High Salinity!!!

Question
hello bill i am starting a new aquarium for a green spotted puffer and having a whole lot of problems.  I bought a hydrommeter to measure the salinity of my water.  When i put everything together i put all my accesories into the tank including my filter and my heater and filled the tank.  I wasnt thinking and added the whole bag of salt mixture.  I have now completely broken down my aquarium and cleaned everything with freshwater.  I put only freshwater into the aquarium today and left for dinner.  NO SALT.  by the time i got home the hydromoter was yet again topped out and there was a white bubbly film on top of the water.  I added tetra aqua safe once i got the water in also.  My water here is hard water but runs through a water softener that softens with salt, but that really shouldnt have that high of a salinity as it is drinking water.  Please halp me so i can get stabilized and go get my fish sometime this year

Answer
Hello david.

You can not nor should not use tap water to use in a marine aquarium.

Sorry.

I am not sure how 'softened' water reacts on 'hydrometers', but would suggest you get your hydrometer checked and maybe your water as well.  go to your LFS AND have them test your water and in doing so you will be able to comopare your hydrometer to thier equipment and know i fyour equipment is accurate compared to theirs.

You should be able to buy water from the lfs or you can buy a RO/DI filter

Please read up on them at

www.filterdirect.com  or www.bulkreefsupply.com


good luck


bill