DIY 30x30x18 rimless cube!!!!

[skinz78]

screw refractometers man!!! Me and Dbarsotti were both fed up with inconsistent resulsts and we are now both using coral sea swing arm hydrometers hahaha. Both of our tanks are doing very well! They're dead on every time. I cross referenced mine with a calibrated refract and it was basically the same reading. Only thing that is really crucial is that you must have no air bubbles on the arm and you're all set. I just did a water change today using my trusty hyrdrometer and everything is looking better than ever lol.

The only problem with them is that over time calcium builds up on the swing arm giving an incorrect reading.

 

[myzislow]

The only problem with them is that over time calcium builds up on the swing arm giving an incorrect reading.

I forgot to state that its also pretty crucial to rinse the thing very well with rodi after each use.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

Will see man something is out of whack man I know it has to be my salinity my stupid refractometer tells me something different every time I use it... I calibrated it twice and re tested my water and it still shows 1.201 :sad: I just got the salinity monitor for my apex with the pm2 and I can't figure out how to read it haha..:(

Thats strange, it worked great when I tested it. My red sea said that it was accurite. Oh well. Only way to fix that is to let it settle while calibrating for half an hour just to make sure, that might work.

 

[Reef UP]

I forgot to state that its also pretty crucial to rinse the thing very well with rodi after each use.

First been using coral life deep six brand hydrometers for 8 yrs now never had a problem, refractometers are likes probes a pita lol Luke warm vinegar works even better ;) lol once a month it'll last a few years 

 

[Troylee]

Yeah I'm gonna get me a old plastic hydro it was all I used to use.... They might be off but at least there off consistent lol..:tongue:

 

[myzislow]

Yeah I'm gonna get me a old plastic hydro it was all I used to use.... They might be off but at least there off consistent lol..:tongue:

1smile1

 

[Reef UP]

Yeah I'm gonna get me a old plastic hydro it was all I used to use.... They might be off but at least there off consistent lol..:tongue:

That's the spirit ;)

 

[shred5]

Refractometers need to be calibrated with pinpoint salinity calibration fluid and you also need a good one. calibration with ro/di or distilled water is not the right way to do it.

Problem with swing arm hydrometers is they are thrown off by allot of stuff like air in the water. One little bubble on the arm will give a incorrect reading and over time they get hard water built up on them. I have not used one in a very long time but over the years I eventually had 4 and all 4 gave different readings and they were not even close to each other, even the same brands.

Dave Polzin

 

[Troylee]

Yeah I hear ya Dave.... Right now I have marine depot refracto and I calibrate with the pinpoint solution every time I use it...:(. I can calibrate it check my tank it's way off put the solution back on it and it's off again... Biggest pita ever!!!! I have that new lab grade probe on my apex "it works nem keeper" I'm just not sure how to configure it on the apex yet.... I get a reading in my aqua notes app on my phone but not sure how to convert it yet I haven't really sat down and played with it.... This last month has just been super crazy!!!! :sad:

 

[myzislow]

Refractometers need to be calibrated with pinpoint salinity calibration fluid and you also need a good one. calibration with ro/di or distilled water is not the right way to do it.

Problem with swing arm hydrometers is they are thrown off by allot of stuff like air in the water. One little bubble on the arm will give a incorrect reading and over time they get hard water built up on them. I have not used one in a very long time but over the years I eventually had 4 and all 4 gave different readings and they were not even close to each other, even the same brands.

Dave Polzin

Obv a refract needs to be calibrated. But thats not the issue as properly calibrating them can be a huge PITA and tedious task as in IME they swing all over the place, even from test to test. For example Ill calibrate my refract to 35ppt per the the solution.....Test my tank and say it reads right on 35 ppt.....sweet!! Now out of curiosity Ill test my tank not but 5 minutes later and it will give me a reading of 33ppt...Now what do I believe? SO now I'm recalbrating the refract cause I'm not sure if if the calibration has swayed or if i messed up testing the first time ETC....It became a rather arduous cycle to say the least.

Say what you want about the swing arm hydrometers. My buddy purchased one last night. the Same red sea(not coral sea my bad lol) one I use and it read dead on to the one I already owned. My personal one reads dead on where it should every time. Not once have I tested my tank wiht it and had a reading way outside the norm. Like you said you must be very diligent in making sure that there are absolutely no air bubbles on the arm. Also make sure you properly clean and store it after each use it should provide consistent results for years....

 

[rutz81]

If in doubt, try the Tropic Marin Hydrometer. It is by far the most accurate way to measure salinity. It is very fragile, but, defintely works well.

