Diy calibration fluid - how to use?

[Axelf]

Hi All!
I made a calibration solution to Randy's recipe 36,5g NaCl + 963,5g RODI H2O but I'm not sure what next step. If I add a few drops on the refractometer slide will I screw meter to 36.5 ppt or 35 ppt ?

Second question Can I use homemade fluid for electronic meters? or only to the refractometer?

Best regards

 

[GoVols]

Hi All!
I made a calibration solution to Randy's recipe 36,5g NaCl + 963,5g RODI H2O but I'm not sure what next step. If I add a few drops on the refractometer slide will I screw meter to 36.5 ppt or 35 ppt ?

Second question Can I use homemade fluid for electronic meters? or only to the refractometer?

Best regards

Hello, Axelf

We'll let Randy answer your questions, but hope you feel right at home on Reef 2 Reef!!

 

[NY_Caveman]

The solution will calibrate the refractometer to 35 PPT. I have done it with this solution.

 

[NY_Caveman]

This is the reference below. I have also used the Conductivity Standard solution on a Pinpoint Salinity Monitor. That solution must be mixed to a different salt:RO/DI ratio.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

 

[Axelf]

Thank you for your response. Can I use normal kitchen salt or steamed boiling instead of pure NaCl? Another thing I read that in the USA a kosher salt is pure NaCl. In my country, unfortunately, we don't have this kind of salt. Can you replace something else?

 

[Axelf]

Can you use this liquid in an electronic meter?

 

[NY_Caveman]

There are different types of electronic devices for this purpose. Salinity and conductivity recipes are included for those in the article I linked.

I used Morton's Iodized Salt as suggested in the article. Other salts likely have different properties. I am not certain of the differences.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi All!
I made a calibration solution to Randy's recipe 36,5g NaCl + 963,5g RODI H2O but I'm not sure what next step. If I add a few drops on the refractometer slide will I screw meter to 36.5 ppt or 35 ppt ?

Second question Can I use homemade fluid for electronic meters? or only to the refractometer?

Best regards

As folks have mentioned, it is 35 ppt seawater equivalent so set it to 35 ppt.

You cannot use that same value for a conductivity meter or a hydrometer. The article linked above gives appropriate solutions for those.

Kitchen salt is fine. Ro/DI water is fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for your response. Can I use normal kitchen salt or steamed boiling instead of pure NaCl? Another thing I read that in the USA a kosher salt is pure NaCl. In my country, unfortunately, we don't have this kind of salt. Can you replace something else?

The volume recipe in the link assumes Mortons iodized salt. It likely makes little difference which type or brand as long as it is dry and measured by mass (weight).

 

[Axelf]

Thank you very much for your answer. So I can't use this liquid for the electronic meter Az8371, what fluid can I do to make it right?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you very much for your answer. So I can't use this liquid for the electronic meter Az8371, what fluid can I do to make it right?

Assuming you mean this:

https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Meter-AZ-8371-Salinity-meter/dp/B01C3XERZU

it is a conductivity meter. Make the 3.29 weight percent sodium chloride solution described in the article that was linked above for a conductivity meter. That is equivalent to 53 mS/cm or 35 ppt.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

 

[Axelf]

Randy my master please tell me is it normal when I am calibrating refractometer by salifert 35ppt and later I use your fluid instead of 35ppt I see 33ppt?
This is a salifert https://erybka.pl/product-pol-5787-Salifert-Refracto-Check.html

 

[Axelf]

Which salt will be better to do the 53ms standard? Salt 1 or salt 2

Salt 1

Salt 2