Salinity testing gone bad

[Chris_from_SoCal]

I last had salt water tanks 30 years ago. I used a refactometer that I am pretty sure had no way to calibrate it.

Now I setup my reef tank 3 months ago and was relying on a refactometer to give me accurate results. I did not know they now can and should be calibrated.

I noticed recently that some of my corals were receding. At first I thought it might be my fish poking at them. Then I thought things were not right and bought a digital reader.

At first I thought I wasted my money since the readings were way too high. I was searching of a way to calibrate it but found it was factory calibrated and should not need to be redone. When searching for this I found out my manual refractometer can and should be calibrated.

After watching a youtube video I found that my refractometer way way off and after fixing the calibration it now matches what the new digital reader was telling me.

I have been pretty good at keeping my tanks at what I thought was 1.025 but it has been actually at 1.032. Now I know better.

I am working the salinity down a bit every day so I don't cause more problems.

That sucked but at least it was fixable.

 

[Subsea]

Considering getting a hydrometer as well.

 

[Chris_from_SoCal]

Back to normal.

 

[rtparty]

Make your own DIY calibration solution with table salt and RO water. Randy’s recipe is found on here and Google

Get a Tropic Marin glass hydrometer and a 500ml cylinder.

Weigh your salt. Digital kitchen scales are cheap and easy to get. Weighing salt keeps it super consistent unlike scoops and cups.

 

[Chris_from_SoCal]

Make your own DIY calibration solution with table salt and RO water. Randy’s recipe is found on here and Google

Get a Tropic Marin glass hydrometer and a 500ml cylinder.

Weigh your salt. Digital kitchen scales are cheap and easy to get. Weighing salt keeps it super consistent unlike scoops and cups.

Thanks but the problem was that I was not aware that the refractometer was even adjustable. It wasn't until I bought the digital meter that something was definitely wrong. I was looking for a way to calibrate the digital one when I found a YouTube video on how to calibrate the exact refractometer I have. There was even a screwdriver in the container hidden under the pipettes.

I did see a thread about Randy's recipe in passing and was looking for it when I came across that video. The refractometer was way off and it was adjusted. It now matches up with the digital one. I do have a digital kitchen scale.

I will look at getting a hydrometer.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Thanks but the problem was that I was not aware that the refractometer was even adjustable. It wasn't until I bought the digital meter that something was definitely wrong. I was looking for a way to calibrate the digital one when I found a YouTube video on how to calibrate the exact refractometer I have. There was even a screwdriver in the container hidden under the pipettes.

I did see a thread about Randy's recipe in passing and was looking for it when I came across that video. The refractometer was way off and it was adjusted. It now matches up with the digital one. I do have a digital kitchen scale.

I will look at getting a hydrometer.

This is the one I would recommend getting!

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/high-precision-hydrometer-tropic-marin.html

 

[ScottJ]

I have found I need to re-calibrate my BRS refractometer every time I use it. Sometimes it stays in adjustment for several uses, then it goes out every time I open the box. I use Randy's recipe. It's just habit now.