Tropic Marin Hydrometer

[Reef.]

Is it floating?

Looks like you dont have enough water in, you need to fill to the 500ml mark then add the hydrometer.

 

[Tamberav]

I bought this one to float it in...

It is acrylic so it is extremely clear vs plastic but also can't break like glass and probably less likely to break the hydrometer should they bump into each other.

Amazon product ASIN B0BPHC65HQ

 

[Reef.]

Also no one has mentioned the temp of the wster needs to be 25c or you will get an incorrect reading, and that’s 25c when the water and hydrometer are in the cylinder not before as the hydrometer and cylinder will drop the temp.

Just rinse the cylinder and warm the hydrometer for a few seconds with tank water, then refill with fresh tank water will warm everything up, obviously if you keep your tank at 27c warming up will not be necessary as itll drop nicto 25c in the cylinder.

Once you get the hang of it, it takes maybe 2 mins total to get a reading and put the hydrometer back in the cupboard.

 

[txmk4]

If it's that high you have way too much salt. I use that salt and its ~1/2 cup per 1 gallon of water for 35ppt. I fine tune it little here and there but that will get you super close

Will make a fresh batch of water and mix half cup tomorrow to test. Will get back if I come across any confusion. Thank you

 

[txmk4]

If it's that high you have way too much salt. I use that salt and its ~1/2 cup per 1 gallon of water for 35ppt. I fine tune it little here and there but that will get you super close

Do you weigh it on a digital scale or you just scoop it out on a cup?

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Do you weigh it on a digital scale or you just scoop it out on a cup?

I just scoop. I tried the scale but it was too much work

 

[Borat]

I just scoop. I tried the scale but it was too much work

I weigh - as I mix 25L at a time.. digital scales is a must-have appliance in a "proper" reefer cupboard.

 

[txmk4]

Just made a fresh batch of 40 g with 12.7lbs of red sea salt the water temp is 77º but it still shows this. Am i Doing it wrong? What am i. Missing?

 

[Reefering1]

Also no one has mentioned the temp of the wster needs to be 25c or you will get an incorrect reading, and that’s 25c when the water and hydrometer are in the cylinder not before as the hydrometer and cylinder will drop the temp.

Just rinse the cylinder and warm the hydrometer for a few seconds with tank water, then refill with fresh tank water will warm everything up, obviously if you keep your tank at 27c warming up will not be necessary as itll drop nicto 25c in the cylinder.

Once you get the hang of it, it takes maybe 2 mins total to get a reading and put the hydrometer back in the cupboard.

To add: the difference in reading, from a few degree F, is about .002. I do find it makes as much difference allowing the hydrometer temp to equalize to water temp

 

[txmk4]

 

[56longroof]

Just made a fresh batch of 40 g with 12.7lbs of red sea salt the water temp is 77º but it still shows this. Am i Doing it wrong? What am i. Missing?

You are putting in too much salt. Add some fresh water to get the salinity down.

 

[Reef.]

To add: the difference in reading, from a few degree F, is about .002. I do find it makes as much difference allowing the hydrometer temp to equalize to water temp

I use celsius as the hydrometer is in celsius plus I’m in the UK which also uses celsius, so around 0.05 for a couple of degrees.

 

[ingchr1]

Hydrometer temperature correction calculator.

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/SalinityCorrection.php

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Just made a fresh batch of 40 g with 12.7lbs of red sea salt the water temp is 77º but it still shows this. Am i Doing it wrong? What am i. Missing?

40 gallons would be around 20 cups of Red Sea blue salt, give or take a small additional adjustment after the initial hydrometer reading

The official website states for 35 ppt the mixing ratio (gr/L) is 40.3

1 liter is 0.264172 gallons

40 gallons being 151.416 liters

40.3 grams * 151.416 liters = 6,102.0648 grams

6,102.0648 grams = 13.4526 pounds

either your water quantity is not 40 gallons, or your salt measurement is off. hydrometer is showing high salinity. that temperature is fine, it won't cause that big of a swing

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Just a word of caution - depending on the milling process used, bags of salt may have different crystals settle out in different layers. Just scooping up some in a cup might get you higher or lower levels of some of the salts. Mag chloride is a common one to settle out in a layer.

I prefer to use all of the salt in a bag at one time, or at the very least, I mix it up well before pulling a cup or two out.....

 

[Borat]

And also, you should always keep your salt bucket tightly closed - moisture content (that the salt would draw from air) may greatly impact mixing ratios.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd also caution folks to not use the linked temperature conversion calculator for anything other than a floating glass hydrometer. It is not useful for swing arm hydrometers, refractometers, or conductivity meters.