Bonehead Move #1 & #2

[CHEMCHEF]

I thought I had been taking great care of my tank, but it appears I have alot to learn.
Its an aquapod 24, and everyone told me not to use that stupid foam block that comes with the tank.
But me being stubborn thought what do they know. Well I started doing a water change last night, and I got 2 qts (at most) of water out of the tank and the thing started pumping bubbles, so i took the hood off and realized the filter section was empty (EMPTY), I guess the clogged foam had been restricting the water from flowing into the filter chamber.
SO I TOOK THE F****ING FOAM OUT

BONEHEAD MOVE #2
I have been doing weekly water changes 20% and never thought to check the salinity in the tank. I check the water that im making obviously, But never the tank water, I guess I figured if its going in right, it should be right in the tank, In theory I suppose Thats true, But when the filter chamber is empty its going to throw things off a bit when your only dealing with 17 gallons of water.
I wont tell you all how hight the salinity was, but now high can it get before you do damage, and How often do people really check there parameters, You can PM Me if your embarresed by tour answer!!!

Sorry for the long post. Just had to vent a little bit

 

[pecan2phat]

Using the foam is fine as long as you rinse it out every week or two with tap water as to not letting it become a nutrient trap & biological filter. Also will prevent clogging as in your situation.
But you should not use the bio-balls or ceramic rings IMO.

 

[georgelc86]

Nice. How are all the critters doing now.

 

[latino277]

at a min... I check my SG for the tank and fresh water before I do anything.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

Everbody seem to be doing ok. I hadnt noticed any segnificant Changes over the last couple of weeks Except my yellow gorgonia was not flowering.
What damage can be done from the salinity being to high?

 

[pecan2phat]

over a gradual period, nothing. (within reason to about 1.030-1.035) In a short period of time such as a couple of hours, then osmoregulation shock.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

I was only up to 1.027

 

[mandown123]

that is okay. the thing is to keep it stable for the health of your critters. dont be jumping up and down if you can help it.

 

[KathyC]

Your Move # 2 begs the question..are you topping off with ro/di water or are you using SW?
You should be using unsalted water for top offs and with the amount of evaporation we have during the summer months, it isn't a bad idea to check your tank daily for the SG (and temp) readings.

 

[CHEMCHEF]

I always top off with ro/di.

 

[chazertis]

how did the salinity get so high then? if you're topping off with ro/di water and the water you're making is of desired salinity, there is no way it should get that high.

 

[nanoreefer22]

I don't think that salinity is high at all, depends on where his salinity normally is.

My tank is always kept at 1.025 or 1.026, and I'm sure at times it gets to 1.027, because of evap and me not being home. It just depends on where his intial levels were. 1.026 is where my tank has been for at least a year now .

 

[CHEMCHEF]

I think it got so high because the filter level was so low doin water changes for a couple of weeks. The filter chamber holds about 3 gallons out of 17 total with LR displacement. So by not taking sg levels of the tank and only of the new ASW 1.024
leaves me with three evaporated gallons so 1.027 seem logical to me:scratch:

 

[tosiek]

The main problem people run into is correcting the salinity too quick. Dropping it down to 1.023 by doing a quick water change or swapping with rodi is alot deadlier than having the salinity higher. Think of it like a person skipping the decompression stage in a deep dive.