Lowest salinity SPS can handle

[solitude127]

In your experience, what's the lower salinity SPS can handle?

 

[pirate2876]

Not sure but, aside from salinity, all levels of minerals will change as the salinity gets lower.

 

[mr_tap_water]

Hi there this is my answer your question.
http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/terrible-advice-tuesdays-t-a-tues-the-salinity-level-that-can-kill/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[joseserrano]

I have seen Jimmy at reef lounge keep SPS at around ..20-.22, not thriving, but alive.

 

[solitude127]

Hi there this is my answer your question.
http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/terrible-advice-tuesdays-t-a-tues-the-salinity-level-that-can-kill/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I appreciate the link but no real data to back up his claim. basically, if I had a webpage, I can say the same thing about keeping salinity at 1.020.

 

[solitude127]

I have seen Jimmy at reef lounge keep SPS at around ..20-.22, not thriving, but alive.

Is this a system where they sell corals out of? If so, any chance that the fact that they move corals in and out have any affect of the health of the corals?

 

[Bouncingsoul393]

From experience, I've seen them in SG as low as 1.022. Were alive but pissed with all polyps retracted.

 

[joseserrano]

Is this a system where they sell corals out of? If so, any chance that the fact that they move corals in and out have any affect of the health of the corals?

Definitely, but most shops are not going to actually have displays that they do not sell out of. There is talks about introducing corals to systems and the chemical ware fare that goes on.

 

[All Delight]

I've had mine at 1.023. Can't tell u for how long, but it probably dipped slowly as I bag up and ship out corals. If it's a small order, I don't bother to turn off ato. Coloration was not affected. Couldn't tell you if growth.

 

[rayray]

IME acro SG 1.023, they werent happy. Hardier SPS like monti & pocci 1.022 & unhappy. But only for 1-2 days.

Google says reefs are naturally found at 32-40 salinity (SG 1.024-1.030). I think shrooms and softies can handle more extremes and more swings.

Most living things, including humans, can handle lower SG (less salt) so water goes into the cells and swell. High salt means water comes out of the living cell and shrinks and dies faster. I read a research paper that said basically the zooxanthellae stop photosynthesis more at higher salt. coral have no organs im aware of to regulate internal cell salt or water concentrations.

What happens in the wild and what we can select for are 2 different things. Im sure there are strong/adaptable acros out there that can be selected to thrive at lower SG- but why? Fish are adaptable...

 

[sonnus]

Most reefs are around 1.025-1.026 but the Red Sea is up to 1.029 in places with thriving acropora. Reefs around Indonesia and Vietnam routinely are lower than 1.023 and dip down to 1.015 during monsoon seasons.

I've had tanks temporarily dip down to 1.017-1.019 many times without any issues. Obviously duration at that salinity is important and it's never been more than 12 hours on my tanks.

I think the alkalinity is a big part of the equation. I prefer to keep my dKH around 10 and if the salinity drops quickly the alkalinity still stays above 7. If your alkalinity is 7 dKH at 1.025 then it's going to drop way down if the salinity drops.

Most of the wholesalers keep their coral tanks at 1.023-1.024.