Concern about salinity with instant ocean salt...

[trigger0214]

Well, trigger, poing taken. But I'd still like to have that refracto just to be safe. At least have something to compare the hydrometer to, you know?

Whateve man...there is a lot a of ways to do this of course....I hate to sound like Yoda here, but, if so much faith in the refractometer you have - why compare it to the hydrometer?

 

[trigger0214]

I am not trying to be a ***** here. But, say you spend the $40- 90+ on the refractometer and it IS different than your hydro....what do you do?

 

[bleedingthought]

there is a lot a of ways to do this of course

Homemade solution like Chris said?

 

[Anonymous]

I had some major issues with my salinity using a swing arm, actually two of them. Both were telling me that the tank was at 1.025. Then I started checking the salinity of water I was getting with frags from various places and they were all in the 1.015 range. So I started to worry. I picked up a refractometer from ebay for 39 shipped and some calibration solution from the LFS for 25 and realized that my tank was actually closer to 1.035 and that all the stores that the frags had come from were right on at 1.025. I had borrowed one of the hydrometers from a friend and both his and mine were way off, but reading similar. Since I have started using the refractometer when I mix my salt with RO/DI it has been right on 1.024 when mixed properly and measured properly. I am on my 2nd bag of a 3 bag box and every time I mix three gallons for my weekly water change it is right on the money.

 

[Meloco14]

I compared my hydrometer to two of my brother's hydrometers and all 3 read significantly differently. One of them is way off, reading off the chart when the salinity is actually around 1.023. When I bought my refractometer I trusted it, and brought my salinity down to where it says it's 1.025. When I compare it to water coming in from the LFS it is always the same. In my opinion, a refractometer is much better than a hydrometer.

 

[bleedingthought]

Ranger, I actually happened to read your thread about your salinity conflicts and it's what brought my attention to mine. And then I read another thread about how much IO salt it should take to make around 1.025 and I thought, "Uhmm, could it be?"

Meloco, definitely hoping to be able to purchase that refracto soon!

 

[rayjay]

Well, I've done quite well using only hydrometers, including swing arm types now for over 12 years.
First, clean your hydrometer overnight by soaking in white vinegar and then rinse well.
Second, take the hydrometer to your LFS or someone with a refractometer (or a certified calibrated hydrometer) and check the reading against it. Take readings at least three times to be sure there is no erronious reading due to a bubble stuck on the arm.
Next, mark the variance on the hydrometer so you know that when the hydrometer reads "X" the actual reading is "Y"
Be sure to take at least two readings each time you check, and if they differ, take more to be sure of getting the correct reading.
Rinse in fresh water after every use and clean weekly with white vinegar.

Have you ever wondered how so many people succeeded in this hobby for so long, using only hydrometers?
Check out older articles in books and online articles and see if you can find mention of refractometers. There certainly wasn't any when I started.