- Salinity control lets you convert aquatic habitats between freshwater and saltwater in Planet Zoo 2.
- Check the Zoopedia first: every aquatic species lists its required water type before you build.
- Filtration capacity must match water volume, or salinity and cleanliness drift back toward unsafe levels.
- Change salinity before adding animals to avoid welfare loss and veterinary costs.
- Monitor the habitat panel: water quality and salinity warnings appear there in real time.
How Salinity Works in Planet Zoo 2 Aquatic Habitats
Planet Zoo 2, released October 13, 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, expands the aquatic systems of the original game with dedicated water management tools. Salinity determines whether a body of water reads as freshwater or saltwater, and each aquatic species in the Zoopedia specifies which type it needs. Placing a saltwater animal into freshwater (or the reverse) causes immediate welfare penalties.
Salinity is a habitat-level property, not a global setting. Each tank or pool inside an enclosure can be configured separately, which means a single zoo can run freshwater and saltwater exhibits side by side without conflict.
| Water Type | Typical Species | Key Requirement | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | River fish, freshwater turtles, river otters | Salinity near zero | Reusing a saltwater tank without resetting |
| Saltwater | Marine fish, sea lions, coastal species | Elevated salinity matched to species | Adding marine animals before conversion finishes |
| Mixed habitat | Species needing both land and water | Correct water type plus accessible banks | Ignoring bank slope and depth during conversion |
Never start a salinity change while animals are already in the habitat. Move them to storage or a separate enclosure first — welfare drops the moment water conditions no longer match their Zoopedia entry.
Step-by-Step: How to Change Salinity
The conversion process follows the same setup sequence recommended in our Planet Zoo 2 Aquariums Guide. Follow these steps in order to avoid the most common failure points.
Confirm species requirements
Open the Zoopedia entry for your target species and note the required water type, depth range, and minimum water area. Write down the filtration demand if listed.
Empty the habitat
Relocate any current animals and pause feeding schedules. A salinity change performed with animals present causes stress and possible illness.
Select the water body
Open the habitat information panel and click the water area you want to convert. If the habitat contains multiple disconnected pools, select each one individually.
Adjust the salinity setting
Use the water management controls in the habitat panel to switch between freshwater and saltwater. The change applies gradually to the selected water volume.
Add and verify filtration
Install or reconfigure water treatment equipment so its capacity covers the full water volume. Under-filtered water loses quality faster than staff can correct.
Reintroduce animals and monitor
Return animals only after the habitat panel shows the correct salinity and no water-quality warnings. Check the welfare panel for the first few in-game days.
Keep a maintenance route around pumps and filters when reshaping terrain for a conversion. Staff who cannot reach water treatment equipment will let cleanliness degrade even when the setup is technically correct.
Water Management Tools and Facilities Compared
Different water infrastructure options trade off capacity, coverage, and maintenance demand. Choose based on tank volume rather than visual preference.
Basic Filtration
- Low capacity
- Suits small freshwater pools
- Cheap to run
- Frequent mechanic visits
Advanced Water Treatment
- High capacity
- Handles large saltwater volumes
- Supports stable salinity
- Higher upfront cost
Water Treatment Facility
- Building-scale coverage
- Serves multiple connected habitats
- Best for aquarium complexes
- Requires power and staff access
| Facility | Best For | Capacity | Staff Needed | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic filter | Small freshwater pools | Low | Mechanic | No |
| Advanced treatment | Large saltwater tanks | High | Mechanic | Yes |
| Treatment facility | Multi-habitat aquariums | Very high | Mechanics + keepers | Yes |
Filtration equipment only treats water within its operating range. A powerful unit placed outside the habitat boundary or too far from the deep section will not stabilize salinity where it counts.
Salinity Troubleshooting Checklist
Run through this checklist whenever a converted habitat shows warnings. Most salinity problems trace back to one of these five causes.
Salinity Setup Verification:
- Water type matches the Zoopedia entry for every species in the habitat
- All disconnected pools in the habitat were converted, not just one
- Filtration capacity covers the total water volume
- Treatment equipment is powered and reachable by staff
- Animals were reintroduced only after warnings cleared
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Welfare drop after adding animals | Wrong water type for species | Recheck Zoopedia, convert again |
| Water quality warnings persist | Filtration under capacity | Add or upgrade treatment equipment |
| One pool healthy, another degraded | Partial conversion | Select and convert every water body |
| Salinity drifts back | Equipment outside range | Relocate filters near the deep section |
| Staff ignore dirty water | Blocked maintenance route | Clear a path around pumps and gates |
Once salinity, filtration, and staff access are correct, the habitat panel should show no water warnings. At that point the exhibit only needs routine mechanic inspections to stay healthy.
FAQ
Q: How do I change salinity in Planet Zoo 2?
Open the habitat information panel, select the water body, and use the water management controls to switch between freshwater and saltwater. Empty the habitat of animals first, verify filtration capacity, then reintroduce species after the panel shows no warnings.
Q: Can one habitat hold both freshwater and saltwater pools?
Yes. Salinity is managed per water body, so separate pools inside the same enclosure can hold different water types — but only species sharing compatible land and social requirements should live in the same habitat.
Q: Why does my saltwater habitat keep showing water quality warnings?
The most common causes are filtration capacity below the water volume, equipment placed outside its operating range, or staff unable to reach the treatment units. Check all three in the habitat and staff panels.
Q: Do animals die immediately if salinity is wrong?
No, but welfare drops quickly and sustained exposure leads to illness and veterinary costs. Correct the water type and move affected animals for treatment if their health declines.