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Salinity Cycle

Understanding salinity levels is another critical aspect of saltwater tank maintenance. Salinity refers to the concentration of dissolved salts in water, which plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy and stable environment for marine life. As an employee in a saltwater fish store, it is essential to comprehend how evaporating water affects salinity levels. This entry walks through the evaporation cycle that impacts our tank salinity levels.

Salinity is a property of water that measures the amount of dissolved salts in the volume of liquid.

When water evaporates from a saltwater tank, it leaves behind minerals and salts unaffected by evaporation. Consequently, as more freshwater evaporates, these remaining substances become more concentrated. The higher concentration of salts can lead to an increase in salinity levels beyond what is suitable for marine organisms inhabiting the tank. Essential minerals, including sodium chloride (common table salt), calcium carbonate (found in corals), and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), among others, remain trapped within.

Evaporation

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The evaporation cycle in fish tanks is a natural process that can affect the water's overall quality and the health of your aquatic pets.

Evaporation is a process where the surface of a liquid turns into a gas. In the case of a fish tank, warm temperatures or increased airflow over the water's surface can cause water molecules to escape into the surrounding air. However, only the lighter water molecules can escape, leaving behind salts and other dissolved substances that increase the water's salinity level over time. To stabilize the salinity level, it's important to top up the aquarium with clean, dechlorinated freshwater regularly. It's worth noting that adding saltwater to the tank (as in the case of marine tanks) would increase the salinity level further.
Over time and with repeated evaporation occurring regularly inside an enclosed aquarium system—whether due to environmental factors or specific equipment used—a significant amount of freshwater is needed. Use the RODI systems in the store: never top up our salt tanks with tap water. A high salinity level can harm fish, particularly freshwater species, as it can affect their osmoregulation — the process by which they maintain the right balance of salts in their body fluids.
The general cycle has five stages, beginning when we fill the tank with our RODI water. As liquid evarpoates, the salts remain and concentrations increase until water is replenished.
Every week (or so), we will do 30-50% water changes where we need to add salt and mineral dosed water back into the tank. This process is distinct from the daily top-off process because we remove most of the tank water and need to replace it with a similar mineral make up for the livestock and plants.
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