Refractometers;NEW ref. std.

[Boomer]

There has been some correspondence going with Lou Dell of American Marine, Randy and a reefer. Lou has told us that his ref. std. of 53 mS for conductivity/Salinity will work with refractometers. I'm looking to see if it will or maybe work for Hydrometers as well.

http://www.americanmarineusa.com/

Accessories
http://www.americanmarineusa.com/
PINPOINTâ„¢ Salinity Calibration Fluid
53.0 mS standardized fluid for calibrating the PINPOINT Salinity Monitorâ„¢

 

[Curtswearing]

Boomer,

You've mentioned in the past that our refractometers are off by .001 because they are calibrated to Sodium Chloride vs NSW. I would assume by using this reference standard, we'll be off a little as well. Obviously, they aren't bottling NSW.

I guess my question is, what is this product made out of? Is it Sodium Chloride or is it something else? If it is something else, do you know how much to adjust for manually?

 

[Boomer]

It does not make any difference what it is made of but std solutions for seawater are KCl. If a 53ms is used to calibrate a conductivity meter and if you make up a salt mix at 53mS and the refract reads 1.026, which it should in that salt mix and if the refract reads the same in 53 mS solution as does in the salt mix, it is the same and can be used for the refract. Billy is going to get some extra and try it on hydrometer.

All you would need to do is take the solution and put it on the refract and turn the cal screw until the refract says 1.026 or 35ppt (3.5%). It is not impossible to make up a solution for all three. All it needs to do is give the same values as NSW. Since the refract is based on NaCl, if you now try to zero it in RO/DI it will not be zero but below zero. Reason, the scale on the refract is a NaCl scale and not a NSW scale.

What happen was this. Some guy took his 53mS and put it on the refract and was surprised at the reading. We told him you can not use a 53mS for refracts. He e-mailed Lou who has now stated flatly that you can use the 53mS for refracts, as he did some more checking and testing in the last day.

 

[Curtswearing]

Thanks for the info Boomer. TWO THUMBS UP!!!

I always calibrated with distilled. Then Habib gave me free sample of a calibration standard which I used until the bottle ran out. Then I had to go back to distilled again. This seems like a great way to calibrate IMO.

 

[IAP Brian]

Cool, thanks for the info Boomer. That issue has never even crossed my mind. I have just assumed calibrating my refract. with RO/DI set it to perfection. (or a close semblance there of)

 

[NaH2O]

Here comes the airhead... lolol

I use the refractometer that doesn't need the 0.001 adjustment (RHS-10ATC). Would users of this refractometer still need to calibrate with the 53mS? My guess is no, but I've never been good at guessing . I've checked my refractometer occasionally with distilled, and its been right at zero (which it was when I first opened it up). What kinds of things throw off a refractometer calibration? With hydrometers there would be some things that can effect the calibration (not rinsing, improper storage). It would be nice to have a calibration solution for hydrometer use, if it works out well. Although, I suppose you'd still need to make sure air bubbles weren't present during calibration.

 

[DonW]

Here comes the airhead... lolol

I use the refractometer that doesn't need the 0.001 adjustment (RHS-10ATC). Would users of this refractometer still need to calibrate with the 53mS? My guess is no, but I've never been good at guessing . I've checked my refractometer occasionally with distilled, and its been right at zero (which it was when I first opened it up). What kinds of things throw off a refractometer calibration? With hydrometers there would be some things that can effect the calibration (not rinsing, improper storage). It would be nice to have a calibration solution for hydrometer use, if it works out well. Although, I suppose you'd still need to make sure air bubbles weren't present during calibration.

Nikki,

What I do is adjust my refract to the meter. I have the same one as you and rodi always come out funky by comparison.
I calibrate my meter with pinpoint solution, test the tank and adjust the refract to the tank. If I go back and check against rodi its always well below the 0 and unreadable. I did check it against the cal solution this week-end and it matches the meter. So my guess is that adjusting our meters with rodi is causing us to run our tanks at a lower than desired salinity.

