So on a small tank I have I measure the salt weight prior to mixing, mix it in the bucket, then verify with a Refractometer. The math says 1.027, the Refractometer says ~1.027, or close enough. All good.
Mark the “fill line” on the tank, and top off to that. So tank volume is consistent.
Then I got a bacterial bloom (I’ve been struggling with this on this tank for a couple weeks now, keeps coming back despite multiple 90+% water changes and no added food, so no idea where the bacteria are getting nutrients, but they are…).
While prepping to change water I checked the salinity of the tank. Came in at 1.03.
???
Thought maybe an issue with the Refractometer, checked the DT - was 1.025 last I checked (I’m slowly raising it - LFS runs at 1.027 so and is still 1.025. Mixed up a new batch of water per salt mass and water volume, comes in right on 1.027. So Refractometer seems fine, or at least consistent with all other water.
Only thing I can think is the bacterial bloom is altering water density or affecting the result - is that possible?
/I’m slowly raising the DT salinity to match the LFS salinity of 1.027 to reduce shock to new arrivals, hence the difference between the two tanks.
Mark the “fill line” on the tank, and top off to that. So tank volume is consistent.
Then I got a bacterial bloom (I’ve been struggling with this on this tank for a couple weeks now, keeps coming back despite multiple 90+% water changes and no added food, so no idea where the bacteria are getting nutrients, but they are…).
While prepping to change water I checked the salinity of the tank. Came in at 1.03.
???
Thought maybe an issue with the Refractometer, checked the DT - was 1.025 last I checked (I’m slowly raising it - LFS runs at 1.027 so and is still 1.025. Mixed up a new batch of water per salt mass and water volume, comes in right on 1.027. So Refractometer seems fine, or at least consistent with all other water.
Only thing I can think is the bacterial bloom is altering water density or affecting the result - is that possible?
/I’m slowly raising the DT salinity to match the LFS salinity of 1.027 to reduce shock to new arrivals, hence the difference between the two tanks.