Urgh seriously.

[Fin]

Oh, that's brilliant, will keep that in my bag o' tricks now. Very cool

I guess I should have patented it.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello ,

See now you need to hurry and make that millions of dollars so you can have more fuel for bonfires on the beach

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

Sorry been too many days but here I am . So hint for us that have hydrometers and refractometers lol test them often and more often, with sources other than your own.
I found out that my salinity was like 1.021 so I panicked and raised it up according to the refractometer. Oops. I also tested it with my hydrometer ops again. The refractometer read super low and the hydrometer read super high. (Of course I tested after I added salt water.

So with everything closed, (store wise), I simply drained the same amount of water back out of my tank and topped off with rodi. (Which should have negated the salt increase). I then didn’t have calibration fluid but rodi should read zero. When I put some on, it was below the 0 mark and the hydrometer read at 0 as well. So I moved it up to 0 and then retested and well it was closer. Did this work Nope! Not at all. Took it in and had the lfs csliberate it and it was four points off. Which means they tested mine and theirs with the same fluid, then cleaned them both then tested water they knew was 1.025. They both then read the same and I was happy .

With that done I was eager to see more like scared to see where my tank was actually at. You kinda get that nervous anxious gut wrenching feeling of oh this is not going to be good. Did this all the way home, and I tested as soon as I came in the door. Which I panicked for no reason my tank measured 1.024. So then I was eager to see where my hydro meter was off. Which then I tested with it and it read 1.026.
This left me scratching my head, and the only thing I can think of is I didn’t rinse the hydrometer last time and it had dried salt in it.

With that today though and soaking the hydrometer in vinegar for about an hour. Tested both again and once again the refractometer read 1.020, and the hydrometer read way high. This time today lol again I took my own water and both meters to the lfs to be tested. They tested my water and once again it was 1.025 so that was a relief. But they had to recalibrate the meter again, and the hydrometer was off once again. (So it’s in the trash can and I bought a new one and it tests like it should). Now for my refractometer they fixed it again and we waited and once again went off. So they did a warranty on it and I have a new one that hopefully works better. I tested both when I got home once again and this time they are super close to each other. It has been advised that after hydrometer usage to let it sit in rodi water till the next use. I guess never leave it dry and never leave salt water in it .

 

[Fin]

Those plastic swing arm hydrometers (if that is what you are using) are basically junk. I haven't used one of those since I was a newbie in the 80s. Also, get some real calibration fluid for that refractometer. Don't rely on RO/DI water or even distilled water to calibrate the meter to zero. This is what I use - Brightwell Refractometer Calibration Standard

 

[Sarah24!]

Those plastic swing arm hydrometers (if that is what you are using) are basically junk. I haven't used one of those since I was a newbie in the 80s. Also, get some real calibration fluid for that refractometer. Don't rely on RO/DI water or even distilled water to calibrate the meter to zero. This is what I use - Brightwell Refractometer Calibration Standard

Hello,

Oh lol I didn’t know the plastic flip lid ones were junk, mine was like 80. They told me the new electronic is the way to go and much more accurate. I know about the calibration fluid I was just out. But I have seen use rodi and or distilled as a test as well. It proved that it doesn’t work and will not adjust correctly, but I also had bad refractometer lol. What do you have or use?

 

[Fin]

I think maybe you misunderstood me. I use a refractometer like this one.

I was talking about the inexpensive plastic hydrometers with the swing arm. Is that what you were talking about?

This is what I want to get, a Milwaukee digital refractometer. I just haven't gotten one yet.

 

[Hemmdog]

I think maybe you misunderstood me. I use a refractometer like this one.

I was talking about the inexpensive plastic hydrometers with the swing arm. Is that what you were talking about?

This is what I want to get, a Milwaukee digital refractometer. I just haven't gotten one yet.

How would a refractometer even go bad like Sarah is saying? I don’t see how that could even happen lol.

 

[Fin]

How would a refractometer even go bad like Sarah is saying? I don’t see how that could even happen lol.

I was wondering the same thing. At least they replaced it under warranty.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

Okay I have both of them, just not the bottom one. In terms of how it went bad I have no idea. It’s never been dropped and sits on a shelf in the case (which is closed). But to have both of my saltwater meters fail is kinda scary. I am glad I didn’t do anything really rash. (Well sorta I dumped 2 gallons of salt water in, and then had to take it back out and add 2.5 gallons of rodi.

The lfs said that probably the temperature bar inside went out or broke. It auto changes the refractometer for tempature and if that doesn’t work right, then it will always be off.

