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04-22-2007, 06:35 PM
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#16
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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04-22-2007, 06:48 PM
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#17
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Carpe Noctem
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 5,461
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thekid55
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Hey kid. Don't forget to grab some calibration fluid with that one. It's the same one I have and after reading an article on it, I learned that calibrating it with RO water does not give it the accuracy it is cabable of with calibration fluid.
I found out I was about .004 off for a few years... OOOps 
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"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein
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04-22-2007, 06:54 PM
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#18
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Saltwater Mom
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ga
Posts: 5,800
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Yes, a refractometer is important. However I cheat. I take my hydrometer with me to the lfs and have them check their water with it, then run a sample from the same test with their refractometer. I have one of the few hydrometer's I think that is right. I clean with warm water every time I use it, and get the lfs to check and make sure it's right every 3 months or so. Also I buy salt bucketts that make 50 gallons of saltwater. I usually do a 25 gallon water change so I use half the bucket and have my rubbermaid marked to show 25 gallons of water. I can then slowly add more water or salt until I get the 1.025 reading I need. In the beginning I went directly by the instructions but most salt mix instructions are actually to get a reading of 1.019, which is too low for reefs. I have done it enough now to know about how much salt to pour without having to measure.
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Jena
Newest member of the BRW crowd!
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04-22-2007, 06:58 PM
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#19
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: alpharetta, GA
Posts: 2,555
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hop
Hey kid. Don't forget to grab some calibration fluid with that one. It's the same one I have and after reading an article on it, I learned that calibrating it with RO water does not give it the accuracy it is cabable of with calibration fluid.
I found out I was about .004 off for a few years... OOOps |
dam its already here. and i dont want to order some a pay shipping il have to go to the lfs.
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04-22-2007, 07:06 PM
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#20
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Carpe Noctem
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 5,461
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It will get you in the ballpark until you order something else online. The odds of the LFS carrying http://http://www.marinedepot.com/md...product=NS5393
Neptune Conductivity Calibration - 53.0 ms is pretty low, but they may have it...
I can also try to find the link for a home made calibration fluid. Give me a few minutes (it's a really old thread)
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"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein
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04-22-2007, 07:11 PM
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#21
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Carpe Noctem
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 5,461
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Here it is. Sorry to hijack the thread!
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php
I won't do it again... Today 
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"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein
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04-22-2007, 07:13 PM
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#22
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: alpharetta, GA
Posts: 2,555
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that link didnt work for some resoan. also i have 4 lfs within a 35 minute drive. and 6 in a hour drive so i might be able to find some.
bad thing is the one 3 minutes from my house wont have it.
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04-22-2007, 07:19 PM
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#23
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: alpharetta, GA
Posts: 2,555
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also sorry for stealing the thread!
can i just calibrate it with a tank that i know the salinity
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04-22-2007, 07:20 PM
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#24
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hop
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 no problem
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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04-22-2007, 07:23 PM
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#25
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 11,032
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Hop brought up a interesting thing here.
You always hear people saying how much hydrometers suck, and how inaccurate they are. The funny thing aobut that is that the majority of people dont have their refractometers properly calibrated, and they can be just as bad. 
Up until 6 months ago, I was in the same boat. Always used a refractometer, and had always been .003 off of what i thought it was.
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Zoa and paly pics HERE
SPS pics HERE
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04-22-2007, 07:28 PM
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#26
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 68
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Check me if I'm wrong, but I found that when mixxing, and using RO water, since it's like ice cold, it reads low on the salinity tester.
I've just marked a large cup w/ a marker and fill it 3 times w/ saltg, and that always gives me the right mix for the 20 gallon garbage can I use. So anyways my point is, ya might want to let your RO water warm up until you are comfortable w/ the exact mix.
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04-22-2007, 07:29 PM
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#27
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: alpharetta, GA
Posts: 2,555
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i use to do the same thing with a cup so i always get the same salinity
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04-23-2007, 01:07 AM
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#28
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Saltwater Mom
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ga
Posts: 5,800
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I put a heater in the freshwater and once it warms up I add salt.
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Jena
Newest member of the BRW crowd!
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04-23-2007, 03:06 AM
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#29
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Cumming, GA
Posts: 529
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Hydrometers are a good place to start. they are cheap and easy to use. I have refractometer and test with that too, but use my Hydro the most. They are not perfect, but they are pretty close.
The test strips you are speaking of test for other things and not the salinity.
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04-24-2007, 11:34 AM
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#30
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Tang Lover
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 7,284
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Just giving my opinion, and not saying other's opinions are wrong.
I used to argue for hydrometers for a while. Then, finally got a refractometer, and don't know what I was thinking.
First off, my hydrometer told me I had the tank at 1.023 for a long time. The freshly (and properly) calibrated refractometer told me 1.030!!!! that's a BIG difference.
Not only that...I personally just think the refractometers are WAY easier to use. Add 3 drops of water. look in the view. Clean the prism off with my shirt, and put it away.
With the hydrometers, you have to dip, be careful not to get any bubbles, tap it, smack it to get the bubbles out. Drain it and try again. Sit it somewhere, get eye-level. Then the you gotta clean it out. Ooops, there's a little saltwater where you set it down...get a papertowel...etc
I'm exaggerating...but not all that much.
Yes, they're $20 or so more...but IMO, it's WELL worth it!!
btw...How's the set up going?
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