Crappy calibration solution?

[davidcalgary29]

I just bought some Tropic Eden Salinity Calibration Solution so that I could check the accuracy of my refractometer (which is relatively new). The 0% solution reads fairly closely with 0 on the refractometer. The 35 solution, however, gives me SG of 1.017, a reading which seems to be bizarrely off. Thoughts?

 

[New Jersey REEF]

It happens more than some may think... I’ve had Neptune calibration fluid of 35 ppt reading at 19 before. Probably bad batch is what I can think of. I don’t know if fluids go bad in the sealed packages or not.

 

[Ippyroy]

I think this is the correct link for a DIY that will work correctly every time. I recommend never buying calibration solution for a refractometer. Bad batches are way too common. They will also evaporate and throw the levels off. Salinity is way too important to risk. Personally I use the Hanna Salinity checker.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.htm

 

[davidcalgary29]

Oh, no...my homemade calibration solution is showing up as a SG of 1.016!!! I used RO/DI for this solution, but I'd better make another batch to confirm. I can't believe this! I've tried snails for the past month after my Evo cycled, but they kept dying on me: this might be why. My macro is fine, but that poor hermit crab...

 

[davidcalgary29]

Distilled water reads as 1.002 on the unadjusted refractometer...

 

[Jonify]

Refractometers, salinity probes, etc. can get off-calibration fairly quickly. In most cases, I would trust the solution, and calibrate my device to that, and re-calibrate monthly. It's rare to have a "bad" solution. Unless the packet or bottle is leaking and the H2O is evaporating. It's more common for salinity checkers to be off than it is for reference solutions to be bad.

 

[Ippyroy]

Oh, no...my homemade calibration solution is showing up as a SG of 1.016!!! I used RO/DI for this solution, but I'd better make another batch to confirm. I can't believe this! I've tried snails for the past month after my Evo cycled, but they kept dying on me: this might be why. My macro is fine, but that poor hermit crab...

I'd remake it and confirm. I got 2 bad bottles in a row. The vendor confirmed they were bad. I almost crashed my system. The DIY calibration is insanely easy to make and it works. RHF is a scientist and knows his stuff. If he says something about chemistry it is true.

 

[YankeeTankee]

I just bought some Tropic Eden Salinity Calibration Solution so that I could check the accuracy of my refractometer (which is relatively new). The 0% solution reads fairly closely with 0 on the refractometer. The 35 solution, however, gives me SG of 1.017, a reading which seems to be bizarrely off. Thoughts?

Make your own with Randy's recipe: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/

 

[davidcalgary29]

Make your own with Randy's recipe: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/

I did! That’s how I ended up with the 1.016 reading, which is pretty close to the commercial solution reading of 1.017 with the 35ppt solution. I’m testing on some frags now, which closed up as soon as I put them in fresh seawater in my QT at 1.025 with my unadjusted refractometer reading. And caused my mushroom to shrivel up and expel mucus.

 

[YankeeTankee]

I did! That’s how I ended up with the 1.016 reading, which is pretty close to the commercial solution reading of 1.017 with the 35ppt solution. I’m testing on some frags now, which closed up as soon as I put them in fresh seawater in my QT at 1.025 with my unadjusted refractometer reading. And caused my mushroom to shrivel up and expel mucus.

Sorry didn't see that, swing arm hydrometers are not very accurate. Is there a huge temp difference? Swing arms usually don't need temp correction but big temp differences could throw it off. A floating hydrometer like the tropic marin or a refractometer would be useful.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Sorry didn't see that, swing arm hydrometers are not very accurate. Is there a huge temp difference? Swing arms usually don't need temp correction but big temp differences could throw it off. A floating hydrometer like the tropic marin or a refractometer would be useful.

I do have a refractometer, not a hydrometer.

 

[YankeeTankee]

I do have a refractometer, not a hydrometer.

Scanning too fast, maybe a floating hydrometer then lol, doesn't require calibration!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do have a refractometer, not a hydrometer.

What refractometer?

Some are designed for other materials like proteins in urine.

 

[davidcalgary29]

What refractometer?

Some are designed for other materials like proteins in urine.

What the heck do you mean, what refractometer, I think to myself, as I review my Amazon purchases over the past few months. I've had tanks before! I know what I'm doing!
Oops.

Yup. I somehow managed to purchase a refractometer for BEER and I've been using that to mix my seawater.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What the heck do you mean, what refractometer, I think to myself, as I review my Amazon purchases over the past few months. I've had tanks before! I know what I'm doing!
Oops.

Yup. I somehow managed to purchase a refractometer for BEER and I've been using that to mix my seawater.

lol

I describe the different types of refractometers here:

Refractometers And Salinity Measurement
http://www.reefedition.com/refractometers-salinity-measurement/

 

[davidcalgary29]

Read it through. I'm going to be kicking myself a LONG time over this one. How could I have done this? I spent so much time looking at different models, and tried to choose the best one! I was going to do it right this time! I would have been more productive making kombucha over the last ten weeks...ugh.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

But you are all set to start a second hobby.

 

[davidcalgary29]

My Hanna salinity tester arrived today: all builds were between 44 and 47 ppt. I am just astounded that my Hallowe'en Hermit survived 1.035SG. Exactly how hardy are they?!