Salinity Level

[Secondchance]

What the heck is going on? My salinity level was elevated today so I took out a little water and replaced it with r/o water only. Now my salinity level is sky high.?

Help

 

[FishFace28]

Are you testing with a hydrometer or refractometer?

 

[Secondchance]

I am using a hydrometer. What I think might have happened is the water didn't get enough time to circulate.

 

[frank2926]

hydrometers are very innaccurate. take it to your lfs and ask them to check it against their refractmeter until you can get one yourself.
They can be found on line for like 40 bucks.

 

[FishFace28]

In the meantime, make sure when you're using your hydrometer that once it's filled with water, you give a few hard taps. Air bubbles can attach to the arm giving you nutty readings. A few good hard taps will get rid of any pesky air bubbles.

 

[NewFish3]

SC,

Iam also new to the saltwater world. At first my LFS sold me a Deep Six plastic hydrometer. Whenever I tested the water it measured fine, but when I took water into the LFS the salt was too high. I learned from the people here that the plastic meaters are not very accurate. If you use the Deep Six, you will want to have it read 1.019 to 1.020. It will read low on the hydrometer but the true reading on a refractormeter will be 1.025. This is where you want it to be. Remember its just a $6.00 plastic part. If you are going to be in this hobby for the long hall, spend the money for a good refractoemeter. I did and everything is good
now.

Also if FishFace28 responds to your questions, ( like she did in the above respond ) Please listen to what she tells you. She has helped me so much in the past.

 

[FBNitro]

Took me 5 weeks of dealing with the Hydrometer to splurge and get a Refractometer. I did get decent at using it though, and I found if I filled it slowly it wouldn't get air bubbles and would give good results. I was using the Instant Ocean one.

I highly recommend the refractometer... it gives me a nice warm fuzzy feeling inside when I check my water.

 

[bertoni]

If you get a refractometer, I recommend getting some of the PinPoint 53 mS conductivity solution to calibrate it. RO/DI and distilled can give inaccurate results. I agree that the problem sounds like measurement errors, which can happen easily on a swing-arm.