Brand new refracto juice BRS not accurate?

[DOJOLOACH]

it was years ago that I measured one, and they may have changed it. I’d stick to a scale or accurate volume measurement if you want less than 1 ppt uncertainty.

Yes sir i used volume and a scale. Not sure of the accuract on volume measurement but better thsn brs. I wonder if i can store the home made solution

 

[Dr. Jim]

I have the BRS, Brightwell and Naslow calibration solutions, as well as a DIY (Randy's) solution (although I have a problem trusting something "home made.") None of them agree with each other, with a range of 0.002 difference.

I have a BRS refractometer and the Milwaukee digital.... and they don't agree with each other (when using the same calibration solution).

I just got an ICP test back (from OCEAMO, where they use a very accurate conductivity probe) and it read very high at 37.1 (=1.0276). This value matched nicely with a Tropic Marin High Precision hydrometer!
Imagine....after all these years I'm finding a HYDROMETER to be the most accurate instrument for S.G. !!

 

[Kris 2020]

Here I am jumping on the bandwagon...an icp test with a lowish sodium level made me think, I’ve been using the same refractometer (brs) and the same 2 bottles of refractometer juice for awhile (also brs) so maybe it’s time to level up. Ordered a veegee refractometer and it arrived this morning. Also ordered 2 different calibrating solutions, Aquacraft and Pinpoint. Instructions said to calibrate using distilled, so I did. Then I checked all 3 calibration fluids I had: BRS was 33/1.025, aquacraft was 35/almost 1.027, and pinpoint was 36/ 1.0275ish. puts my tank around 1.0235ish when I thought I was running 1.025.

so I hate that I have different results on the calibration fluids, and I would rather calibrate the refractometer with a known 35 ppt since that’s closer to what I will use it for. So I pull up the recipe in Randy’s article. Our food scale isn’t accurate enough so I’m going to measure...but wait, where’s the salt?? We have kosher salt, and course salt, no regular table salt. what the heck. My husband does the cooking so I have no idea what’s up with that.

I want to mix my water, and I have no idea what to do with all this info.

Thought I would update the above post, here’s what I ended up with, all three of these calibration solutions agreed:

so I calibrated the refractometer with them. Also looks pretty good with the zero with distilled per manufactures instructions. Unfortunately puts my tank at around 1.022, so will be topping off with salt water for awhile. Threw out my brs and aquacraft solutions. Will keep my brs refractometer, once I calibrate it, as a backup.

On a side note, things in my tank look ok. I’m always careful to acclimate new friends. I even had new growth on a birds nest and candy cane. shrimps, brittle stars, urchin, nems, all ok. Hopefully everyone does alright with a slow rise in salinity. Disappointed that this happened though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes sir i used volume and a scale. Not sure of the accuract on volume measurement but better thsn brs. I wonder if i can store the home made solution

yes, it lasts forever as long as it does not evaporate.

 

[Lionfish hunter]

I just received some of the brs refracto juice and checked calibration on my refractometer. Measures 5ppt off, at 30 ppt.

This had me puzzled because I just opened it after heating to 78 and shaking, brand new bottle I got today. I checked it against my tank and the old refractometer juice and those each measure 35ppt, as they should.

By looking at my parameters and what my salt tested 3 days ago, can I safely say the new brs refracto juice is bad?
Using red sea coral pro salt I have :

11.9 dkH
475 calcium
1400 mg
Ph 8.1

These values are accurate to the T with what the salt container says at 35 ppt

Same issue. I have the accurasea seawater calibration fluid and just bought the brs refractometer. The brs refracto juice reads 31 while the accurasea reads 35. My hydrometer reads the same as accurasea. I made the solution randy recommends as a test using a very precise gun powder scale which reads exactly the same as accurasea. Certainly seems the brs solution is way low.

 

[Lionfish hunter]

Brs was helpful as always. Said they would look into it and see if there was a bad batch and admitted there was a bad batch in the past that this forum talks about. Gave me a refund aswell. Most companies would tell you they are right you are wrong. As redsea did not too long ago with their inaccurate scaled refractometer.

 

[lordraptor1]

hehe, perhaps I didn't convey my intent properly.

I do have a scroll wheel, and prefer to read it opposed to watching it. Personally, I can get the information a lot faster if it's in print. Plus I have very little desire to be entertained when receiving information. I feel my time is being wasted sitting and watching a video.

But I'm in the minority. The vast majority of hobbyist these days prefer to get their information packaged in an entertaining video that persuades them to believe the information given is factual when in reality it's the opinion of the influencer that has them enthralled in the never ending proverbial grown kick that keeps them entertained.

When I read Randy's old stuff it has very little opinion and instead chock full of factual information peppered with foot notes and references to back his claims, it takes me back to the days when there had to be proof. Now a days, it's sufficient to take someone's word for it (that's a subject that can be discussed further in another thread).

Someone in this thread asked Randy to dumb down that article, (forgive me if I'm way off with my interpretation) in which I interpreted that comment as, "there's far too much to read, can you please repackage the information provided and give it to me in a nutshell?"

Yes, I'm being a bit nostalgic by looking back at my childhood when I was learning science fundamentals I was also being entertained. Someone like Randy can really corner the market with videos void of opinion and centered around science. If done correctly, his efforts can shift hobbyist expectations of the type of content a video should have.

here here, besides these videos usually just end up being a big add for some expensive piece of hardware that you dont even need or a cheaper chinese counterpart would do just as well and coincidentally last just as long as an expensive name brand considering everythign is made in fing china these days and why everythign is always on fing backorder

 

[shred5]

here here, besides these videos usually just end up being a big add for some expensive piece of hardware that you dont even need or a cheaper chinese counterpart would do just as well and coincidentally last just as long as an expensive name brand considering everythign is made in fing china these days and why everythign is always on fing backorder

Allot videos are made by someone trying to sell people stuff either equipment or coral. Some are people who are just trying to seem like they know something and want to be cool because hey I did a video. Better quality the video the more people think they know what they are doing not actual experience. There are reasons now they are called influencers and that should be the first clue to people. You are right they are mostly videos steering people especially new people in the hobby towards something to buy. New people especially young people believe most of this garbage. They are being brain washed by social media. I watch our grandkids and nieces and how they eat this stuff up.

I have nothing against a company using social media, If I had a company with something to sell I would too it is a great marketing tool. It is a great way to show people what your product is. It is just people should take a step back and question it or do I really need it or is there something better for the money.

I would like to see more videos that actually help people especially new people in the hobby without some hidden agenda. The problem is it also takes money to make these videos. Sometimes I wish I could do videos but it is just not me. Same with writing, I have had so many offers to write for magazines and stuff but I am just not a writer.

What I hate is these people are so influential but yet they do stupid garbage just to get likes or people to watch. They are risking this hobby for a few viewers and a few likes. These people should be more responsible because there are new people in the hobby watching and they believe this garbage some of these people put out. They need to be more responsible because they could cost someone their tank and allot of money and it is on these people. They are not doing good for the hobby they are harming it. They are in a place to do good for the hobby and some do not it is more about hey look at me, I need attention. Some do not stop talking either. It could be a nice 5 minute video but goes on and on for a hour or so.

There are some good videos and some people that are actually good so I am not down on them all but some are just garbage. Just be responsible.

Do not get me going on FB but what a bunch a complete garbage goes on there. Now some of it seems to be bleeding over to R2R.

Reefing is not a popularity contest it is about the animals, biology, learning, sharing, helping and just a general love for the animals we are entrusted to keep..