Raising Arizona....No salinity!

This thread answered a few of my questions......

http://www.3reef.com/forums/salt/salt-mixing-43618.html

My questions that I can't find the answers to I hope someone can help me with. I check my SG with my hydrometer and it checks out at 1.026 However I just got my refactometer and the SG is 1.020. Huge difference!!! I see how to change my SG but how slowly so I don't shock everyone in the tank should I do it. Should I do water changes of my sump (12 gal) every other day or how do I do it slowly?:-[

 

First off has the refractometer been calibrated with RO/DI water? If it has and nothing is showing signs of stress then I would slowly raise it over a week or so. Instead of topping off with freshwater you can mix saltwater at 1.026 and that will raise it slowly.

 

How do you calibrate a refactometer? I don't know if it has or hasn't!

 

It should have a screw on it that can be turned to raise and lower the salinity line. You would use ro/di water and adjust the line to zero on the scale.

 

Thank you. I will go do that now and recheck!

 

And those swing-arm hydrometers are calibrated to 60 degrees. For every 10 degree increase in temp, you subtract .001 from the reading. So at 80 degrees, we can account for .002 (to 1.024). The rest? Just that. ????

In terms of changing SG. General rule of thumb is you can decrease by .002 or increase by .001 every 24 hours.

 

Since you now have the refractometer, you can just store the hydrometer in case the refractometer breaks. Calibrate it in and let us know what your salinity really is?

 

It was calabrated. Still 1.020. I add 4 galls of salt water. I needed to top off last night but instead I thought I would do a water change today. I always test befoe my water change and this is how I found it. I didn't do a water change...from the tests is really didn't need it and I just topped off with salt water. How soon can I check it again? Should I wait 24 hours or can I do it sooner?

 

Not much change in 12 hours......should I add more tonight?

 

You can slowly raise it over the next couple days.