How do i get my gravity right in a tank?

[mickey-tropical-fish-mad]

How would you get the specific gravity right in your tank?

[Alan]

By putting the right salt/water ratio into your tank, or take a trip to the beach

Alan 104

[mickey-tropical-fish-mad]

right cheers sorry to be a pain but i couldnt find nothing on the net and i lost my marine fish book! anyway thanks!

[wasp]

Mickey you will need one of the following to check your salinity. swing arm hydrometer, floating hydrometer, or refractometer.

Your tank salinity will change over time due to several things including evaporation and addition of calcium, etc. you HAVE to have some way to check it.

The swing arms are unreliable, floating hydrometers are OK, and refractometers are best.

You live in London? If so, there's lots of reefers there. You need to track one down make friends and have a look at his tank and a chat. Much easier to learn that way. Make sure his own tank's up to par though, otherwise look for advice elsewhere.

[mickey-tropical-fish-mad]

thanks will do im actually going to a marine shop today to start getting a few bits of equipment for the tank

[wasp]

Mickey, going to a marine shop to get a few bits of equipment, is where things start to go wrong for a beginner.

Here's a tip - go to the shop, sort out all the stuff you want, get the prices, then don't buy it, come back here tell us what it all is including brand, and we'll tell you wether to buy it or not or what you should buy instead.

Trust me, there's a lot of people wish they did that, after it's too late.

Also we'll need to know how big your tank is & what livestock you are planning to keep, to give good advice.