Is my hydrometer working

[Benji k]

I brought a hydrometer and I tested my water in my tank and the salinity is 1.022 its pretty low so that wasn’t great and then i was going to put saltwater in the ato so I could get it back to the salinity I want and I decided to test the store Brought saltwater and the salinity was at 1.021 I’m not sure if the hydrometer is bad or my saltwater is bad and should I try and raise the salinity or nota at.

 

[RWhitt907]

I brought a hydrometer and I tested my water in my tank and the salinity is 1.022 its pretty low so that wasn’t great and then i was going to put saltwater in the ato so I could get it back to the salinity I want and I decided to test the store Brought saltwater and the salinity was at 1.021 I’m not sure if the hydrometer is bad or my saltwater is bad and should I try and raise the salinity or nota at.

Don't add salt to your ATO, you can raise your salinity with water changes, and I would use a refractometer to test it.

 

[Benji k]

Don't add salt to your ATO, you can raise your salinity with water changes, and I would use a refractometer to test it.

I don’t have a refractometer

 

[gbroadbridge]

I brought a hydrometer and I tested my water in my tank and the salinity is 1.022 its pretty low so that wasn’t great and then i was going to put saltwater in the ato so I could get it back to the salinity I want and I decided to test the store Brought saltwater and the salinity was at 1.021 I’m not sure if the hydrometer is bad or my saltwater is bad and should I try and raise the salinity or nota at.

What brand Hydrometer do you have?

 

[Benji k]

What brand Hydrometer do you have?

The hydrometer is a cheap one on Amazon it’s brand is sea level

 

[Topekoms]

I don’t have a refractometer

Buy one. Hydrometers are highly unreliable. You aren't doing yourself any favors with that thing.

 

[gbroadbridge]

The hydrometer is a cheap one on Amazon it’s brand is sea level

If you're planning on keeping coral you can't use a cheap hydrometer.

If the tank is fish only you can probably just trust that the LFS knows what they are doing. Ask them what the salinity of the water they supply is and keep the hydrometer reading constant.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Don't add salt to your ATO, you can raise your salinity with water changes, and I would use a refractometer to test it.

Agree with others, a refractometer is definitely the way to go.

 

[Benji k]

If you're planning on keeping coral you can't use a cheap hydrometer.

If the tank is fish only you can probably just trust that the LFS knows what they are doing. Ask them what the salinity of the water they supply is and keep the hydrometer reading constant.

It has corals in it too how much do refractometers usually cost I don’t want to be spending to much

 

[The_Paradox]

Buy a good refractometer. Cheap Hydrometers are highly unreliable. You aren't doing yourself any favors with that thing.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Get a better tester before you make changes in your tank. Especially if the corals look happy then don't change anything.

But definitely need good accurate testers going forward, not only for salinity but for other parameters as well. It is money well spent.

 

[Benji k]

Get a better tester before you make changes in your tank. Especially if the corals look happy then don't change anything.

But definitely need good accurate testers going forward, not only for salinity but for other parameters as well. It is money well spent.

I will definitely get one what’s the usual prices for refractometers

 

[KStatefan]

I will definitely get one what’s the usual prices for refractometers

A Veegee STX-3 is $150 USD

 

[Benji k]

A Veegee STX-3 is $150 USD

Ok I’ll have to start saving

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Tropic Marin glass hydrometer on Bulk Reef for about $36. Super accurate and never needs calibrating.

 

[DDenny]

I bough one from Amazon for 20 bucks or so with shipping. Just make sure you get some Calibration fluid for 35PPT saltwater works great but they will drift and need to be recalibrated easy to do follow instructions that come with it.

 

[The_Paradox]

A Veegee STX-3 is $150 USD

Calibration solution will be a better investment.

 

[Benji k]

Ok I’ll have to start saving

Can I get a cheaper one on Amazon

 

[The_Paradox]

Can I get a cheaper one on Amazon

Yes. Just make sure to get refractometer calibration solution. Before you do anything though, I would get (or make) some calibration solution for your hygrometer. It’s possible your local stores water is 1.021. Lots of stores keep their tanks at lower salinity and if you don’t specifically ask they don’t tell you.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Can I get a cheaper one on Amazon

Think of it like this: think of all the money you spent on your tank, salt, lights, fish, corals, that was a lot of money. Do you really want to rely on a cheap $20 tool to protect your thousand dollar investment?