Discussion invitation: Osmoregulation!

Ok, I'd love to see some healthy lively (respectful) debate and or just good discussions on here. So, I thought we could just name a subject and put it out there. Osmoregulation! Specifically how this relates with our aquatic friends ability to do so within a home aquarium. So, to start the subject off I thought of a few key questions that the conversation could revolve around.





1- Where do you keep your salinity at and for what type tank. (ie reef at 1.026, fowlr at 1.023, etc.)


2- How large of a swing has your fish tank taken a hit on? who fared well, who did not? (ie fish did well with large swings, sps corals did not, softies did...etc.)


3- And lastly how do you control salt swings in your own tank? (ie, manual top offs, ATO's, etc.) and possibly throw an idea out there for your own system that you might like advice on?





I'm sure if several people could pipe in, any new folks who stubble across this could take something from it! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

Thanks blackx-runner, I didn't even recall that section to be honest! But your right that would be an appropriate section for this.


I run my broodstock tanks salinity at 1.024 and let it creep to 1.026 then water change with salt at 1.022 to make it come down to about 1.24-25 ish. Never too worried about this systems swings because they're all happy and spawn regularly in this... plus no corals to watch out for. And I run a giant chamber of k1 media I don't have to do water changes that often on it, so I let it creep up a bit. I find though that if left on it's own too much though it can swing more than that which I try to avoid.

Reef tank is pretty well stable at 1.025 and a 30% water change at salt mixed up to 1.023 -1.024 every 2-3 weeks on it sets all parameters back to perfect. No ATO on this as systems small.

Every other tank in the house has such frequent water changes (ie baby tanks and such) that salt levels don't matter much here either, as its set back to perfect then too.

I did however in the beginning of my reefing days have many swings that I can recall... before really learning how to work with top offs and such.... (oh what experience and time as taught). I can recall the worst one was when I had a hydrometer crack on me without me knowing, and after many water changes and top offs I noticed it. I immediately replaced it and tested the water, it had spiked to 1.038!!!!! All the fish were fine, but all the hard corals were pissed for many many weeks afterwards, softies were closed and ended up shedding...but came out as it I slowly dropped it to 1.025 again. Everything started responding well again near 1.028 .