Don

 

[Boomer]

Nikki

We are now finding some of those blue ones that need the error figured in. So, it would be best to cal it. I think the next article Randy comes out with will be on refracts or the one after that. Somre refracts are .003 below the zero when calibraterd proeperly.

 

[Scooterman]

I have a refract that is off, so now I'm confused?)
SO what do I need to do?
I still have my Tropic Marian floater, glass I could use but the tube is so big Wonder If I could us the TM to see just how close I'm at with the refract. ?

 

[DonW]

I have a refract that is off, so now I'm confused?)
SO what do I need to do?
I still have my Tropic Marian floater, glass I could use but the tube is so big Wonder If I could us the TM to see just how close I'm at with the refract. ?

If you order up some pinpoint cal fluid you can use it to adjust your refract. I just tried it once but it did work and matches the meter.

Don

 

[Curtswearing]

Somre refracts are .003 below the zero when calibraterd proeperly.

Good Heavens!!! I would rather use a plastic swingarm than one of these. I hope the instruction manuals let people know they are this far off. Can you imagine thinking you are at 1.026 when you are really at 1.023. I'm looking forward to the article.

 

[LakeEd]

Okay, here I thought I was understanding this thread... then I see your numbers there Curt. This means when I'm reading 1.026, I'm "high" .003, not "low" .003???

I guess what most concerns me is... if my Refractometer is off, and when I've been keeping everything at 1.026 it isn't really there now, does it effect my tank if I continue keeping things at their current level... or is this something that I need to look into correcting as soon as possible???

Good Heavens!!! I would rather use a plastic swingarm than one of these. I hope the instruction manuals let people know they are this far off. Can you imagine thinking you are at 1.026 when you are really at 1.023. I'm looking forward to the article.

 

[Boomer]

You will not know where your refract really is unitl you calibrate it in that 53mS solution. I have said time and time again that just because one has a refract does not mean it is more accurate. People just assume it is.

A std lag grade hydrometer for $100 - $200 will read .015 units to low on SG and it should, when calibrated in NaCl or you zero it out wiith RO/DI and then using it to check seawater.

We have had guys in the last few day with off-sets form 0 SG to as high as .004 SG on these cheap China refracts.

Scoot

The Tropic Marine has NEVER tested wrong in the last 10 years It is always right on the nose.

Here is a SG chart for it.

 

[LakeEd]

I'm probably being very slow here tonight... this darn cold trying to get a hold of me again... but does that mean that I need to immediately do something about purchasing this calibration fluid, because my fish & corals are in imminent danger???

Or, is this like MOST things in our hobby... Change anything slowly... Consistency is most important... Don't allow Panic to move you, because you may move in the wrong direction???

 

[Boomer]

Part 2 Ed

 

[Scooterman]

Ed if they aren't deal yet then I would think your ok but eventually you would want to get it correct. So now we all need to go get the 53mS solution & calibrate our Refracts. & be happy, I think

 

[IAP Brian]

Yeah, I agree with Scooter, and like most everything else in your tank I think keeping a constant is more important than rushing to get the tank to a specific level. I just need to get ahold of AM before the mad rush on 53mS solution starts :lol: . I have also been guilty of buying and using several cheapo china refracts ( they just don't like bouncing off concrete for some reason ??? imagine that ) Time to cough up the cash for a good one and get some cal fluid.

 

[DisturbedReefer]

So just what brand and model is a "good one" everything I have seen available in the hobby is made in China including the ones for $100+. I have found some on the net that are industrial grade salinity refractometers, they are in the $200 range. What are the recomendations from the experts?

 

[Scooterman]

Scoot

The Tropic Marine has NEVER tested wrong in the last 10 years It is always right on the nose.

Glad I have the large glass tube to keep things in check, we should all get one of these & be happy:lol:

 

[DisturbedReefer]

Glad I have the large glass tube to keep things in check, we should all get one of these & be happy:lol:

I did a search for said TM and came up with nothing, got a source?