silly question please help

[phodem]

what is distilled water ? s it DI/RO water or drinking water ?
I'm trying to calibrate the refractometer, Thank you very much for any input

 

[Billybeau1]

Contrary to manufacturers recommendations, you should not calibrate your refractometer with either distilled or ro/di water.

Only very few can be calibrated properly with this method.

Pick yourself up some Pinpoint 53mS calibration fluid and adjust your refractometer to exactly 35 ppt or 1.0264.

This is a mock seawater solution and is the best, in my opinion, to keep your refractometer dialed in.

 

[phodem]

thanks billy ,this is the only way to calibrate my milwaukee refractometer ? i try to calibrate with ro/di water and test the SG in my tank is crazy ,it show way up to 1.034

 

[Billybeau1]

There is usually only a .002 to .004 difference in calibrating between the two so if you are that high, you are probably mixing a little too rich.

If you were to split the difference, I would shoot for 1.028 until you can get some Pinpoint.

 

[phodem]

that why some of my sps is bleaching ,i have check all parameter they all good ,some is doing fine ,some new frag is pale ,so you think is ok to calibrate with ro/di water same as the instruction ?

 

[Billybeau1]

For now.

I do not think that is causing the bleaching you are seeing, but it would be nice to know , in the future, what your real specific gravity is.

 

[bertoni]

Calibration with RO/DI or distilled is better than not calibrating it, but a bottle of the PinPoin 53 mS solution would be better, and doesn't cost all that much. If the SG is that high, I'd lower slowly. Maybe a local fish store could measure SG to confirm your refractometer reading?

 

[phodem]

i will bring some water to test tomorrow ,if my tank sg that high ,can i lower it in one day ? bertonni or billy ?

 

[bertoni]

I would lower it over a period of a week or so, personally.

 

[Billybeau1]

I agree. S.G is not something you want to change too quick.