ReefsandGeeks
New member
I'm not new to reefing, but with the mistake I've made over the last couple of weeks I feel like I am. I mixed up a new batch of saltwater to do a water change. I haven't done one in a while, so I thought I'd make it a fairly large water change while I'm at it (35-40%). I got my new salt all mixed up and up to temp, then started the change. After I was done, I used my refractometer to verify that the tank was 35ppt and at correct water level. Something was off though. Surely I made a measurement error as my tank was reading close to 30ppt, not my usual 35ppt. Rechecked my numbers twice, then went to check my water change water. Turns out, somehow I mixed up my new water to 25ppt, not 35ppt :headwally:
I don't know how I missed such a big difference. I must have been in a hurry to get the water mixed up. So for a week after the water change I topped off with saltwater to bring up salinity. Finally got to 35ppt and with no loses.
Now, just last night I was checking water parameters and Alk and Mag seemed oddly low on my new saltwater. This is after I had added additional salt to the remainder of my saltwater mixing station to bring it up to 35ppt. So I checked my refractometer with calibration fluid and was reading 5ppt off :hmm4: ! So my water initially, at the time I made the water change must have been 20ppt while my display was already 30ppt before the change. how I made it through that without my coral seeming agitated or any invert losses is amazing. I'm lucky to have not lost everything but my fish. Now after triple checking my refractometer and tank water, I am now again topping off with saltwater for another week.
I guess the lesson learned here is to double check your readings, and frequently calibrate your refractometer. I know I'll be calibrating mine before any reading I get causes me to make a change to my tank. Hope others can learn from my blunder.
I don't know how I missed such a big difference. I must have been in a hurry to get the water mixed up. So for a week after the water change I topped off with saltwater to bring up salinity. Finally got to 35ppt and with no loses.
Now, just last night I was checking water parameters and Alk and Mag seemed oddly low on my new saltwater. This is after I had added additional salt to the remainder of my saltwater mixing station to bring it up to 35ppt. So I checked my refractometer with calibration fluid and was reading 5ppt off :hmm4: ! So my water initially, at the time I made the water change must have been 20ppt while my display was already 30ppt before the change. how I made it through that without my coral seeming agitated or any invert losses is amazing. I'm lucky to have not lost everything but my fish. Now after triple checking my refractometer and tank water, I am now again topping off with saltwater for another week.
I guess the lesson learned here is to double check your readings, and frequently calibrate your refractometer. I know I'll be calibrating mine before any reading I get causes me to make a change to my tank. Hope others can learn from my blunder.
