prairielilly

The only way I know of to test the salinity of the water is with a specific gravity (SG) meter. It measures the density of the test water relative to the density of fresh water as a ratio (fraction). Salty water will have a greater density than fresh water (density = 1.00 kg/m3) so the ratio usually comes out to some number slightly greater than 1, say like 1.005. SG meters in Canada cost around $12 at the LFS.

*It's been a whiles since I needed those numbers, I could be a bit off...

If it were my tank: when the Prime arrived, I'd do a 50% water change, then the next day another, and the next day...until I was completely certain that IF there was salt there, it was now gone (without shocking the fish with a 90-100% wc)

ladylouroll

mathas i just bought a water test kit that test chlorine. as far as i no our water is not treated with chloramine any idea how id find out for sure though?

prairielilly

Your city's government's website should have information on your local water supply, including levels of various constituents and what's used to treat it.

ladylouroll

prairielilly or shawnie would me carrying on with water changes with prime as normal eventually get rid of these excess salts if they are the problem? im a bit concerned now as i have 2 corys and i remember them being intolerant to salt?

ladylouroll

http://www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/abo...t2.aspx?id=136

thats the only website i can find which says much about my cities water (portsmouth uk)

Shawnie

yes it will ladylouroll...like prairie said id do 50% changes for a few days with the prime once you get it....ill be sending allot of fishy prayers your way!

ladylouroll

ok shall do thanks guys still not sure about what my cities water though that web site seems to not have anything of much use to me on it :S

"The only treatment normally required is a carefully controlled dose of chlorine to eliminate any bacteria."

that was off that website. is that a good thing then?

prairielilly

I'd say that it would be a good thing...I did a quick browse through the link you provided, and didn't find anything about chloramine, just the stuff about the adding of chlorine as you mention above. It mentions what they measure but didn't give any specific numbers (my city does that too. Erg).

It did mention having an ongoing issue with nitrates due to increased agricultural use of fertilizers in the area. Have you tested your water straight from the tap for nitrates?

ladylouroll

yeah its 5-10 straight out of the tap i tested it a few times. hence me having to do weekly water changes rather than the bi weekly most people seem to do.

prairielilly

Everyone's got a different wc schedule depending on what works for them I do weekly or sometimes even twice weekly, even though my nitrates out of the tap are 0.

Do you have live plants?

When you test your nitrates (the result reported in your OP) is that before or after your wc? If your nitrates were getting over 20 at any point, that might be complicating things further for you.

ladylouroll

yeah all of my tanks are planted. thats before my water crystals. i dont tend to test after my water changes as i presumed if i did a 50% water change on a tank that had 40 nitrates for instance that it would be 20 after. am i wrong in thinking this?

prairielilly

Nope, you're not wrong at all...that was just asked for clarity, hoping your nitrates weren't an issue for you.

ladylouroll

nope i never had any problems with my nitrates thats why i been so baffled until you pointed out the water crystals maybe being a problem!

prairielilly

Hope everything goes much better for you with the Prime

ladylouroll

still no show of the prime it better get here on monday. the fish all seem happy atm

ladylouroll

ok so the prime came today i tested all my tanks water before the water change heres the results.

7G:

0 cl
8.4 pH
10 kh
16 GH
0 nitrites
50 nitrates

17G

0 cl
7 ph
4 kh
10 gh
0 nitrites
50 nitrates

27G

0 cl
8 ph
6kh
16gh
0 nitrites
50 nitrates

23G
0 cl
8 ph
15 kh
16 gh
0 nitrites
75 nitrates

25G
0 cl
7.6 ph
10 kh
16 gh
0 nitrites
40 nitrates

is it normal to have such a big difference in ph from tank to tank and kh and gh? so im off to do 50% water change on all tanks with prime. any comments?

prairielilly

Your pH is going to be affected by many things, most commonly the decor of the tank ie. driftwood will lower it and shells/corals/limestone will raise it.

I'd be pretty concerned about your nitrates, I've read they shouldn't get above 20 and 40 is toxic to fish...I don't know enough about the kH, dH etc to comment, hope someone can help you with that.

ladylouroll

well i done water changes now there all 20-25 but will do another one tommorow thanks