- Joined
- May 31, 2020
- Messages
- 128
- Reaction score
- 130
When I first started this journey. I chose a Hannah salinity checker because I had heard so many great things about it. It was supposed to be accurate, hold a calibration and easy to use.
After a month (which is listed in the instructions) I recalibrated my checker, I checked my salinity before the calibration and got 34.8 or so. After the calibration I got a salinity Of 36.5!
So I immediately ordered a refractometer from brs to have a backup method of testing my salinity.
through a bunch of tests (calibrating multiple times along the way) I realized that my salinity checker was giving me incorrect readings even 4-5 days after calibration. After a long process of getting my checker replaced by Hannah. I got a new one, the first thing I did was calibrate it With one of the packets. I calibrated the device. And then took a measurement of the exact same calibration fluid. It gave me a reading of 33.8 instead of the 35.0 from calibration fluid it had Literally just used it to calibrate itself.
I’m at a loss. My refractometer suspiciously gives me a 35.0 reading a lot more often than I’d think. Like I’m not sure I’m that good at mixing seawater. I check my calibration with the refractometer every time before I use it to measure my tank water.
I even purposefully make higher and lower salinity ratios just to check and make sure my refractometer is not somehow stuck on 35ppt.
My biggest issue is that I’ll use my refractometer and get my salinity to 35ppt, then use both of the Hannah checkers( after I calibrated them) [did I mention this calibration fluid costs A dollar each time!!] and they both give me numbers that are 3-4 points off. Please help me. I’m not sure what I should do next. I’m constantly paranoid that I have no idea what my salinity truly is and it’s driving me insane.
After a month (which is listed in the instructions) I recalibrated my checker, I checked my salinity before the calibration and got 34.8 or so. After the calibration I got a salinity Of 36.5!
So I immediately ordered a refractometer from brs to have a backup method of testing my salinity.
through a bunch of tests (calibrating multiple times along the way) I realized that my salinity checker was giving me incorrect readings even 4-5 days after calibration. After a long process of getting my checker replaced by Hannah. I got a new one, the first thing I did was calibrate it With one of the packets. I calibrated the device. And then took a measurement of the exact same calibration fluid. It gave me a reading of 33.8 instead of the 35.0 from calibration fluid it had Literally just used it to calibrate itself.
I’m at a loss. My refractometer suspiciously gives me a 35.0 reading a lot more often than I’d think. Like I’m not sure I’m that good at mixing seawater. I check my calibration with the refractometer every time before I use it to measure my tank water.
I even purposefully make higher and lower salinity ratios just to check and make sure my refractometer is not somehow stuck on 35ppt.
My biggest issue is that I’ll use my refractometer and get my salinity to 35ppt, then use both of the Hannah checkers( after I calibrated them) [did I mention this calibration fluid costs A dollar each time!!] and they both give me numbers that are 3-4 points off. Please help me. I’m not sure what I should do next. I’m constantly paranoid that I have no idea what my salinity truly is and it’s driving me insane.