ARGH!

[Gryphon]

So, I went and picked up some snails, shrimp and crab up at Barrier earlier Saturday, and when I got home to start acclimation I checked the salinity in the bags and my refractometer was reading 1.031. I thought it was odd cause they had signs up saying they keep their tanks at 1.024-1.025. I spent 2 hours carefully bringing the salinity down before moving them to the tank.

Now fast forward to this evening. I picked up a couple monti frags from BLK, and checked the water from the bag they were in and it read 1.031 again. I swear the hair on the back of my neck was raising as I was reading it. I grabbed my calibration solution, floated it for 20 minutes and checked and sure enough, my refractometer was off. I was reading high, meaning my tank was actually sitting at 1.018-1.019 when I thought it was at 1.025. So now I'll be carefully bringing the salinity up slowly XD

 

[user 26995]

Oh man. hope everything is doing okay. you didnt notice any change in the coral from the low salinity?

 

[N1Husker]

So, I went and picked up some snails, shrimp and crab up at Barrier earlier Saturday, and when I got home to start acclimation I checked the salinity in the bags and my refractometer was reading 1.031. I thought it was odd cause they had signs up saying they keep their tanks at 1.024-1.025. I spent 2 hours carefully bringing the salinity down before moving them to the tank.

Now fast forward to this evening. I picked up a couple monti frags from BLK, and checked the water from the bag they were in and it read 1.031 again. I swear the hair on the back of my neck was raising as I was reading it. I grabbed my calibration solution, floated it for 20 minutes and checked and sure enough, my refractometer was off. I was reading high, meaning my tank was actually sitting at 1.018-1.019 when I thought it was at 1.025. So now I'll be carefully bringing the salinity up slowly XD

I will check my salinity before you come over.

 

[Gryphon]

New rule for me, weekly calibration of my refractometer. At least it wasn't reading low!

 

[Bosco83]

I have always just used ro/di water is it really important to use calibration solution?

 

[Holygral]

I have always just used ro/di water is it really important to use calibration solution?

It will be close but not right on with rodi, all refractometers should be calibrated with s solution that has the same SG as what you are going to be using it for. Calibration fluid is less then $10 and last forever. Your TDS rodi meter also needs calibrated, as well as ph probes on ph monitors

 

[Bosco83]

I'll order some thanks!

 

[Holygral]

thanks for the reminder, was a good time to check mine

 

[Gryphon]

Oh man. hope everything is doing okay. you didnt notice any change in the coral from the low salinity?

Not really surprisingly. The zoas were growing new polyps like crazy, and the hammer was opening. It makes me wonder how long I have been off for. :doh:

 

[senji]

i use calibration solution on my milwaki refractometer before every use. just a temp difference in the ambient surroundings will change results. especially since its been hot for the last 2 days. these things are sensitive. every1 should do this experiment. calibrate on a hot day and when we get back to 60's and check it. ull be surprised by the results on how much it actually changes.

 

[Gryphon]

Yeah the temp difference is why I float my calibration solution in my tank/Semi-fuge. That way I'm calibrating to my tank's water temp.

 

[senji]

its not even the temp of the water as mush as the actual temp of the refractometer meter housing itself. but water temp is a factor as well.

 

[Gryphon]

Indeed, I cal it to tank temp that way when I measure water from my tank, it should be right on spot.