more newbie questions

[Sarah Navarro]

Hi all,
I am the one that got the 20 gallon sal****er tank off ebay that was
supposed to come with an engineering goby and a porcupine puffer. When I
went to pick it up, I told the guy that I was leery about those fish,and he
gave me two clarks clowns instead. They are really cute. My problem is that
I want to make some instant ocean to do a water change, but my Hydrometer
(Deep Six brand) says that it works best in warm water. How do I measure
the specific gravity in the water that I am mixing when I am using cold
water to mix, because I am going to let it sit awhile anyways. Also, How do
you all get your water back up to temp for the water changes after letting
it sits hours or days to age. I am mixing mine in a 35 gallon plastic trash
can. I'm sorry is these things should be obvious to me, but I just don't
get it. For my freshwater tanks I would just use my python and adjust the
water to the right temp straight from the faucet.

Thanks.

[George Patterson]

Sarah Navarro wrote:
>
> How do I measure
> the specific gravity in the water that I am mixing when I am using cold
> water to mix, because I am going to let it sit awhile anyways.

The specific gravity should be 1.025 at 60 degrees F. For every 10 degrees above
that, subtract 0.001. So, at 70 degrees, the SG should be 1.024, at 80, 1.023,
etc. Be aware that the SG will change a little over the first day or two as the
water ages.

> Also, How do
> you all get your water back up to temp for the water changes after letting
> it sits hours or days to age.

I have a 125 gallon tank. I keep it between 76 and 77 degrees. I keep the room
at 72 degrees during winter. I mix up 28 gallons of water at a time (28 gallons
of water with a 25 gallon HW salt mix gives me 1.023). I try to get the water
about room temperature from the faucet. In my experience, changing 28 gallons of
water that's 4 degrees lower than the rest of the tank doesn't have any ill
effects.

> I am mixing mine in a 35 gallon plastic trash
> can. I'm sorry is these things should be obvious to me, but I just don't
> get it. For my freshwater tanks I would just use my python and adjust the
> water to the right temp straight from the faucet.

I'm using a 32 gallon can. I use my python to fill it up with water at least
room temperature. Get it too cold, and the condensation on the outside of the
can ruins the floors.

George Patterson
He who tries to carry a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in
no other way.

[BiG Orange]

You are supposed to mix the water in a rubbermaid container with a small
pump to circulate the water as well as a heater.

Obviously you don't want to put 60 degree water in an 80 degree tank, plus
the salt is harsh on the fish unless you are using Fritz salt which is the
only one I am aware of that is safe to use immediately.

[George Patterson]

Sarah Navarro wrote:
>
> How do I measure
> the specific gravity in the water that I am mixing when I am using cold
> water to mix, because I am going to let it sit awhile anyways.

By the way. Most fish can tolerate a specific gravity a few points low. Getting
too much salt, on the other hand, dehydrates the fish. I tend to keep my tank
around 1.021.

George Patterson
He who tries to carry a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in
no other way.

[BiG Orange]

Most hydrometers are normally off by +/- .001 so it's also good to compare
with someone that has a refractometer to see how far off it is.