72 Gallon Salt Water Tank

swilly · 07-05-2007, 05:35 PM

I recently purchased a 72g tank and set it up lastnight...i was wondering how much salt i should be adding to the tank??

Thanks

P.S. I have a 200gallon container of salt and not sure how much to put.

**wwest** · 07-05-2007, 05:41 PM

Most of the salt suggests a half a cup per gallon if i remember right. I would add whatever the directions say to add but less. lol if that makes sence

72 gallon tank
36 cups of salt. ( if directions say half cup per gallon)

I would add 30 and then let it sit and test. This way you would go over. Easier to add than take out lol

Also Welcome to Talkingreef! : )

swilly · 07-05-2007, 05:46 PM

thanks for the quick replay but on the container it does not say how much to add..its just a big white container called " Tropic Marin " . Can anyone else confirm the info provided by ( Wwest ).

Thanks

***lReef lKeeper*** · 07-05-2007, 06:37 PM

it IS usually 1/2 cup per gallon, did someone recommend that salt to you ?? i would go with either Red Sea or Instant Ocean salt if i were you (and return the unopened box that you have. IMO, they are just a much better product. in a recent salt study, Tropic Marin was one of the worst salts in the preliminary findings (just a little tidbit of info for you).

you will also need to subtract some salt for lost water volume due to sand and rock. i would get a 40 gallon or so container, fill it with RO/DI water, then add salt (about 15x1/2cups or 7x1cup) ... test ... then start adding a little salt at a time and keep testing until you get it to 1.025 or 1.026 on a refractometer or hydrometer. HTH

***lReef lKeeper*** · 07-05-2007, 06:38 PM

BTW ... welcome to TR !!

**CarmieJo** · 07-07-2007, 05:06 PM

Hi Swilly and

to TR.

I will echo Wes and Bobby's advice about starting with 1/2 cup per gallon. IME a 200 gallon bucket of salt does not make 200 gallons of saltwater at the 1.026 that I keep my reef at.

saltyreef · 07-11-2007, 08:46 PM

This is the one & only time you will be able to add your salt directly to the main tank, so starting out with less is best, and add more until you reach your desired salinity. Also, highly recommend getting a refractometer. The plastic ones are typically way off in accuracy. In the long run you will find it to be well worth the $. My tank life is much healthier after getting one, my salinity was running higher than it should have been. My salt costs went down too.

Congrats on your new tank &