Hi everyone. Im trying to get my salinity on my 65 gal tank correct. Im shooting for 0.024 and i have a hydrometer with the swing arm. It was reading 0.024 and i got my refractometer in yesterday. Calibrated it with ro water. Then tested with it and it said 0.020. So i figured its correct. I have took out water added salt three times to raise it slowly. Now my refractometer is reading 0.022 and the hydrometr reads 0.028. Im worried about which one is probably right. Anyone ever have this problem. Should i keep adding salt or leave it be. I have live rock and sand and three yellow tailed damsels trying to cycle.
salinity and refractometer question
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Sabellafella
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Dont make any sudden changes just let it b . also salt calibration fluid for the refractometer goes a long way . also temperature can raise or lower ur sg reading on ur refract.. Dont rely on the hydrometer they r garbage but rely on it for consistant readings for now untill u get calibration fluid
Busa1340
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I hear you want to calibrate your refractormeter with 35ppm solution like this. Not RO water someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Jlobes
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as already mentioned, use calibration fluid not RODI, it is much more effective and accurate. I use the calibration fluid, almost every time i use my refractometer. doesnt hurt to be sure your equipment is accurate and only using 5 drops, that bottle lasts a long time
moreef
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mine says same but I was really low when I checked against the 35ppm solution. My test kits were always showing low cal/alk/mag and I thought it was tester or user error 
but was just really low sg. Good thing I didn't have anything in tank yet as it was cycling.
but was just really low sg. Good thing I didn't have anything in tank yet as it was cycling.clownfish chris
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Yep. I used to do this as well. My salinity was off by 0.03. I shot for 1.026 and was always at 1.023. It was stable so it wasn't a big deal but I could not understand why my cal/alk/mag were never as high as the salt mix said they would be. Once calibrated correctly, the mystery was solved.
moreef
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yes I just got that same kind as above from BRS for real cheap like $5-$7 I think. Be sure you tighten cap good after each use of course. Thanks CC I thought I was only one that made this mistake and thought it was the salt 
clownfish chris
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That is exactly what mine is and what the instructions said to do. I verified that it was off by using calibration fluid when my numbers didn't sync up. Once I changed calibration methods everything lined up.
