top off water

[Jarrett]

i know you are suppose to add fresh RO water as your top off water but i am finding on my 75 gallon tank i have a high evaporation rate and i am topping off a little bit more then 5 gallons a week. my salinity seems to stay in the same place but sometimes i have to wait 2 weeks to do a water change if i cant get to it in a week. wouldnt that much water eventually dilute my salinity in my tank eventually dropping it?

 

[andylee]

The salt doesn't evaporate; only the water does.

 

[Killarsox]

The salt doesn't evaporate; only the water does.

True, but what about salt creep in your sump, and overflows?
Seems like it would drop the salinity a little.....
I wouldn't use saltwater for top-off, just saying.

 

[Arati]

The salt doesn't evaporate; only the water does.

that normal I evap about 7 gal a week. the ATO replaces the fresh water and my salinity stays the same.

 

[Jarrett]

alright just making sure i felt like i was adding alot of fresh water, that would possibly dilute my salinty but guess not thanks guys

 

[KathyC]

Are you adding your top off water on a daily basis?
Also, a good idea to be checking your salinity at least weekly and making any necessary minor adjustments when you do your water changes

 

[andylee]

Killarsox, that's obviously negligible and doesn't answer Jarrett's question. I usually just rub that off into the sump anyway.

 

[Jarrett]

yes pretty much every morning i add water to the tank

 

[Imbarrie]

In my 75 I was replacing a little over 5 gallons a week. It depends on the air temp and humidity.
I top off twice a week so there isn't as much shock. But an ATO is the way to do it.

 

[Jarrett]

alright thanks imbarrie. and yea i know just waiting a little bit getting my money back up until i can start adding more things to the system. quick question for you the lights i bought off you do you think the bulbs need replacing? i ask just because i am starting to see some red slime in my tank and i know sometimes the factor is old bulbs so if thats the case i was going to replace every bulb.

 

[Imbarrie]

Your tank is still new so it could be settling in.
It could be for many reasons so it's difficult to tell. I didn't notice any red slime growth prior to selling that light so I'm not sure if it is the bulbs.
When you were rinsing out your filter socks you were not washing all the junk out. The cloudy water you were getting was this junk and is more likely a cause of the slime.
Do you have a GFO reactor?

 

[Jarrett]

nope no GFO reactor. like i said its going to be kind of a slow process but eventually i will get to it. i was just curious because i didnt know how old the bulbs were. i was planning on changing them around christmas time anyway but i know the slime can be caused by many other problems

 

[Imbarrie]

No worries. You can probably wait till beginning of summer if you want.
Start looking at color temps. T5 bulbs come in many colors.

 

[Jarrett]

yea i am i am prob going to go for more blue and purple bulbs. would it be ok do to do mostly those and have only 2 white bulbs?

 

[Imbarrie]

The best way to tell is by looking at other peoples tanks. Time spent looking now will save money and time in the long run.
A few people in MR have a lot of blue bulbs and purple is catching on.
I is more a personal choice, I really like the crisp white 12K look with some super blue but I was still experimenting. There is a 420 blue and 460 blue.
Choose wisely.

 

[Jarrett]

alright thanks imbarrie ill do my research