bad luck with instand ocean hydrometer

[tswilson21]

I am really knew to this whole saltwater scene. I've been in it a little under a year now. So I bought a new 29 gallon and a new instant ocean hydrometer and began adjusting my tank's salinity. I set my tank around 1.023 and thought everything was good. About half a day goes by and my fish are freaking out. They are just laying on the sand bed. I though maybe From stirring the sand around with the move that I had released an amonia pocket so I took my water to exotic tropicals to test. Turns out that the water was way under salinity and I was actually running the tank around 1.016! I felt pretty naive thinking that a hydrometer couldn't be off I guess. So has anyone else had any problem with theirs being that far off.

 

[fallinapart]

Yes, I had the same problem when I started in the hobby, and those hydrometers are very inaccuarte. I would highly recommend you invest in a refractometer, a much better tool and you should get some reference media to set it. You can order them online at most aquarium stores & e-bay.

Norman

 

[kristen4109]

yes that happens. i would have the pet store you bought it at replace it with a new one, and before you take it home have them test it in there tank till you get one thats right.

 

[tswilson21]

Wow so i just realized that I put instand ocean in the title of the post instead of instant haha. Wow don't I look like a newb. I have never Heard of a refractometer. I will have to look into those. Which one do you recommend? I fixed the salinity now, but my royal gamma and maroon clown are still laying in the sand bed. What are the chances that they will make it?

 

[DMBillies]

I got by with floating hydrometers for quite a while and it wasn't until I actually fooled with a refractometer that I realized how pathetically bad they were. Honestly, a refractometer is indispensable in my opinion (not to mention easier and not honestly that much more expensive).

 

[Mikeyjer]

When I started the hobby, we used the Instant Ocean Hydrometer and it was accurate when we used it. We had it compared with a Refractometer at Critters at the time and it was right on the money. You have to rid the bubbles on the dial so it can work properly, I used a spoon to get the bubbles off the dial. We have bought a Refractometer since then. It's easier to use without getting the spoon out... We now have two hydrometers sitting there collecting dust...We didn't buy either one, both was given to us. One is a Oceanic Hydrometer I think, never used that one before though. One more thing, you need to rinse that stuffs out with clean water in case of salt built up on the dial, that will mess it up too.