Bad Hydrometer.

[Psymon]

Ok I was getting a little suspicious about my Hydrometer, I replaced one after it was left wet outside when I moved, and it was a little "Funky" when I measured my SG with my new hydrometer it read as super high, a bit out of the safe zone, so over 2 months I slowly lowered it, and yesterday, I goto my LFS, a really nice one that was near where I was working, and got a nicer Laboratory style glass one, thats a lot more accurate. It reads as my water is right at the boarderline of being not salty enough... i'm aiming for 1.022-3.
My FISH prolly HATE ME!! Now I gotta raise it on them.

[Twitterbait]

actually hyposalinity (low salt) is good for the fish once in a while. i keep mine between 1.019 and 1.023. get a refractometer, they're much better.

[Psymon]

I've got to pickmy battles.. Its Hobby Vs Wallet. And Hydrometer is pretty low on my list. The Laboratory Style hydrometer is very accurate, and isn't bias when not cleaned properly. I may invest in a refractor or an electronic tester one day, but prolly not soon.

[wharyat]

I've gone through three lab style hydrometers. They are the most accurate way to test density, but they are calibrated to a certain temperature (75d F), and they break very easily.

I finally got a refractometer for less than the price of 3 bulb hydrometers about a month ago, I wish I would have got one to begin with.

[tims]

i woudl agree with Vince, the lab one you have is cal. for 25c which is the standard temp for running everything in a noramal lab. so your reading will be a bit off using it also in a tank that is above 25c.

25c = 77.0 f

[VWD]

We have been having trouble lately with the instant ocean and the deep six at the store and are not going to sell them, We are going to sell the glass lab style hydrometers. The ones we all used in the early days. The plastic swing arms are all off lately worst then in the past. I agree a refractometer is the way to go. We may stock that in the future.As far as price on the Lab type hydrometers, You can get low end and high end ones, Again You get sometimes what You pay for.

[dobejazz]

I just ordered a refractometer for 39.99 at marine depot! Thanks Tom!

[Doug1]

TropicMarin made a nice hydrometer, the hard part is finding a nice glass cylinder to float it in to take a reading, bobbing around in tank , might as well go by taste

[ChrisPrusha]

The one Kelli is getting is the same one I have...good schtuff!!

[VWD]

Thats an idea

Originally Posted by Doug1

TropicMarin made a nice hydrometer, the hard part is finding a nice glass cylinder to float it in to take a reading, bobbing around in tank , might as well go by taste

[tdwyatt]

I use them all, the bulb hydrometer for calibration for the others, the day-to-day use is a refractometer, but when mixing water changes, I use the plastic swing arm to get close, then make my final adjustments about 30 minutes before making the water change with the refractometer. Using a salinity meter based on conductance is ok, but don't make any rash decisioins based on its results, always back it up with your other methods of SG or salinity determination, this may keep you from making your own little disaster.

[Sizzlersonthebrain]

go to a home brewers shop get a hydrometer cylinder for 3 bucks its funny i have almost the same stuff for sp gravity testing when i brew.
what brand /price refractometer would be recomended? thinking of getting one.

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Sizzlersonthebrain

go to a home brewers shd get a hydrometer cylinder for 3 bucks...

I have a section of 4" dia PVC pipe placed in the sump for this very reason, the bottom is drilled out to allow constant flow through the bottom (to keep the SW inside at the same salinity as that in the rest of the system). If you do this, you will need to make sure the water level in your sump is deep enough to float your hydrometer, otherwise you'll need a cylinder as Sizzler has suggested.