refractometer- can it fail to read??

[Jakef150]

I found out that my $40 refractometer (tube thing) read way off!!

My friend tested my water and read 1029, and LFs also confirmed it.

I used RO water to set it 0 then dropped salinity pinpoint bottle 1026 and it shows 1029, I re adjusted it to 1026 but it's actually 1029. I read their instruction and said to adjust it to 1026 darn em!

It's been 2.5 weeks after i couldn't figure why I'm losin SPS, LPS and a fish. :angryfire:

Can it happen to refractometer that is broke or no good after 2years?

Thanks

 

[fifthtoe]

What refractometer do you have? I have a brs refractometer and it specifically states not to calibrate to zero. Instead, they supplied calibration solution to calibrate to 1.026. Your post is confusing. You calibrated to zero and then read a 1.026 solution at 1.029? So then you recalibrated at 1.026 using the calibration fluid but you still think your calibration fluid is 1.029?

Regardless, if calibrated correctly, I don't think it can go bad.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I used RO water to set it 0 then dropped salinity pinpoint bottle 1026 and it shows 1029, I re adjusted it to 1026 but it's actually 1029. I read their instruction and said to adjust it to 1026 darn em!

It's been 2.5 weeks after i couldn't figure why I'm losin SPS, LPS and a fish.

I don't think 1.029 SG is killing your corals or your fish. I run my tanks at 1.027 and they get to 1.028 when I miss a day of top off water and my corals, mostly lps & sps, are growing like weeds.

You need to start looking for some other problem.