Salinity Issues help

Jordan Siehr · Jun 27, 2012

I'm having difficulty with my salinty. It seems that I'm having to add way more salt than the bag says to get my hydrometer level correct? Is my hydrometer not calibrated correctly or what? And do you have any tips on how to measure salt-gallons? Cause Im practicly going by pinches, dashes, and scoops. lol The bags measurements compared to what I acctually put in is completly off. I'm just guessing when adding salt.

SeahorseKeeper · Jun 27, 2012

I would get a refratometer pronto. Hydrometers are notorious for being inaccurate. What type of water are you using?

Loki · Jun 28, 2012

How long has the salt been mixing with the water? Are you low or high?

I always use a scale and weigh my salt for the simple reason that if there is a clump it will be a much more dense area of salt. It could leave you with a high reading.

I use instant ocean and reef crystals. when I am mixing I usually try to shoot for 1.4 lps per 5 gallon bucket. I then let it mix for 24 hours before checking just to make sure that it is fully disolved and I am getting a true reading.

I also agree that you should get a refractometer as soon as you can. They are much more accurate than a hydrometer. If you get a bubble on the arm of your hydrometer it could show that you have a very high level, and if you have something more dense than the water on the arm it will pull the arm down and show you that you have a low level.

wysiwyg · Jun 28, 2012

get a refractometer asap your hydrometer is probaly way off

Jordan Siehr · Jun 28, 2012

Okay, Thanks! And I'm using de-chlorinated tap water. And it keeps saying that I have a low reading. I had it PERFECT when I mixed it and put it in an what not. But then like 2 days later it said it was at half the salinity it was before. Its kinda all over the place... My mom suggested it wasn't my bad measuring "skills" but maybe the device, (shes an inspector at Manitowoc Cranes and calibrates theyre equiptment and checks the cranes for safety issues and what not). And it turns out she ws right...(as always >.<) lol. We are gunna get a digital one that you calibrate to distilled water. Thanks again!

Loki · Jun 28, 2012

Cool. Not up on the digital ones to know if they are good or not. A refractometer runs about $20 for the cheap ones and $50-60 for the ones I think most of us have. There are of course the really expensive ones. If you go the digital route I would like a review on one.

Jordan Siehr · Jun 28, 2012

Okay, the one I'm considering is like $125. And it got ALOT of good reviews. They all said that its much easier to use/read compared to a reg. one.

Jordan Siehr · Jun 28, 2012

Here it is, $109. This is the one I'm thinking about getting. Milwaukee Seawater Digital Refractometer

Loki · Jun 28, 2012

Looks cool. Do you have to calibrate it each time?

cparka23 · Jun 28, 2012

It sounds like you're just measuring way too early. When measuring salinity, you really can't get a good reading until several hours after you've added the salt. Your hydrometer might actually be right, but a refractometer is still a great piece of equipment to have. Here's a recent thread on mixing saltwater (link).

The general consensus is that dechlorinated tap still contains a lot of things that are bad for reefs. Personally, I'd strongly urge you to save money on the refractometer and to get a good RO/DI filter or to get RO/DI water from the LFS. If you're mixing your own salt, the water has to be pure to start with or else you'll almost certainly struggle with algae. Most places will also sell mixed saltwater, too.

Loki · Jun 28, 2012

She did say she measured it two days later.

Loki · Jun 28, 2012

I also completely agree about the RODI unit. Also if you buy RODI water from a store I would check it with a TDS meter just to make sure it is reading 0.

BarbH · Jun 28, 2012

Good advice already given I agree about picking up a refractometer. Also getting a ro/di is a good investment. Having a good source of ro/di water is important. As mentioned with using tap water it can give you issues with different types of algae. Also with tap water you have no idea what you are putting into your tank.

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Jordan Siehr · Jun 28, 2012

Its fish-only tank. So tap waters fine as long as it has no chlorine in it. And I waited a day after it was mixed and stuff to test it to make sure all of the salt was dissolved and mixed in right.

Jordan Siehr · Jun 28, 2012

lol OK Loki, I know my name is Jordan but Im a GIRL! My brothers got to pick my name and named me after micheal jordan. But I am a GIRL. lol. And I cant afford the ro/di. And since its fish only it will work. Plus I'm using the better more expensive salt. The Reef Crystal stuff. Plus Ive had my tap water tested by the pet stores. They said it was great water. My mom used to work for Aqua-perfect, a company that sold many things along with ro/di thingies lol. They are VERY expensive.

Steelerfan747 · Jun 28, 2012

SeahorseKeeper said:
I would get a refratometer pronto. Hydrometers are notorious for being inaccurate. What type of water are you using?

+1, I know refractometers are expensive compared to hydrometers but they are much more accurate

Loki · Jun 28, 2012

To Jordan (The Girl)

RODI units may be a lot cheaper than you think. I got mine from airwaterice.com and it was under $200. If it came down to it I would keep the hydrometer and get the RODI. It is still a good idea to get the RODI with a fish only system. It will remove any ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, or phosphates from your tap water. These are the things we try to remove with water changes. Water is the main ingredient in our tanks. It should be as good as we can get.

Cyber-Burn · Jun 28, 2012

Interesting, I had not looked at the digital ones yet. Reading about it you will have to recalibrate the unit after each test with Distilled (DI) water. I personally have used a refractometer for the past 8 years and just use the pinpoint calibration solution to verify it is calibrated correctly once in awhile and it has been spot on for years. The refractometer is a very simple tool and sometimes simple is good and reliable (this coming from the computer guy who fixes computers and electronics all day long, that's scary)

I also would be of the mind to save some of the money off of the Digital Refractometer and save it towards a RO/DI system. I was one of the ones that started off with tap water from a friends suggestion and I have been fighting algae problems for years. Starting with good water makes life easier

Cyber-Burn · Jun 28, 2012

As for the RO/DI cost you can also check out bulk reef supply (one of the sponsors here). They have wonderful and quite inexpensive RO/DI systems.

cparka23 · Jun 28, 2012

Jordan Siehr said:
Its fish-only tank. So tap waters fine as long as it has no chlorine in it. And I waited a day after it was mixed and stuff to test it to make sure all of the salt was dissolved and mixed in right.

Ah, I see. Yes, for a fish-only tank, many people do just fine with dechlorinated tap. Some areas are just blessed with awesome water supplies. I wish I was one of them.