[starfishlover]

I just set uo our 125 on Sat. Salinity is a little low at 1.019. I was wondering how to raise. Can I just add some salt , do I need to take some water out and mix new or can I wait until I do first water change and adjust the mix then? I am using tap water at the moment . I will use distilled water for top offs until hubby installs RO/DI unit.
Another duestion is I didnt get a test kit . Would it be alright to wait until this weekend to test ot should I go to the pet shop asap for test kit. (Danakor I know you will tell me run dont walk to the store and get test kit LOL and not to worry about RO water,but a little strapped for cash until weekend) No offence Danakor I appriciate EVERYONES suggestions

[pogodzib]

If you don't have anything in your tank yet, you can just add the salt into the tank in a area with high flow and no substrate so you can get it mixed. If you have some livestock in your tank or have a substrate so you can't mix the salt in the tank, then you would want to mix it on the side in a bucket. With a tank that new I'd imaging that you don't have any livestock in your tank yet. If that is the case, you should tank some water out of your tank and add some salt to bring the water up to around 1.040. I've always been told that once the mixture starts getting over 1.040 stuff starts precipitating out of solution. Repeating the step a few times will get you up to the 1.025 range. Also, if your tank doesn't have any livestock or live rock in it, there isn't a hurry to raise your salinity, your cycle will take place at a SG of 1.019 just as fast as it will at 1.025

Since you shouldn't have anything in your tank for a few weeks, there isn't any reason why you need to test now. If you want to keep track of how the ammonia-nitrite-nitrate cycle is going, it takes a few days before the ammonia levels start rising anyways. If I was you, I would buy Salifert test kits, which your LFS may not sell. DO NOT BUY THE RED SEA TEST KITS THAT MOST LFS SELL. They are known to be inaccurate and you can usually buy Salifert test kits on-line for close to the same cost as you buy other test kits at LFS's.

[starfishlover]

[starfishlover]

sorry pic not very good

[starfishlover]

better pic (i hope)

[starfishlover]

oops should have said no water yet

[Danakor]

*cough cough* You should get a test kit ASAP. now that being said that doesn't mean run down there right this very second... Yes I know I am very hard on the whole testing thing, but trust me it will save you in the long run. waiting till the weekend should be fine. s far as the RO/DI goes I think everyone here now knows my thoughts on it. but seeing as how you have 125 gallon tank yeah I think an RO/DI filter system would be a good investment for you.(simply because if your tap water from your house is not suitable then you will be carrying about 15 gallons of water to and from your water source every time you do a water change.) 90 % of the time the first week nothing will really happen with your testing anyways.

[Danakor]

Also about the salinity just add more salt. it is too soon in your tank life to actually cause issues.