Went away for a week, came back to 1.60 salinity...??

[sphelps]

Ah specific gravity with a missing zero, makes more sense now. I have no idea how it could get that high without interference. More salt must have been added.

[Dearth]

What about salt build up around edges of tank falling in

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Dearth

What about salt build up around edges of tank falling in

I can't see it. For reference to raise specific gravity of 120 gallons of saltwater from 1.025 to 1.060 you would need around 100 cups of salt, so more than the average bucket... I'm surprised anything would survive at that level.

[howdy20012002]

i think something is wrong with your refractometer
fish would have a very difficult time living in that much salt as they would not be able to dispel waster properly. I think that you would not have any live fish at that high of salt.
also coral would not do well, if not die, in that much salt.
that is almost 3 times the normal amount of salt.
it would be very hard to accidentally have that high of level unless someone dumped an extra bucket of salt into tank over the last week.
IMO, if it had been such a huge increase over the week period you were gone, you definitely would have losses as things can't adjust that quickly to such a large increase of osmotic pressure.
and I don't see how dosing various suppliments would do anything to the salt content as they are two separate things.

[sphelps]

Yeah I would venture my guess towards a measurement issue as well but probably user error since the posted measurement wasn't salinity nor an accurate SG. Not to be rude but if you can't write it down properly, there's a good chance you didn't read it properly either.

Also just noticed "Perpetual Water Changer" in your sig, what's that about?

[howdy20012002]

not trying to insult you, but make sure when you use your refractometer that you wash it before and wipe it down really well.
sometimes remaing saltwater will dry out and leave the salt residue on the lense and you will get a wonky reading the next time you use it.
i would definitely think it is a reading error of some sort.

[Delphinus]

I'm inclined to agree that there was a problem or error in the reading. A 95 gallon with 60 gallon sump, let's assume around 120 gallons of water in this system, would require in the order of 240 cups of salt to go from 1.000 to 1.025 (so 240 cups for a jump of 0.025). Correspondingly a jump to 1.060 from 1.025, a difference of 0.035 would be in the ballpark of 336 cups of salt.

[Myka]

Ime, reef inhabitants become irritated around 1.035 (SPS corals much sooner). I don't trust your refractometer. Do you happen to have anything else around to test with? Even a hydrometer reading would help at this point.

[paddyob]

Did you try calibrate your refractometer?

[gobytron]

The proof is in the pudding.
fish were lethargic and almost all coral gone other than some zoas and palys that look like they might come back.

A couple of LPS seem to have fared the best.

I assure you, my refractometer is regularly calibrated and this isn't the only tank in my house so I know the reading is accurate as my 14 gallon and 60 gallon tanks are still right around 1.024-1.025. I've been reefing for about 10 years, I'm well aware that you should clean your refractometer with fresh water before and after each use.

I also calibrate is every couple of months.


Guys, I'm seriously looking for suggestions here and not banter.

If you don't have suggestions beyond my own personal error please don't post here.