Salinity 1.029 + Coral = Problem?

[DustinKeating]

Turns out my hydrometer is off 3 points, so my salinity is actually somewhere around 1.029. I've been having awful luck with a lot of corals, would this salinity have such drastic effects on corals? In a way i hope so, because then i'll know my problem, and it will be easy to fix.

 

[SALTY WATERS]

Yes, most definetly would if kept at that level for prolonged periods.

 

[DustinKeating]

Perfect, it's been at that for a long time now. It seems a lot of corals got used to it, like the big polyp rock, but a lot of other stuff croaked. Some may think it strange that i'm happy to hear this, but atleast i've figured it out.

 

[SALTY WATERS]

Totally understand! Hopefully this will be the missing factor you were looking for. Let us know how things work out once you bring down your level

 

[DustinKeating]

well unfortunetly it wasn't enough to save the hammer coral, which sucks because i got a wicked peice for just 20 dollars. but the galaxy coral seems to be doing much better and a couple peices of cabbage coral and ricordia are doing seemingly much better.

 

[SALTY WATERS]

To bad about the Hammer, but good to hear all else is improving.

 

[dbacksrat]

just add some freshwater and your problems should be gone

 

[DustinKeating]

done deal, got it down to around 1.026 or so. still has to come down, but it's feasable for now.

 

[dbacksrat]

1.026 is good--for some reason, it is commonly suggested that SG be much lower despite the fact that 1.026 is a good average to shoot for

 

[DustinKeating]

yeah i read that in an article, i forget who recommended it...could have been someone on this board. That aquarium hobbyist's have this strange conception that their temperature should be lower than it really is in the ocean, same with salinity.

 

[SALTY WATERS]

I preffer to keep my tank at 1.023 - 1.024 no higher.