What to do with salt? refractometer...

[Gravis]

Hi guys!
First i will say thanks for all the good tips and tricks i got over the last few weeks.

I got into a little problem i didn't think i would.

My salt level is at 1,020 S.g/ 29 ppt.

what is the ideal level?
How often do i need to calibrate my refractometer? is looking at the tank lights while doing the reading good light?

and for last, how would you get the salt levels up? i have no fish or corals in the tank atm.

is there a way to calculate how much salt i need to get to the right level?

I have a Red sea max 650 at about 170 gallons.

 

[username in use]

If you want a reef you should be shooting for 35 ppt. Don't calibrate your refractometer with RO water as they deviate as the the measurement gets further from their calibration point. Get yourself a bottle of calibration fluid for natural sea water (35 ppt). As for how often, I do it every couple of months and it's usually almost spot on to where it was before.

I usually look out of a window to get the best refraction through the scope and the clearest image.

If there are no corals or fish in the tank and you want to raise the level, either do a couple water changes with water at 40 ppt until it's raised enough, or take 5g out into a bucket, add a bunch of salt and add the bucket back in once its been mixed.

 

[gone fishin]

Hi guys!
First i will say thanks for all the good tips and tricks i got over the last few weeks.

I got into a little problem i didn't think i would.

My salt level is at 1,020 S.g/ 29 ppt.

what is the ideal level? 1.026
How often do i need to calibrate my refractometer? is looking at the tank lights while doing the reading good light? I would say calibrate monthly at the minimum. I think I would use a room light but be consistent with the light source.

and for last, how would you get the salt levels up? i have no fish or corals in the tank atm. Since you do not have any livestock I would slowly add salt to the sump let it circulate for awhile and check, repeat until you get to the desired salinity.

is there a way to calculate how much salt i need to get to the right level? I have seen some calculators but never used one

I have a Red sea max 650 at about 170 gallons.

 

[thegrun]

Pretty much as posted above although I calibrate my refractometer every time I use it. I keep a dropper bottle with 1.026 calibration fluid right next to my refractometers, it takes all of 10 seconds to calibrate it. Your tank light is fine to read the salinity with as long as you use that same light to calibrate the refractometer.

 

[Gravis]

Thank you so much guys! I will get the bottle. Hope my LFS (local fish shop)? has one!

 

[username in use]

http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Seaw...=8-1&keywords=refractometer+calibration+fluid

 

[Gravis]

Thanks for the link. I looked at ebay as well, but they either don't ship to Norway or the shipping cost is duble the prize of the product

 

[username in use]

Didn't realize you were in Norway. May as well make your own. Halfway down is the recipe http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/