One more question Help!!!

[cyeater]

Ok this is probably the dumbest post I will make, but for now I am using a hydrometer, I will purchase a refractometer soon, but its a deep six hydrometer and everytime I try to get a reading it is different, Tank temp is 78-79 I mixed 37 cups of salt for 75 Gallons of water with Instant Ocean Reef Crystal salt, is it possible to get a decent reading with a hydrometer?

Any suggestions on a refractometer would be great!

 

[shag26272]

I wouldnt trust it, I got mine at premiumaquatics and it works great, just the cheapest one they sell, when I used hydrometers I found that bubbles would get on the swing arms and affect the readings

 

[Konadog]

Be sure that there is nothing sticking to the hydrometer, like small bubble(s) or foam. I use to spin mine to clear off any bubbles.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

My deep six seems to always be .002 below what a refractometer shows. But i've caught it off by more once before so i dont trust it even if you know its usually .002 below what it really is.

Since its just a fowlr tank, having a perfect SG is a little less important, so IMO you could get by for a while (till you get that refractometer) with just the deep six hydrometer.

As for getting different readings every time, are you flicking off all the bubbles on the float arm? If not, it will show higher than what it really is.

 

[Sk8r]

Welcome to the club! Every science student since Galileo has cursed the hydrometer's tendency to accumulate bubbles...the only suggestion I can offer is wear your near-focus glasses, whack the cussed thing repeatedly on a flat surface until inspection under strong light shows no bubbles at all left on the swing arm, and swearing while using one is permitted.

My own rule when using one is to run the test 3x. This way you can toss out the result that least agrees. And if it's all over the map, toss all three figures and do it 3 more times.

The usual mix rate for Oceanic to get 1.024 salinity is 1/2 cup of salt to 1 gallon of water.

I marked the side of an old CD 'box' with laundry pen, at the level of 2 1/2 cups, ie, 5 gallons. This is a convenient object to have, because the number of times you can make a mistake while counting [or leveling] half cups is considerable. I use a tally sheet to count the number of times I've done 5 gal, and this keeps me sane and honest.

I'll say that probably Foster Smith has a fair price on one. At least if you treat them well they last nearly forever. Which is more than you can say for the hydrometer: it can only take so many whacks!

 

[cyeater]

This is the refractometer I'm looking at:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...n=PROD&Product_Code=REFRACT-PA&Category_Code=

 

[cyeater]

Also, would 37 cups of salt be too much for 75 gallons I calculate 1/2 cup per gallon so that would actually be 37.5 cups is this correct?

 

[shag26272]

yeah thats it, I actually bought it before they changed it to blue so mine is black but thats the one I would order

 

[cyeater]

geez, my bill might be 3-4 hundred by the type I get done on this site, some pretty cool things and decently priced

 

[cyeater]

Also, after 3 test I get an average of 1.025-1.026 is this good for FOWLR?

 

[Sk8r]

Yes. Your salt range for corals is 1.024-1.026. I prefer 1.025 so I have leeway in 2 directions. That usually requires an extra half cup of salt in a 54g.

 

[cyeater]

So I am good correct?

 

[ruarox]

i insert the tester (hydometer) upside down into the water then turn it right side up and take it out of the tank and never get bubbles. i have fowlr. probably only need hydrometer right?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

reef crystals says 1/2 cup per gallon to get 1.021....so no, you're a bit low, specially since you didnt even do 1/2 cup per gallon (unless my year off of math class has messed me up that much )

 

[cyeater]

Well after water displacement for sand and rock would it make it a bit higher? I didn't figure for water displacement so it maybe 37 cups for about 70-73 gallons not 75 I don't know I will get that refractometer before I get LR or anything

 

[saabore]

I use reef crystals and if you only use 37 cups on a 75 tank you would achieve a 1.020 salinity. I always have to adjust to bring it up to 1.024. But you are safe at 1.020