Why is this hard ?

[Notsolostfish]

I just dont get it. Im new to the saltwater hobby, and im trying my best here to buy the nest gear for my saltwater tank so i dont have future issues. Its just this mikwaukee refractometer is giving me such a hard time. I ran out of the solution they provide to calibrate. But i was watching a youtube video, and they said i can use RODI to calibrate it. Its just not right. I put rodi and i zero it out. And then i rest with the other 1.025 solution they provided and its 1.026. I truly wants to know the salinity in my saltwater tank. Its bery irritating to have this +/- differences im just pulling my hair.

 

[rtparty]

Uh, that's within the margin of error and totally acceptable. Close enough is good enough in this hobby.

I've calibrated my Milwaukee once in 3 years of ownership. Never an issue.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Uh, that's within the margin of error and totally acceptable. Close enough is good enough in this hobby.

I've calibrated my Milwaukee once in 3 years of ownership. Never an issue.

I understand. But its just frustating that u always have this +/- error. Like theres no way to know the exact number? Its funny though when i got this refractometer a week ago. And i used their bottle it was giving me 1.025 exactly but as soon as i started using RODI i lost it.

 

[rtparty]

I understand. But its just frustating that u always have this +/- error. Like theres no way to know the exact number? Its funny though when i got this refractometer a week ago. And i used their bottle it was giving me 1.025 exactly but as soon as i started using RODI i lost it.

Everything in life has a margin of error and tolerances when building.

Get a Tropic Marin glass hydrometer if you want more exact numbers. Much harder to use and super easy to break but accurate.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Everything in life has a margin of error and tolerances when building.

Get a Tropic Marin glass hydrometer if you want more exact numbers. Much harder to use and super easy to break but accurate.

I have one sitting in the box. I dont know how to use it. I cant find any good youtube videos about it. The only video iv seen that makes some sense but not is the brs video.

 

[JDCagley]

I just ordered one of these as well and the '0' solution zeroed the unit, but the 1.025 solution measured 1.027! However tank read 1.026 which is what my extremely large and floating glass type hydrometer says as well - so I am going with the 0 is good and like someone said above - it's close enough.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I like my good old fashion handheld refractometer so I don't have to rely on electronic equipment and the paranoia of the machine giving me bad results. With the handheld refractometer, I can calibrate and test my water in a few seconds and it holds its calibration quite well.

IMO, just because something is expensive and 'high tech' doesn't always means its better or easier to use.

 

[doubleshot00]

How do you run out of that solution? Ive only calibrated mine 2x and mines within .001-.002. Im good with that. I keep my salinity around 1.025 just to be safe. KISS

And OP its not that hard just lower your expectations a bit. Its one of the best refractometers on the market. Have some faith.

 

[strawberryfish]

I have one sitting in the box. I dont know how to use it. I cant find any good youtube videos about it. The only video iv seen that makes some sense but not is the brs video.

Kill flow and float not hard.

 

[JDCagley]

I have one sitting in the box. I dont know how to use it. I cant find any good youtube videos about it. The only video iv seen that makes some sense but not is the brs video.

I have the glass one as well. I wanted this one for smaller batches of water for my phyto farm! The glass and this new unit are spot on - if I only had 5 gallons of that test solution to test it with the glass to see if it reads 1.025

 

[homer1475]

I would personally use @Randy Holmes-Farley DIY calibration fluid. Should give you a number thats within the margin of error for the Milwaukee.

 

[KStatefan]

I have one sitting in the box. I dont know how to use it. I cant find any good youtube videos about it. The only video iv seen that makes some sense but not is the brs video.

Here is how I use mine

Place 450 ml of tank water in a 500 ml graduated cylinder
Place hydrometer in water and let stabilize (I normally test Nitrate, Phosphate, ALk during this time)
Take reading from bottom of meniscus ( look below the water line)

Take temperature reading of water in cylinder
If not 77.0° F Calculate the actual using this online calculator

Salinity Correction Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Correct a relative specific gravity (sg) measurement taken with a non-temperature-correcting unit.

www.hamzasreef.com

Use corrected number.

Article that the photo is from

Chemistry and the Aquarium: Specific Gravity: Oh How Complicated!

This month, Randy explains and reviews specific gravity.

reefs.com

 

[strawberryfish]

Also try and take it easy, I find salinity tends to be easy to manage once you get your top off and water change schedule worked out. Really the main params you'll be checking regularly is Calcium, Magnesium, and alkalinity. And nitrates to manage feeding.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

I use distilled water to calibrate my milkwaukee

 

[Acros]

@Phildago did some experimentation with the Milwaukee refractometers and concluded that the device is accurate, but the solutions are not. Zero with rodi. Here is a link to the thread.

Thread 'Milwaukee refractometer reading off for standard solution'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/milwaukee-refractometer-reading-off-for-standard-solution.675489/

 

[Acros]

For best results, let water sit on the refractometer for 1 min before taking a reading.

 

[GarrettT]

That 0.001 difference in salinity will make zero difference in your tank.

 

[HBtank]

Uh, that's within the margin of error and totally acceptable. Close enough is good enough in this hobby.

I've calibrated my Milwaukee once in 3 years of ownership. Never an issue.

Curious, how do you know?

 

[rtparty]

Curious, how do you know?

Margin of error? It's in the manual.

That it is still on point? I weigh my salt when I make new water. After making the new water, I test it on my Milwaukee and it's spot on.

Test my tank, spot on.

Salinity is one of the easiest parameters we keep. I only care about it when the tank is new and then only randomly check it after.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I been using the same refractor for about 20 years. It’s a Milwaukee and is close enough. I could probably buy another and get a different reading. All our test equipment has a margin of error.