iCephalopod
New Member
A year and a half ago when I started in the reefing hobby I purchased a refractometer to get simple reliable results. I set "Zero" to a RO/DI sample per the instructions and then threw the instructions on the shelf. Fast forward a few months later and for some reason I've completely forgotten that refractometers need routine calibration. Meanwhile my mixed reef has begun to struggle and I can't figure out why. I buy coral from great online vendors and local club members and the coral almost always arrives in excellent condition. However, most coral I acclimate and add to the tank dulls, closes up, and melts away over several weeks. Most anemones and LPS survive, but don't seem to thrive. Some fish live and some fish die.
According to frequent water tests my salinity was 1.025 SG, while major elements were on the high end: Ca: 500, Mg: 1500. Instead of stubbornly searching for solutions by buying new equipment and supplies and reading forum posts I should have first taken my water to my experienced LFS owner or another local club member to verify my results. I should have routinely used calibration solution for all of my mechanical testing equipment from stand alone refractometers to reef controller probes. I've begun reducing the SG by one point per day and at 1.029 SG I'm already seeing a huge improvement with my remaining coral that are opening up, expanding, and extending tentacles that have been retracted for months.
Salinity calibration fluid for reliable results
I feel horrible for the life lost. I'm not looking for sympathy or condemnation for my mistake, I need a way to move forward in this hobby and I hope writing this can help someone else. You might think that this was an obvious mistake and I can't really argue with that, but for some reason it was a blind spot that I couldn't see despite the hundreds of hours spent researching, planning, and caring for my mixed reef aquarium. Going forward, I hope to enjoy my aquarium more and continue the intimate appreciation for these animals that you can only get by living and caring for them on a daily basis.
According to frequent water tests my salinity was 1.025 SG, while major elements were on the high end: Ca: 500, Mg: 1500. Instead of stubbornly searching for solutions by buying new equipment and supplies and reading forum posts I should have first taken my water to my experienced LFS owner or another local club member to verify my results. I should have routinely used calibration solution for all of my mechanical testing equipment from stand alone refractometers to reef controller probes. I've begun reducing the SG by one point per day and at 1.029 SG I'm already seeing a huge improvement with my remaining coral that are opening up, expanding, and extending tentacles that have been retracted for months.
Salinity calibration fluid for reliable results
I feel horrible for the life lost. I'm not looking for sympathy or condemnation for my mistake, I need a way to move forward in this hobby and I hope writing this can help someone else. You might think that this was an obvious mistake and I can't really argue with that, but for some reason it was a blind spot that I couldn't see despite the hundreds of hours spent researching, planning, and caring for my mixed reef aquarium. Going forward, I hope to enjoy my aquarium more and continue the intimate appreciation for these animals that you can only get by living and caring for them on a daily basis.
