Roger30 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 I do a 50% water change every other week and my salinity is 1.023. I buy my water so I tested my water before doing the water change and it's 1.025. Why is my salinity dropping? I expected it to rinse not drop. I have a 30 gallon rimless AIO with a 5 gallon reservoir ATO that last me over 15+ days. Any ideas? Link to comment
markalot Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 How are you testing? Might be temperature related. Link to comment
joy13 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Are you using a refractometer or a hydrometer to test? If you are using a refractometer you need to make sure it is calibrated properly some the tiniest bump will make it change. Link to comment
AZDesertRat Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Are you wet skimming with your protein skimmer? Link to comment
Roger30 Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 I test with a hydrometer. If it was a the hydrometer, then both my DT water and new water that I purchase should read the same? Are you wet skimming with your protein skimmer?I was thinking about this yesterday, my skimmate is pretty wet Link to comment
ALexpsycho Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Are you wet skimming with your protein skimmer? +1 I wouldn't find another problem only if your tank is leaking... Link to comment
BulkRate Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Are the two vessels at exactly the same temperature? (your tank and the new water from your store) When using a refractometer temperature compensation can come into play and the small sample quickly hits room temp (or more correctly the temperature of the refractometer's housing). A hydrometer is completely immersed when in use - I'd think that water temperature differences could easily yield somewhat differing results. That or your ATO is supplying slightly more top-off water than expected. Just to rule out a simple mistake... you do turn it off while doing water changes, right? Link to comment
farkwar Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Make sure your ATO tubing isnt siphoning in either direction? 15 days for 5 gallons on a 30 gallon reef, seems low for some reason, unless you're in Alaska or Canada. Link to comment
Roger30 Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 I do turn my ato off when I do my water changes. I also checked to make sue the ato tube is not siphoning. When I purchase water I leave it in the same room for a day so there will be no temp change. I think I'm going to dry up my skimmate. Link to comment
markalot Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Stop using a hydrometer, get some caccurate readings. Link to comment
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