Finally picked up a refractometer!

[lcs]

After over six months of having the tank running I finally got a refractometer. I had store credit at CF and I was good and used it for that instead of livestock. OK, I did get a zoa colony, but I used money for that!

I checked the DT and it read 1.030! My hydrometer had been consistantly reading about 1.026. Could this be why my zoas haven't been totally happy?

 

[jfl14609]

I would thin more than likely but there could be other issues too I know some people that have done that with no ill effects as long as its a gradual rise

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Make sure that your refractometer is calibrated before you make any salinity changes!

Bring it to CF and I bet that Brian will help you out.

 

[lcs]

Bring it to CF and I bet that Brian will help you out.

Without having to ask, Millie opened it up, had me look at it, we calibrated it before I left, and she made sure I understood how to use it. They're pretty great there. It's very dangerous thougj; I work almost right around the corner and I've been stopping in about once a week!

 

[superkat]

they are awesome there. hydrometers are ka ka. one of the worst 15 bucks i have ever spent in this hobby. congrats on the purchase!

 

[Capt_Cully]

Definitely an eye opener! Like Scott said, make sure it's calibrated!

 

[piscivorous]

Not only make sure its calibrated but make sure it is calibrated WITH THE RIGHT FLUID! My refractometer has been consistently measuring .03 different from the guys at ABC. This concerned me and I looked into it further and my refractometer was sold with the fresh water calibration fluid. You want the salinity fluid for calibration. There are articles in the chemistry forums about why this is....but this is the blurb from premium aqautics:
*Refractometers are listed to be calibrated with RO/DI or Distilled water. There is some new information stating for best results you should use a Salinity Fluid like the American Marine Salinity Fluid. This will yield you much more accurate results.

 

[lcs]

Not only make sure its calibrated but make sure it is calibrated WITH THE RIGHT FLUID!

Oh, definately! I bought some at CF as well. I've worked in the sciences and we would always be sure to calibrate equipment over a range of data, which would be ideal scenario, even for a refractometer. You could make say three solutions, each with a different, known salinity (of course the accuracy would be determined by what you used to determine the salinity of the solutions) that are above, at and below the your target salinity and see how accurately the refractometer reads all three.

 

[block head]

kind of hard to explain. the graph is printed on clear piece of plastic, and can't be changed. the prism is fixed and can't be adjusted. all you can really do side the graph back and forth on a fixed track. the adjustment is just a set screw that holds the graph in place. i use lab grade solution of 35% ,but 0% would work

 

[Newreeflady]

Not to hijack, but just wanted to add that conductivity meters are also pretty sweet for this (easier, imo). Same deal, though, must calibrate.

Glad you got the goods!
A