| TCMAS Twin Cities Marine Aquarium Society Club Forum |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
01-07-2006, 11:05 AM
|
#1
|
|
Big Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Waconia, MN
Posts: 815
|
Refractometer calibration
How do you caliberate your Refractometer?
I have heard some caliberate it against RO water. Will it make a difference if I have a water softiner?
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
__________________
________________________
Kevin
Killer Buzz
150 Gallon Reef
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 11:08 AM
|
#2
|
|
Got Crabs?
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Woodbury, MN
Posts: 5,526
|
I use distilled water to calibrate mine. RODI should be fine.
__________________
<a href="http://www.suburbanchrysler.com/home.html">St Paul Chrysler</a>
<a href="http://www.suburbanchrysler.com/home.html">Minneapolis Chrysler</a>
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 11:17 AM
|
#3
|
|
Big Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Waconia, MN
Posts: 815
|
So it should not matter if I have a water softiner?
My RODI water is reading 1.005, tank is reading at 1.025, which really means it is at 1.020...
__________________
________________________
Kevin
Killer Buzz
150 Gallon Reef
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 11:21 AM
|
#4
|
|
TCMAS Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: River Falls, WI
Posts: 3,017
|
When I calibrate mine I use distilled water (a sealed jug at Wal-Mart etc.) Like Redwinger says, I can't think of any reason why you couldn't use RO/DI water as long as your filters are clean.
__________________
Barry
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 11:22 AM
|
#5
|
|
Big Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Waconia, MN
Posts: 815
|
Thanks, off to the store I go.....
Hopefully I am not off as much as I think....
__________________
________________________
Kevin
Killer Buzz
150 Gallon Reef
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 11:23 AM
|
#6
|
|
TCMAS Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: River Falls, WI
Posts: 3,017
|
I think a water softener would affect it.
__________________
Barry
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 11:26 AM
|
#7
|
|
Got Crabs?
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Woodbury, MN
Posts: 5,526
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Irenicus
I think a water softener would affect it.
|
Why? Your RODI would be stripping everything out.
__________________
<a href="http://www.suburbanchrysler.com/home.html">St Paul Chrysler</a>
<a href="http://www.suburbanchrysler.com/home.html">Minneapolis Chrysler</a>
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 11:32 AM
|
#8
|
|
TCMAS Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: River Falls, WI
Posts: 3,017
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by redwinger
Why? Your RODI would be stripping everything out.
|
You're right. 
Perhaps his filters are not getting everything out causing an elevated reading?
__________________
Barry
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 12:19 PM
|
#9
|
|
TCMAS member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Saginaw, MN
Posts: 299
|
I always use RO/DI to check mine but if you used tap water it should not effect the outcome since your refractometer is reading parts per thousand and your tds is reading parts per million so you have a comfortable room for error in there.
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 04:15 PM
|
#10
|
|
micro nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: TWIN CITIES
Posts: 4,853
|
I calibrated mine with distilled as well.
I have heard others that suggest calibrating it to another persons tank water that the SG is known.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 05:24 PM
|
#11
|
|
----------------
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 1,066
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by ksarauer
How do you caliberate your Refractometer?
I have heard some caliberate it against RO water. Will it make a difference if I have a water softiner?
|
Every refractometer mfg is going to recommend use of distilled water ... thats because there is a difference between distilled water and RO water. Remember your calibrating a device and you want it as exact as you can get .. otherwise why not use a hydrometer?
|
|
|
|
|
01-07-2006, 06:00 PM
|
#12
|
|
Slap Me Some Salt !!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Saint Paul
Posts: 414
|
I also use distilled water from Wal-mart. It's great, TDS reading is always 0 and very cheap, a gallon is less then a dollar.
Beng
__________________
Don't believe anything I say, I'm not speaking from experience, only second hand knowledge 
|
|
|
|
|
01-09-2006, 01:09 PM
|
#14
|
|
Semi-retar...eh...retired
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 2,995
|
You should really use 2 points to be "scientifically accurate".
RO or distilled for the zero point (assuming the RO is zero TDS) and a known standard of seawater for the other point. You can get seawater standards from any scientific supply place. They can be kept for a long time, too - as long as they are kept airtight and free of contamination.
Basically, you want it calibrated so that the actual value of what you are measuring lies between the values of the 2 calibration solutions.
__________________
You can't get romantic on a subway ride...
|
|
|
|
|
01-10-2006, 08:45 PM
|
#15
|
|
Big Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Waconia, MN
Posts: 815
|
I checked it against my RODI and against some distilled water purchased from the store. Not the greatest calibration, but enough to tell me I was off by .004......
Now, how do I determine how much salt to add to bring it up to the correct salinity? I am currently at 1.021.
I know not to change it to fast, but I'm not sure how fast is to fast
__________________
________________________
Kevin
Killer Buzz
150 Gallon Reef
|
|
|
|
|
