Salinity increasing?

[Melissa31595]

For the last month my salinity has been reading 1.026 and now it is reading 1.027 but I haven’t changed the water or anything recently. Anyone know how it could be increasing??

 

[crazyfishmom]

For the last month my salinity has been reading 1.026 and now it is reading 1.027 but I haven’t changed the water or anything recently. Anyone know how it could be increasing??

Are you topping off with fresh water consistently?

 

[Melissa31595]

Are you topping off with fresh water consistently?

Yes we have an ATO with RODI water in it.

 

[Lavey29]

Not uncommon mine does the same. Mine is mainly caused by dosing 2 part and other supplements.

 

[14 foot reef]

What instrument are you testing with ?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Yes we have an ATO with RODI water in it.

Now I will be more thoughtful and monitor salinity more frequently. I check it once a month but top off consistently so I haven’t been monitoring.

Are you dosing anything?

 

[Melissa31595]

Now I will be more thoughtful and monitor salinity more frequently. I check it once a month but top off consistently so I haven’t been monitoring.

Are you dosing anything?

No we haven’t been doing anything like that.

 

[crazyfishmom]

No we haven’t been doing anything like that.

Have you calibrated your refractometer recently? Or whatever you use to measure?

 

[Melissa31595]

What instrument are you testing with ?

Refractometer

 

[Melissa31595]

Have you calibrated your refractometer recently? Or whatever you use to measure?

We had the guys at our fish store calibrate it for us. But that was about a month ago too

 

[crazyfishmom]

We had the guys at our fish store calibrate it for us. But that was about a month ago too

If you put RODI in it, where is it? Should be at 1

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you put RODI in it, where is it? Should be at 1

Depends on the units it reads, and that is often inaccurate anyway.

 

[Melissa31595]

If you put RODI in it, where is it? Should be at 1

It’s at 2

 

[Dom]

For the last month my salinity has been reading 1.026 and now it is reading 1.027 but I haven’t changed the water or anything recently. Anyone know how it could be increasing??

Water evaporates, not salt. So as water evaporates, salinity will increase.

 

[Dom]

It’s at 2

Problem solved.

 

[crazyfishmom]

It’s at 2

Should be at 0 if you’re looking at ppt and at 1 if you’re looking at specific gravity. I think the refractometer needs to be recalibrated. I would highly recommend purchasing a 35 ppt calibration solution for peace of mind. In general if you are topping off you shouldn’t see those numbers creeping up unless you’re dosing which can cause a slight change.

 

[Pistondog]

Post in thread 'DIY Salinity calibration solutions' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-salinity-calibration-solutions.220052/post-2530479

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A brine refractometer properly calibrated to read 35 ppt seawater will not properly read pure fresh water. Thus, I think the comments about what it should be may be premature.

I suggest you make or buy a 35 ppt seawater standard to calibrate the refractometer.

http://www.reefedition.com/refractometers-salinity-measurement/