Tropic Marin Precision Hydrometer - Tropic Marin - Test Kits/Electronic Testers

 

[turbo21]

Obv a refract needs to be calibrated. But thats not the issue as properly calibrating them can be a huge PITA and tedious task as in IME they swing all over the place, even from test to test. For example Ill calibrate my refract to 35ppt per the the solution.....Test my tank and say it reads right on 35 ppt.....sweet!! Now out of curiosity Ill test my tank not but 5 minutes later and it will give me a reading of 33ppt...Now what do I believe? SO now I'm recalbrating the refract cause I'm not sure if if the calibration has swayed or if i messed up testing the first time ETC....It became a rather arduous cycle to say the least.

Say what you want about the swing arm hydrometers. My buddy purchased one last night. the Same red sea(not coral sea my bad lol) one I use and it read dead on to the one I already owned. My personal one reads dead on where it should every time. Not once have I tested my tank wiht it and had a reading way outside the norm. Like you said you must be very diligent in making sure that there are absolutely no air bubbles on the arm. Also make sure you properly clean and store it after each use it should provide consistent results for years....

I have been using the same 2 deep six swing arm hydrometers for almost 10 years. and they both give identical readings. i always rinse them before and after with ro/di no calibration necessary

 

[shred5]

Obv a refract needs to be calibrated. But thats not the issue as properly calibrating them can be a huge PITA and tedious task as in IME they swing all over the place, even from test to test. For example Ill calibrate my refract to 35ppt per the the solution.....Test my tank and say it reads right on 35 ppt.....sweet!! Now out of curiosity Ill test my tank not but 5 minutes later and it will give me a reading of 33ppt...Now what do I believe? SO now I'm recalbrating the refract cause I'm not sure if if the calibration has swayed or if i messed up testing the first time ETC....It became a rather arduous cycle to say the least.

Say what you want about the swing arm hydrometers. My buddy purchased one last night. the Same red sea(not coral sea my bad lol) one I use and it read dead on to the one I already owned. My personal one reads dead on where it should every time. Not once have I tested my tank wiht it and had a reading way outside the norm. Like you said you must be very diligent in making sure that there are absolutely no air bubbles on the arm. Also make sure you properly clean and store it after each use it should provide consistent results for years....

Maybe your refractometer is bad or a cheap one? Both of mine never ever do that.

How do you know your hydrometer is on? Have you ever checked it with known salinity sea water? Just because its stable does not mean it is reading correctly and can it be calibrated to read correctly. Just do a search and you will see all the problems with them.

The lab grade bulb hydrometers are actually the most accurate way to measure salinity and cheaper than a refractometer.

Edit:
I want to add you should have a refractometer that is made to measure saltwater like a vee gee or Vital Sine

Dave Polzin

 

[turbo21]

I have checked both of mine against a calibrated refractometer a few times over the years and have been right on

 

[shred5]

Wanna have the bast then get this:

AQUAR H50 - Digital Seawater Refractometer to Measure Seawater, Saltwater,

LOL

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

Yeah I hear ya Dave.... Right now I have marine depot refracto and I calibrate with the pinpoint solution every time I use it...:(. I can calibrate it check my tank it's way off put the solution back on it and it's off again... Biggest pita ever!!!! I have that new lab grade probe on my apex "it works nem keeper" I'm just not sure how to configure it on the apex yet.... I get a reading in my aqua notes app on my phone but not sure how to convert it yet I haven't really sat down and played with it.... This last month has just been super crazy!!!! :sad:

Lol you cant convert it from what I hear, I had to learn ppt myself to use it. Basically 1.023 is about 32 ppt. If you didnt know yet, (Im new to the apex and just figured this out) you can rename the probe.

 

[shred5]

ppt to sg

calculator

Salinity Conversion Calculator

SaltyZoo's Salinity Conversion (Specific Gravity / PPT)

chart

Welcome to American Marine Inc.

Dave Polzin

 

[Just Clownin Around]

well hope all is going better with the tank, if you need any help give me a call im around

 

[Troylee]

Picked up a hydrometer last night...:sad: salinity was at 1.030 that explains my sps looking all ***** ATM.... Some look fantastic but there is like 6 or 7 pieces I'm having a heck of a time with, this explains it!!! Ughh I hate refractometers... Also my nem went into a hole and has been hiding that was my clue something is up... All my params are the most stable I have ever had them cal 500 "kind of high" alk 10, mag 1500 I was baffled I actually tested for the last weeks and nothing budged as it shouldn't with a dosing pump supplying automated additives.... I knew it was that stupid refracto lol... I brought it down to 1.028 last night and will drop it today to 1.026 with a diluted water change and see how every thing responds...:sad:

 

[turbo21]

Good luck, it seems now you figured out your problem you can get back on track and get them sticks a growin

bob