hydrometer problem

Thanks for "sinning" --- have long wanted to get one of these for exactly same purpose...also see available at MarineDepot...Scott

 

I personaly use the deepsix swing arm hydrometer it works good just got to adjust for its mis calibration of .005 low I also use an ato system on my tank now so salinity is only measured with waterchange water

you said you had just mixed your salt in your first post I was wondering if you had made sure it was fully disolved before checking salinity if they hydrometer drops all the way back to the bottom after nocking the bubbles off then your salinity is still too low means add more salt the 1/2cup to gal isn't a perfect measure for all water sorces

 

Be sure its a good one Laboratory grade is the best type, Back in the olden days we all just kept one floating in the tanks all the time

 

I use a milwalkee refractometer also, definetly worth the $$

 

The deep six or whatever hydrometer should all generally work ok, as long as you remember to rinse it out well with hot water when you're done with it. Otherwise, the salt, calcium, magnesium, and other stuff in the water will dry and accumulate on the swing-arm and weigh it down, causing your readings to be "low", causing you to add more salt than you should.

 

Thanks everybody,I just went to 7 petshops some superchains and other local ones and none of them have what I was looking for wich sucks!Also one of them use what I had and I ask if they had any refractors and the chick told me what's that?so am like whatever.....I throw the one away sence am starting a tank it's for cycling,and Yes to the question about all the salt is disovled,I guess I will try buying one online.

 

Check this one out: Premium Blue Refractometer - RHS-10ATC: Premium Aquatics Myself and many others have one and love it, very easy to use and accurate! Even has ATC (automatic temperature compensation) A good refractometer is the only way to go IMO, $45 compared to $10 is a $35 difference... if you loose a single item of livestock you would already pay for the difference chances are. And you might want to get used to buying stuff for your tank online, I've found that sometimes you have to.
Oh, and Premium Aquatics is a 3reef sponsor, so if you get the one from them you are helping the cause!!

 

i just bought one tonight, i had a really good one that gave me accurate readings all the time but i stepped on it : /(not the same type ) but i put it in my water and said it was above 1.032 nhahahha sooooooooo off! so i am taking it back tommorrow and seeing what i can get

 

are you shure it was that far off did you calibrate it or the old one before it got dammaged

also how much evap had left the tank between readings confirm your salinity reading with somthing else before jumping and saying bad refracto

if you salinity is actualy that high it is dangerous to your fish and corals