Salinity question (long post)

[TodaysTrolling]

I have been using a Hannah Salinity Meter since I’ve gotten into saltwater for the last year or so. Finally I noticed that it wouldn’t stay calibrated. It would show saltwater at 1.017. I’d calibrate it with the Hannah solution and it would read 1.026. But as soon as I turned it off and back on it would be wildly different again. Before finally just showing Err when I tried to calibrate it.

So I ordered a refractometer. Calibrated it with the Hannah solution to 35 ppt. Tested my saltwater tank and it’s saying it’s at 1.035. Rechecked some Hannah solution in it and it’s correctly showing 35 ppt. Or around 1.026. Do you guys think it’s accurate and my tank is really that high? Have a bunch of softies. Torch. Zoas. Bubble tip anenome. Etc. link for the one I bought below.

Aquarium Salinity Refractometer with ATC Function,Saltwater Test Kit for Seawater, Pool, Aquarium, Fish Tank.Dual Scale: Specific Gravity & Salt Percent

 

[salt2salt]

Yep....bring some tank water to lfs and have them test

 

[vetteguy53081]

35ppt (1.026) is an industry standard and would be ideal especially in a tank with coral

 

[Reef.]

You can’t use the Hanna solution for the refractometer.

 

[Jeffcb]

1.024 - 1.026 is ok. Calibrate refractor to Zero with R/O water . That's it

 

[Reef - Tripp]

Do not use rodi, refractometers must be calibrated with solution at 35ppt, you can make it with the recipe of Randy H.

 

[TodaysTrolling]

Sorry, it’s showing 1.045. Maybe that’s my issue. The instructions weren’t to clear on how to calibrate it.

 

[TodaysTrolling]

I calibrated it with Hannah salinity checker solution. Which comes at 35 ppt.

 

[Reef.]

I calibrated it with Hannah salinity checker solution. Which comes at 35 ppt.

thats for conductivity meters not refractometer. They are different.

 

[Reef - Tripp]

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

 

[TodaysTrolling]

Okay. I calibrated it to 0 using distilled water. Now it’s reading at about 1.026-1.027. Which sounds about right. I appreciate it guys. Trying to find out what could be the problem I’m having with some of my zoas. Figured I’d start at salinity.