and I have that well under control now so I know exactly what Im doing with that. Thanks for all your help clarifying that up.

 

I dont suppose you're good at figuring out pumps and how to connect them to hose are you????

I posted a Q, thread is called : Advice on pump connection/plumbing

Maybe you can figure that all out in 3 seconds

 

I wish this site had a directory of people you could call and talk to on the phone ))) Talking is so much easier for figuring things out!