Question on mixing salt water

[oldfishman]

The instructions I have say 1/2 cup of salt to 5 gallons will give a reading of 1.026. I hav to add a lot more than 1/2 cup to achieve that reading. I have calibrate my refactor twice and checked it twice. What have I missed or am I doing something wrong.

 

[mamedina]

3 cups of reef crystals in 5 gals will get you around 1.026

 

[Crabs McJones]

The instructions I have say 1/2 cup of salt to 5 gallons will give a reading of 1.026. I hav to add a lot more than 1/2 cup to achieve that reading. I have calibrate my refactor twice and checked it twice. What have I missed or am I doing something wrong.

What brand of salt are you mixing? Usually it's 1/2 cup to 1 gallon of RO/DI water.

 

[Finhead]

Yep what crab_mcjones said 1/2cup to every gallon.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

+1, what salt are you using? There's no way half a cup of salt mix will make 5 gallons of water at S=35ppt.

Also, bear in mind that most manufacturer's instructions don't always give you saltwater at S=35ppt. The instructions on Instant Ocean, for example, say 1/2 cup per gallon. But, if you follow their directions, your water will be closer to S=30ppt (1.023 SG). To get water closer to S=35ppt, you need to use about 15% more salt than the directions say.

 

[ReefJake123]

It’s supposed to be 1/2 a cup per gallon

 

[jimmyzhou]

Do U have a sec meter to test your salt lvl. Just be safe pick up a cheap one lfs if u are not sure