Specific gravity recommendations outside of range on hydrometer?

[Parsely]

Hi, I am currently in the process of cycling my first reef tank. I measured the salt today and got a reading of 1.022. Which I thought was good because on my hydrometer 1.02 to 1.023 is marked as ideal. However reading through peoples recommendations it seems that everyone has salt higher at 1.025ish. This according to my hydrometer is too high. So I am a bit confused on what my salt content should be. Any clarification on this i’d really appreciate

 

[radfly]

The ocean is typically around 35 ppm or 1.026 sg.

Your device indicates a lowered threshold due to the belief that will lessen fish disease, and only refers to a fish only tank.

Aim for 1.026.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Get a glass hydrometer or refractometer these are notoriously inaccurate when used for saltwater. And aim for 1.026 because that’s ocean salinity but 1.024-1.026 is acceptable.

 

[Parsely]

Ok, that is so bizarre they have 1.026 as outside of the range when that is what everyone seems to recommend and is the actual ocean salinity

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Google the ocean salinity, it is 1.026, so the target should be 1.026, or very close to it. As you noticed, most of us use 1.025

agree with above, you will want to get rid of that thing (along with API Master Test test kit if thats what you got). Always get the good stuff in this hobby.

 

[Parsely]

Google the ocean salinity, it is 1.026, so the target should be 1.026, or very close to it. As you noticed, most of us use 1.025

agree with above, you will want to get rid of that thing (along with API Master Test test kit if thats what you got). Always get the good stuff in this hobby.

What should I get instead of the api test kit?

 

[Reef.]

What should I get instead of the api test kit?

You can’t go wrong with Salifert for everything expect po4, the Hanna 774 checker is excellent for po4.

 

[Parsely]

You can’t go wrong with Salifert for everything expect po4, the Hanna 774 checker is excellent for po4.

Ok I’ll check that out, thanks. Never ending stream of purchases with this hobby I’m learning haha

 

[martyharris]

Those hydrometer are garbage

 

[nereefpat]

Lots of hate here, LOL.

The plastic swing arm hydrometers are really precise, but can be off a couple points in terms of accuracy. So if you check it with a standard, you will know how far off it is, and it will always be that far off.

You can make a standard with a kitchen scale and table salt.

Also, if the tank is fish only, salinity can be off a few points with no problem.

API kits are mostly fine too, depending on the situation.