Inverts And Sg

[Donya]

I know 1.020 is the minimum "survival" limit for most marine inverts, but what is the real minimum for the comfort range? Is it 1.023 as I've read it is for fish? I keep reading that saltwater snails in particular are often kept in sg's that are too low, but my books don't say what constitues "not too low". Someone on here mentioned 1.025, but I don't know what type of animals that reference was for and I can't seem to find it again.

 

[Navarre]

It really depends on the origin of the species. Red sea locations tend to have around 1.025-1.026 but others tend to vary (perhaps slightly lower) The salt water in my location (which is far flung from anything tropical) is 1.025. I would say that this is the norm and anything lower will need the corals/inverts will need to adapt. Remember that fish can swim and therefore they have the ability to accept larger ranging water conditions. Coral and inverts have no choice where they are so they have evolved to live in very stable water conditions.

 

[bunjiweb]

Unless its at one of the polar caps where salinity is slightly lower due to dilution from ice etc, then inverts generally thrive in higher salinity. I keep mine as close to 1.026 as possible, because as stated this is close to what it is in the Red-Sea where alot of inverts in the aquarium trade that aren't captive bred are collected. Fish do fine in anything above 1.020, but if you can get it higher your corals and inverts should appreciate it.

Ben

 

[Donya]

Thanks for the info. I don't believe any of my inverts are red-sea sorts, possibley one of my snails but the rest are all from places like the Carribean and whatnot. The majority of my snails are very adaptable to sg changes, but I recentl triggered spawning in 2 species of of my snails by lowering sg down to 1.020 briefly. But, the flip side of that nice discovery is that I now need to slowly increase the sg up to what it would be in some place like the Carribean, since the larvae "wash out to sea" from wherever the adults spawned at. The adults follow salt weding up deep streams and estuaries to spawn in a slightly lower sg. I don't have any corals, just snails, one hermit, sponges, tube worms, and macro algae.

 

[bunjiweb]

You should be fine, just be wary that your macro algae could die or go asexual if you are changing the pH and could cause you problems in a small tank.

Ben

 

[Donya]

I still don't entirely understand what all macro algae can do that's so bad maybe it's because I don't have a reef persay. Is it the release of spores and subsequent decay of spore-producing strands that is too much for the system? My caulerpa has always been doing a little of that, but the snails munch off the dying bits as soon as they start to deteriorate. Usually I just find munched-clean surfaces because the snails get to it before I do. They go after some of the "sprouts" too.