A Friendly Reminder

[nyfireman3097]

For all of you refracto meter users
Make sure tis CALIBRATED

For the last month corals have been looking like crap even a couple of deaths. And then last night i am making water for a WC and i said let me check my tank water it read 1.025 so then i said let me check my ro/di water and sure it enough it was off my tank afetr calibrating the refracto meter was at 1.020 i usally keep it at 1.026 so now im topping off my tank with salt water to get it back up slowly. Something so F*$#ing stupid like that.
Nick

 

[marrone]

Also make sure when you test the water and calibrate it that the water isn't cold as that will throw off the reading.

Since I do a water change each week I check it to make sure it correct.

 

[steveo32]

how do you go about recalibrating ?

 

[regal]

I used tap water to calibrate. It should be OK, right?

 

[jhale]

no your supposed to use RO/DI water. as per the directions that came with mine.

 

[romain]

I used poland Spring to calibrate before each use.

 

[marrone]

Your suppose to use distilled water. And then use the screw driver to adjust it to zero.

 

[DevIouS]

Your suppose to use distilled water. And then use the screw driver to adjust it to zero.

Yep......

 

[DevIouS]

Also make sure when you test the water and calibrate it that the water isn't cold as that will throw off the reading.

My refracto states "ATC" Automatic Temperature Compensation.
Is this a new feature?

 

[masterswimmer]

Mine has ATC also Phil.
I also don't need a screwdriver to calibrate. It has a knob on the top (near the plastic lid) that also has a nut under it. I loosen the nut and turn the knob by hand. When it's calibrated I tighten the nut and I'm good to go.
I try calibrating it every few months and it's never off by more than .001.

Poland Springs is not good water to use. jhale and Marrone are right on with RO/DI or distilled.

swimmer

 

[regal]

Your suppose to use distilled water. And then use the screw driver to adjust it to zero.

I know that the instruction says to use distill water. But I don't think it matters that much since there isn't much "stuff" in the tap water compares to the salt water that we make for the tank. Remember the scale on the refractometer reads in ppt. If you have a TDS meter, you know the it measures up to 1 ppm. So, if the tap water measurement is like let say 100ppm, your refractometer will not even be able to pick that up on its scale. (The lowest that it reads is 1ppt or 1,000ppm) Does it make sense?

 

[masterswimmer]

I know that the instruction says to use distill water. But I don't think it matters that much since there isn't much "stuff" in the tap water compares to the salt water that we make for the tank.

Believe it or not, some of the bottled water companies add back a little salt for taste. So they aren't even adding another element to effect TDS, they are directly adding salt!

drinking water
bottled water

swimmer

 

[regal]

It'll be interesting to see what the meter reads of the tap water after it is calibrated with either distilled or RO/DI water. I bet you, the difference is going to be minimum. i.e. Tap water sample will read as 1.000 or 0 ppt.

 

[masterswimmer]

It'll be interesting to see what the meter reads of the tap water after it is calibrated with either distilled or RO/DI water. I bet you, the difference is going to be minimum. i.e. Tap water sample will read as 1.000 or 0 ppt.

Very possible. Keep in mind, that can change also. What might be zero today might give a different reading next month. Distilled or RO/DI is consistent.

 

[masterswimmer]

I just ran a check of SG on my tap water, RO/DI and tanks.

I did two readings on each source for accuracy checks.

Findings:

RO/DI = 1.000 & 1.000 (corrected per Cali :party: )
tap = 1.001 & 1.001
tanks = 1.026 & 1.026

Granted, the variance is slight, but that is MY tap water. Every faucet will vary. I still see the most accurate coming from RO/DI or distilled.

swimmer

 

[cali_reef]

I just ran a check of SG on my tap water, RO/DI and tanks.

I did two readings on each source for accuracy checks.

Findings:

RO/DI = 0.000 & 0.000

Do you mean 1.000?

 

[masterswimmer]

Do you mean 1.000?

I sit corrected :lol_large

swimmer

 

[regal]

I sit corrected :lol_large

swimmer

Can you get a TDS reading on your tap water? Specific gravity of 1.001 corresponds to 1.3ppt/1300ppm. Way above normal. That can't be right.

 

[cali_reef]

Can you get a TDS reading on your tap water? Specific gravity of 1.001 corresponds to 1.3ppt/1300ppm. Way above normal. That can't be right.

You guys must have good eyes to see that kind of resolution, or maybe I just need to see MSHUR for some new contact lenses

 

[regal]

You guys must have good eyes to see that kind of resolution, or maybe I just need to see MSHUR for some new contact lenses

I wish. Here is the conversion.

http://www.saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/SgPptConv.php