Hyposalinity

[luannh]

Please help.

I have 1 Royal Gramma and 2 Clown fish in a 10 gallon quarantine tank, heater set at 79 degrees and an HOB filter.

My Gramma is very sick, lots of white spots one day then the next day no spots back and forth like that.

Now she is staying at the bottom of the tank and not eating.

The clowns didn't show any signs of spots at all and they are eating.

I'm going to do hyposalinity.

My question is, To lower the salinity do I use the solution that came with my refractometer or ro/di water to calibrate it?

Also do I calabrate at 1.025 or 0?

I just got the refractometer and have never used one before.

Help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

[Merthynia]

Use the solution that came with your refractometer. You should still be able to read the numbers below the "normal" range in order to test for hypo-salinity. Remember to bring the salinity down slowly as to not shock your fish any further. DO you have anywhere for the fish to hide in your quarantine tank? PVC joints work well for this purpose.

[luannh]

Thank you so much for helping!

I will use the calibration fluid.

When I have the refractometer calibrated at 0, do I then turn the screw to 35ppm before testing my quarantine water?

The directions weren't clear on this.

Yes I do have 3 pvc joints in the tank.

My plan is to bring the salinity down over a period of 2 days.

Thanks again.

Luann