Holy Salinity Batman!

[WVNed]

I would suggest anyone using a refractometer to calibrate it with every use. That little screw to adjust is very sensitive. Personally I use the Pinpoint Salinity Monitor and I love it. Yes it uses a battery and yes it takes a couple of minutes for the temperature to adjust and the reading to settle in, but it is exact. I calibrated with Randy’s recipe mentioned earlier. I also calibrate and double check with my refractometer about once a month.

One thing not mentioned here, that I have mentioned in other threads, is measuring your salt with a scale. For the LiveAquaria salt I use, 160g always mixes to 53 mS/cm (1.0263). I always change 10% of my water and I know precisely how many grams of salt to add to the water. It is always DEAD ON. I probably do not even need to test the mixed water because I add a precise amount of salt, but I still always do (and test the tank before changing as well with the Pinpoint).

This interests me but I make water into a trashcan. How would I ever measure it accurately?

 

[NY_Caveman]

This interests me but I make water into a trashcan. How would I ever measure it accurately?

Take a 5 gallon jug with volume labels. Fill the trash can accurately one time and mark the level (or various levels). From then on you will know the exact volume.

 

[WVNed]

Take a 5 gallon jug with volume labels. Fill the trash can accurately one time and mark the level (or various levels). From then on you will know the exact volume.

I did that 3 gallons at a time using a graduated 5 gallon bucket. The "accurately" part was harder than I expected. I actually made a dip stick out of a piece of PVC pipe.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I did that 3 gallons at a time using a graduated 5 gallon bucket. The "accurately" part was harder than I expected. I actually made a dip stick out of a piece of PVC pipe.

That is a great idea!

 

[dbdisok]

I use a Milwaukee Instrument digital Refractometer. Simple to use.

 

[Cory]

I use a Milwaukee Instrument digital Refractometer. Simple to use.

You dont mind if your salinity is 1.025 or 1.027 when it should be 1.026?

 

[Cory]

This interests me but I make water into a trashcan. How would I ever measure it accurately?

What size? With a 44 gallon Brute trash can if you use the box of instant ocean that comes with 4 bags of salt in it, almost 1 full bag is 1.0264

 

[WVNed]

What size? With a 44 gallon Brute trash can if you use the box of instant ocean that comes with 4 bags of salt in it, almost 1 full bag is 1.0264

Full to where on the can. I very rarely use that much water though

 

[Cory]

Full to where on the can. I very rarely use that much water though

Like a 1/2 inch from the top nearly overflowing

 

[WVNed]

Like a 1/2 inch from the top nearly overflowing

LOL I see me creating a disaster rolling that through the kitchen over to the tank.

 

[Cory]

LOL I see me creating a disaster rolling that through the kitchen over to the tank.

You could just take out buckets at time

 

[vegamedic]

You dont mind if your salinity is 1.025 or 1.027 when it should be 1.026?

digital refractometers like the milwaukee can/should be calibrated frequently with a reference solution. i find allowing the lens well to warm up closer to tank temp usually eliminates any error as well. not any more error prone than using a prismatic refractometer, hydrometer, or probe.

 

[RichReef]

Received the BRS solution. Randy's homemade solution was right on the money with theirs.

Calibrated the refractometer and tested the water. The IO swing arm and the refractometer were a perfect match. The new floating hydrometer is still off reading 4 points lower.

But the problem is solved. Everything looks good and getting better every day.

 

[norfolkgarden]

You dont mind if your salinity is 1.025 or 1.027 when it should be 1.026?

Nope, but I'm not trying to keep acros. And my preference is 1.024 to 1.026 FWIW.

$10 Monti cap chips slowly fade after about 3 months.
Every time.

Fish, softies, photosynthetic sponges and Frogspawn in a low budget, old school filtration tank.
[emoji4]