salinity

[excal]

1.026 was at 1.025 two days ago added ro water for top off at 6pm three hrs later still at 1.026 tank is cycling. could this be the cause of it..?

[StevenSeas]

What kind of instrument are you using to measure this? What is the approx water volume of the tank? About how much did you add in top off water? and no the tank cycling wouldnt have anything to do with it. Salinity is a measure of the density of your water.

[excal]

added one gallon of ro water. 34 gallon red sea max. cpr back pack reef skimmer. going to take out half a gallon tomorrow and add more ro if doesnt change over night. well that might be my problem. its a cheap kent hydrometer. using kent reef salt mix need to get a good hydrometer.

[Gseclipse02]

a cheap kent hydrometer. using kent reef salt mix need to get a good hydrometer.


thats your problem

[Troy Valentine]

It is pretty tough to get a very accurate reading with those darn things... I would invest in a refractometer, they are well worth the money. I have had nothing but issues with those type of hydrometers.

[justahobby]

+2. Float arm hydrometers are worthless. A glass floating one can be ok as long as you compare it to a refractometer to make sure it is reading correctly. Best bet is a refractometer.

[Big_Pun]

so very true I learned that recently, i have a glass float one you can have,
till you get a refract. we can compare it to my refractometer so you can get an accurate ball park reading.
send me a pm.

[Bill S]

+2. Float arm hydrometers are worthless. A glass floating one can be ok as long as you compare it to a refractometer to make sure it is reading correctly. Best bet is a refractometer.

Actually, my belief is that this is backwards. A GOOD floating hydrometer, is priceless. Also breakable. I finally bought a refractometer about a year ago - but I still don't trust it. I've seen too many good tanks crashed by both swing arms and refractometers.

[justahobby]

I went off a floating hydrometer for over a year before finding out that it was off by several digits. Then I compared other glass floaters and found that all three gave different readings. That's why I suggest matching a float to a calibrated refractometer to be sure it's giving the right reading. Funny you should mention breaking them since I just broke my umph-teenth one the other day.

[allan]

I have both, but my plastic swing arm gives the same reading as my refracto, but it's cooler to use the refractor. :)

[Europhyllia]

okay you guys make me want to calibrate my refractometer. lol

[excal]

going to gabes to get my water tested. i want to see how off the salinty is..

[Big_Pun]

Actually, my belief is that this is backwards. A GOOD floating hydrometer, is priceless. Also breakable. I finally bought a refractometer about a year ago - but I still don't trust it. I've seen too many good tanks crashed by both swing arms and refractometers.
i compared my glass and refract and got the same reading, very intresting.........

[Europhyllia]

well thanks for this thread.
looks like my refractometer was due for a little tweaking. :)
Showed 32 when it was really 35.

Interestingly the super pure solution tested out fine (o =o) but I double checked with a 35 solution it showed a difference there

[Bill S]

well thanks for this thread.
looks like my refractometer was due for a little tweaking. :)
Showed 32 when it was really 35.

Interestingly the super pure solution tested out fine (o =o) but I double checked with a 35 solution it showed a difference there

And... There you have it! Most folks are good about calibrating with 0. But, an instrument calibration requires adjusting to a low AND a high standard.

I like the large, 12" floating ones. But, they are EASY to break.

[alton]

Bill and I must be the same age because I remember the horror stories of refractometers gone bad. I like using something I don't have to adjust. I do wish stores would carry the good ones.

[excal]

cant someone post a link or give the name of the product they use..

[Big_Pun]

cant someone post a link or give the name of the product they use..
petco carries small glass ones and Tx tropical carries large and small glass hydrometers

[Europhyllia]

I am using a Sybon refractometer and it's heavy -feels like a good piece of equipment. Prices have come down on these over the last years so the 'better' ones that used to be around $100 are now to be had for around $50.

I think one problem with them being off might be that they usually come with the 0 salinity calibration fluid.
I actually only bought the 35 ppt calibration fluid some time ago to get the minimum order amount for free shipping. lol

I read about this some more and apparently for reef keeping purposes it's crucial to use the high (35) fluid to calibrate and I bet few people have that at home since the stuff that comes with it when you purchase a refractometer is usually the 0 one.

It really didn't take much to tweak it at all.
You just take the rubber cover off the screw and use the tiny screw driver to adjust it to 35. Rubber cap back on. Your done.

[excal]

would a reefkeeper controller work? price doesnt look to bad.. or any controller for that matter...?

[Europhyllia]

I think to get the salinity probe you will have to get the SL2 module which only goes onto the Reef Keeper Elite, doesn't it?
If you can afford that then more power to you.
I only could justify the expense for the ReefKeeper Lite and love it. Great controller (but not compatible with the salinity module as far as I know)

[excal]

http://www.digitalaquatics.com/saltwater/RKL

[excal]

i have money aside for the hobby wife doesnt know about lol..

[Europhyllia]

I was wrong. The salinity probe module can go on the Reefkeeper Lite:
http://www.digitalaquatics.com/saltwater/SL2

:)