to maintain proper salt levels in a brackish aquarium...?

Question

i understand that the amount of salt is approx, i tablespoon per 5 gallons of water , thats all fine and dandy but when you do a water change do you replace the mount of salt appropriate for the new water being added or does some of the salt still stay in the water concentrated so less should be added? hopefully this question makes sence, basically if i add the appropriate amount of salt every time i replace water after a water change will i actually be making the water to saline.

Answer 1

Yes, add only the salt needed for the new water going into the tank. In fact, you should salt the new water prior to adding it to the tank so that the salinity doesn't bounce around too much during the refill process.

If you have seen significant evaporation from the tank between water changes, you should top off the tank with unsalted water before doing to water change to prevent it from becoming too saline.

MM

Answer 2

In a brackish tank, it is not necessary or as vital to keep a constant salinity as it is in a marine tank. That said, you still don't want to have a huge swing one way or another.

The places where brackish waters occur are all affected by tides in the ocean and rain from the river systems above it. (Spring rains and run-off trigger spawning in some brackish fish)

It would still be a good idea to get a hydrometer to keep track of the salinity, and to help you adjust it when you do water changes, but you don't have to be perfect.

Depending on the amount of evaporation, (if you don't add fresh water between changes) you will need to add less salt to the new water, or yes, you will gradually keep increasing the salinity of the water in the tank.

Answer 3

What I do for my brackish tank is measure the specific gravity before the water change and if it's too saline I mix the replacement water a little less saline. No matter what I always pre-mix the salt and replacement water.

Answer 4

i believe instant ocean has a hydrometer for ponds in the 1.000 to 1.014 range.

but basiclly if you take out 5 gallons of water add 1 tsp to the new water.

i dont know if some of the refractometers from fosters work in that range or not