LR effected by salinity? - Aquarium Advice

hc8719 · 12-06-2006, 12:21 AM

hey guys, still cycling the tank with LR and base rock. i forgot to check the salt levels (studying for exams, wont happen again) and the salt rocketed from 1.021 to 1.026

how much damage did i do to my tank, will the nitrifying bacteria on the LR be effected?

i didnt have any little critters, not one stowaway on 6 lbs of LR, so no worries there

my ammonia levels did drop from 2.0 to somewhere between 1 to .5 and im hoping it continues even with the salinity flucuations

tecwzrd · 12-06-2006, 08:46 AM

Minimal damage to just base/lr as far as the bacteria is concerned. How did the sg change so quickly?

blazeyreef · 12-06-2006, 09:09 AM

probably from water evaporation! I know if I slip a water change and delay it a few day's, or even a week (like If I go on vacation) it will rocket!

tecwzrd · 12-06-2006, 09:18 AM

I agree it probably was due to evaporation but in a 20 gal tank it would take a week for it to change that much. That's why I asked.

Slow sg changes that happen over a week is much less dangerous then drastic changes that happen within minutes like not checking the sg level correctly when doing a pwc.

Bacteria is fairly resilient and can easily handle sg changes over a long time but are more affected by rapid changes. Since the tank is still cycling it's not much of an issue right now.

**melosu58** · 12-06-2006, 10:02 AM

I agree that the damage is minimal but a big jump like that if you had fish or corals would be rough. Luckily you`re going through your cycle. Make sure you add FW top off every day to keep your salinity from making large bounces like that. Hope all goes well.

**roka64** · 12-06-2006, 10:29 AM

I agree with the rest. Are you topping off with SW? Remember, water evaporates a lot more quickly thatn the salt, so you should use FW.

squawkbert · 12-06-2006, 11:02 AM

no sweat, assuming it's just the result of forrgetting to top off for a couple of days

hc8719 · 12-06-2006, 12:01 PM

the water was at 76F, (but felt a bit warmer, or maybe i was just cold) and i dont have eggcrate or anything over the tank, so i guess its reason enough to evaporate. never had it do it that quick though, didnt think much of it, only because i dont have fish yet.

*sigh, yes roka, i top off with fw, you've asked me that several times in various threads, lol

thanks

**Devilishturtles** · 12-06-2006, 12:03 PM

Your tank will be fine.

ellisz · 12-06-2006, 01:07 PM

evaporation rates are going to change based on the seasons and conditions in your home. I would ask why you keep a sg of 1.021? 1.023-1.025 is what most keep their reefs at.

I agree that during the cycle period, it should not be an issue. Definately want to stay more consistent once you get some livestock in there.

12-06-2006, 12:21 AM	#1
hc8719 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 1,932	LR effected by salinity? hey guys, still cycling the tank with LR and base rock. i forgot to check the salt levels (studying for exams, wont happen again) and the salt rocketed from 1.021 to 1.026 how much damage did i do to my tank, will the nitrifying bacteria on the LR be effected? i didnt have any little critters, not one stowaway on 6 lbs of LR, so no worries there my ammonia levels did drop from 2.0 to somewhere between 1 to .5 and im hoping it continues even with the salinity flucuations __________________ "Atrocities are not less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called medical research." George Bernard Shaw

12-06-2006, 08:46 AM	#2
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	Minimal damage to just base/lr as far as the bacteria is concerned. How did the sg change so quickly? __________________ -Micah- If you haven't figured it out yet I like to BOLD links :P Vote for AA at Aqua Rank

12-06-2006, 09:09 AM	#3
blazeyreef Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 1,589 Images: 1	probably from water evaporation! I know if I slip a water change and delay it a few day's, or even a week (like If I go on vacation) it will rocket! __________________ Houston "Face Trials with Smiles"-Porter Ellett *My aquariums-3gall betta, 5.5gall nanoreef, 10gall planted,* *29gall planted* *"We are nothing until we make ourselves somthing"* *CTR*

12-06-2006, 09:18 AM	#4
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	I agree it probably was due to evaporation but in a 20 gal tank it would take a week for it to change that much. That's why I asked. Slow sg changes that happen over a week is much less dangerous then drastic changes that happen within minutes like not checking the sg level correctly when doing a pwc. Bacteria is fairly resilient and can easily handle sg changes over a long time but are more affected by rapid changes. Since the tank is still cycling it's not much of an issue right now. __________________ -Micah- If you haven't figured it out yet I like to BOLD links :P Vote for AA at Aqua Rank

12-06-2006, 11:02 AM	#7
squawkbert Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 256	no sweat, assuming it's just the result of forrgetting to top off for a couple of days __________________ Thanks, Squawkbert WWIIOL Veteran Tanks:1MiniBow 5g, Coralife 10W Colormax, 3 Harlequin Rasboras, Amano shrimp, pond snails, Jungle Val, Bacopa, C. wendtii 46 bowfront: 3 Cardinals, 5 Black Neons, 4 Black Phantoms, 2 Serpae/Minor, 2 C. aeneus, C. trilineatus, 2 black Mollies, 4 Otos, 6 Pristellas, P. Scalare Cryptocoryne wendtii, Java Fern, Val, Bacopa caroliniana, Anubias, Bolbitis, A. reineckii rosefolia, 5g RCS tank 5g RCS/java moss, Najas guadalupensis... tank

12-06-2006, 12:01 PM	#8
hc8719 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 1,932	the water was at 76F, (but felt a bit warmer, or maybe i was just cold) and i dont have eggcrate or anything over the tank, so i guess its reason enough to evaporate. never had it do it that quick though, didnt think much of it, only because i dont have fish yet. *sigh, yes roka, i top off with fw, you've asked me that several times in various threads, lol thanks __________________ "Atrocities are not less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called medical research." George Bernard Shaw

12-06-2006, 01:07 PM	#10
ellisz Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Indiana USA Posts: 2,676 Images: 9	evaporation rates are going to change based on the seasons and conditions in your home. I would ask why you keep a sg of 1.021? 1.023-1.025 is what most keep their reefs at. I agree that during the cycle period, it should not be an issue. Definately want to stay more consistent once you get some livestock in there. __________________ 180 gal Display, 100 gal basement sump, 33 gal refugium, 3x250 MH, 2x160 VHO actinics, zoos, some softies, LPS & lots of acros and other SPS. 100 gal prop tank plumbed into main system w/ 2x96 PC lights and 1x150 MH,

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