can I trust a new hydrometer?

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

There is something wrong with my refractometers reading it says SG is at 1.026 but everything in my tank is all shrunk up..Would it hurt to try a new hydrometer until I can get refractometer calibration fluid? Can I trust a hydrometers readings? I need to know soon my anomones are not happy. Usually after water changes I see improvements but everything is getting worse after water changes. I normally do 10% water changes weekly. Salt is red sea coral pro.

 

[albano]

wouldn't it just be easier to have the LFS test your water with their refractometer...that way you'll have an idea of how much 'off' is your own refract.
Hopefully they will recalibrate yours.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

LFS uses RO water to calibrate their refractometer, they checked mine said it is fine but I feel that it is wrong. Maybe I'm wrong..shrugs.

 

[HighlandReefer]

I agree with albano. The hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate and can be off significantly. It woudl be better to take a sample to a fish store that has a properly calibrated refractometer and then you can place a mark on your new hydrometer where you want to keep your water at. This calibrates your hydrometer.

 

[ottoman]

I will not trust a hydrometer at all, unless you don't have any sensitive livestock such as corals

 

[albano]

Oops

does that mean : Oh yeah, :eek2: I should have thought of that!

 

[flyyyguy]

absolutely you can trust it.......as long as you ignore the numbers on it and change their reference to that of a properly calibrated refractometer, and double check it has remained the same every month or so

didnt help you any I know. sorry

I have a few different cheap hydrometers laying around that are what I use most often, but they vary from reading .04 off to right on.

you can make your own calibration solution if you ahve an accurate scale

need to look for the link, somebody else here Im sure has it handy


many lfs refractometers are no more accurate as they dont calibrate them properly




here is your calibration solution, and I agree with cliff strongly as far as regardless of what you think, dont start changing anything until you confirm for sure.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

 

[HighlandReefer]

LFS uses RO water to calibrate their refractometer, they checked mine said it is fine but I feel that it is wrong. Maybe I'm wrong..shrugs.

Sometimes using pure water for calibration is very close, but in other cases it can be off significantly. You could try calling other LFS and find one that using a refractometer with the proper 1.0264 calibrating standard. FWIW, in my area very few of the LFS use a refractometer.

I would not change your salinity until your sure.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

I am posting on my phone..didn't mean to post the last post so that is why I said oops. What could possibly be wrong with my tank then? Can an increase in phosphates or nitrates cause everything to shrink up.
I did have a fish store in San Antonio check my refractometer. They calibrate with RO water, I have heardthat calibrating with RO water your SG can still be off.

 

[dbdisok]

I calibrate my refractometer using rodi water each time I use it. Only take a minute to do this.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Do you use RODI water for water changes? What are your other water parameters?

 

[albano]

absolutely you can trust it.......as long as you ignore the numbers on it and change their reference to that of a properly calibrated refractometer, and double check it has remained the same every month or so


I have a few different cheap hydrometers laying around that are what I use most often, but they vary from reading .04 off to right on.

+1 I started a thread about that a few months ago
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1920665

 

[flyyyguy]

I calibrate my refractometer using rodi water each time I use it. Only take a minute to do this.

calibrating with ro water to zero can be off as much as .04 when you go to measure your salinty that I have seen. Which is pretty much as off as most cheap hydrometers can be, so you are really no better off even buying a refracto in the first place if you calibrate it that way

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

Oh and I had an aguement with my husband. He said nitrates cannot be easily detected. I told him it can and that he was remembering wrong..that it is phosphates that is hard to detect. Am I right or are we both right? LoL

 

[flyyyguy]

regardless of topic, your husband is always right

hth

 

[HighlandReefer]

Randy discusses the proper calibration of refractometers & why it is recommended to use a proper marine standard at a salinity of 1.0264 to calibrate with in this article:

Refractometers and Salinity Measurement
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-12/rhf/index.php

 

[HighlandReefer]

Oh and I had an aguement with my husband. He said nitrates cannot be easily detected. I told him it can and that he was remembering wrong..that it is phosphates that is hard to detect. Am I right or are we both right? LoL

If the husband is smart, the wife is always right, especially if he likes to eat and have his clothes done. :lol:

Measuring nitrate or posphate accurately at very low levels is difficult in marine water do to all the ions & other factors that can interefer with trying to get accurate measurements.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

Yes I do use RODI for water changes and the filters were replaced last month.

 

[dbdisok]

When my corals began to show signs of stress I did all the stuff that jis normally recommended. I stepped up water changes and did frequent water testing still no improvement. Then my LFS recommended Dr.Tim's products.

I began using Waste Away and can tell you it worked great.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Yes I do use RODI for water changes and the filters were replaced last month.

High ammonia levels can cause problems. HIgh phosphate levels can cause problems for coral. High heavy metal levels if you are dosing a product with micro-nutrients can cause problems. Light changes can cause problems for coral. Suddenly running GAC can cause problems for coral if too much is used to start with.