how often does your refractometer need calibration

[thelawnwrangler]

I am 3 months in needed to dial it in after wondering how did I screw up top off

 

[Jone]

just buy the calibrating solution and check your refracto yourself..then youll have the bottle of solution for future calibration and checking whenever you want

 

[heathlindner25]

I have one that never needs calibrating, given to me by an old school... I don't know the brand
My recently purchased Red Sea reflectometer needs calibration every time I look at it

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Lol I have red sea one

I calibrate it to 0 with Rodi is that wrong vs using solution?

 

[heathlindner25]

Lol I have red sea one

I calibrate it to 0 with Rodi is that wrong vs using solution?

You should use calibration fluid

 

[thegrun]

I check mine every time I use them. They usually do not need adjustment, but it takes all of 10 seconds to calibrate one so why not? Always us a standard 35ppt calibration solution, using RO/DI water can leave your calibration of saltwater off by a significant amount.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

You should use calibration fluid

I need to look that up/do it. What is solution like 1.025

Guess you don't care if it reads 1.000 right you need it to read 1.025 right.

I run a little low 1.024 I guess I should step it up a bit. Probably get more of the other good stuff in salt too

 

[thegrun]

Saltwater calibration fluid is typically 35ppt (1.0264 SG).

 

[MikeyAl]

Lol I have red sea one

I calibrate it to 0 with Rodi is that wrong vs using solution?

Ditto.

 

[reefbroao]

Lol same and I calibrate it every time I use it sometimes more than once.

 

[WaReefer458]

I have the marine depot one. It's ok but when you calibrate it to ro water it reads .001 low. I have an old hydrometer that is spot on so I calibrate it to that. I use my refractometer for my tank and keep the hydrometer in the garage for my water change readings.

 

[Member No. 1]

Here is some good info...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-12/rhf/

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/

 

[toothybugs]

Mine only seems to need to be done yearly, when I check it after 6 months it's off by maybe 0.001, reading low. I calibrate to 1.026 first and then check RODI just for giggles (and to make sure I have a true zero).

No problems that way.

 

[billbunton]

I have a V2 that needs calibration every time. I have a BRS that needs calibration once in a blue moon.

As everyone else has said, use calibration fluid.

 

[scooter31707]

I have the Red Sea version and I've noticed that when my temp changes in the house I have to calibrate it again. So pretty much I have to check every time I use it.

 

[CStrickland]

I'm not sure but I think that a lot of the diff brands are the same refractometer. They are "ATC" refractometers that diff companies like Red Sea have customized by the factory to put their name on it.

I used the fluid too, it's cheap. I replace it every six or eight months too cause I'm paranoid that it'll evaporate and get out of whack over time from having the bottle opened.

 

[BrokenSpoke]

I have had the BRS refractometer and the calibration fluid for several years now. I check it about once a quarter and I have never needed to calibrate it.