However the new electric one looks neat, it looked like a thermometer and you just dip it into water. I stopped by petco today and really liked this tang they have. Which I almost did buy it, except (they all use one system for water, and in the displays next to it a few fish had ick in each small tank (which had corals in them also) so I know it wasn’t a qt.
But if was a spotted hawkfish and so far the reading I have been doing says they are not super nice to reefs. Others say use caution and they only will eat live food? Hmmm but the care level says easy

 

[Hemmdog]

Hello,

Okay I have both of them, just not the bottom one. In terms of how it went bad I have no idea. It’s never been dropped and sits on a shelf in the case (which is closed). But to have both of my saltwater meters fail is kinda scary. I am glad I didn’t do anything really rash. (Well sorta I dumped 2 gallons of salt water in, and then had to take it back out and add 2.5 gallons of rodi.

The lfs said that probably the temperature bar inside went out or broke. It auto changes the refractometer for tempature and if that doesn’t work right, then it will always be off.

However the new electric one looks neat, it looked like a thermometer and you just dip it into water. I stopped by petco today and really liked this tang they have. Which I almost did buy it, except (they all use one system for water, and in the displays next to it a few fish had ick in each small tank (which had corals in them also) so I know it wasn’t a qt.
But if was a spotted hawkfish and so far the reading I have been doing says they are not super nice to reefs. Others say use caution and they only will eat live food? Hmmm but the care level says easy

All fish are pretty easy.. lol. Hawkfish are fine, get one if you want one, they are sweet.

 

[Sarah24!]

All fish are pretty easy.. lol. Hawkfish are fine, get one if you want one, they are sweet.

Hello,

He is much smaller than all my tangs even though he is semi aggressive I don’t think he will mess with my tangs or even my smaller chromies. My clown hosts the frogspawn so he is safe there. But I do have the whole upper half of my tank is sps. I lol wouldn’t be super thrilled if he nibbles on them since it’s hard enough to make them happy.

I’m currently having a problem with my blastos, they are very slowly dying one by one. They have been in this spot for over 14 Months and done fine. My nutrients are pretty low, so I’m keeping alk at 8 and cal at 440. I also started feeding the corals again individually with food I mix. They definitely love that so maybe three times a week, plus use marine snow the other two days, and fuel in conjunction. Lps don’t like water as clean as sps, so that should mean less food for them which I am hoping target feeding would help.

Any thoughts or words of wisdom on this thought process? Tested water tonight, and I still use api but nitrates probably around 2-5 but min 2 (guessing), and phosphates are pretty low, it is definitely below the .25 or the first color marker.
The only thing I have changed is trace elements, I do 1ml a day of all four because I don’t do many water changes. This has been maybe two weeks (no change but didn’t expect it to). But they slowly started before that they discolor a tad then well that’s it. But it’s one at a time, and I have already dipped it. Everyone tells me blastos love lots of light and flow I hope they are right.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I use the American Marine Pinpoint Salinity Monitor. I absolutely love it. It is a simple probe, just have to let it adjust to the temperature.

It measures in conductivity (target of 53 mS/cm = 35 ppt), but it is easy to convert if you wish. I use a refractometer to check it occasionally which I calibrate every time I use it.

 

[Sarah24!]

I use the American Marine Pinpoint Salinity Monitor. I absolutely love it. It is a simple probe, just have to let it adjust to the temperature.

It measures in conductivity (target of 53 mS/cm = 35 ppt), but it is easy to convert if you wish. I use a refractometer to check it occasionally which I calibrate every time I use it.

Hello,

Oh that is super neat and where did you find that and are they costy? It would be nice to have one that is always accurate and fail safe. Keeping other parameters in check seems to be hard enough as it is.

Like before my tank is consuming alk and calcium at an incredible rate that concerns me. I am now up to 2.5 tablespoons of each per day, and this is just to maintain an alk of 8 and calcium of 440. I am now dosing trace elements as well because water changes just don’t seem to help in my case.
My nitrates are between 2-5ppm and phosphates lower than .25 (or first color chart on api test kit), but it keeps the cynao away. I can’t seem to think my nitrates are tooo low still because I still have some traces of cyano and some hair algae (which is a good sign I haven’t bottomed My tank out). However some lps corals really have issues now like my aussi blastos, they die one at a time but been in the same spot for over a year. I have now started to spot feed them and maybe they were getting starved. Even the ones discolored had Polpys out to get food. Any good suggestions?

 

[NY_Caveman]

Oh that is super neat and where did you find that and are they costy? It would be nice to have one that is always accurate and fail safe. Keeping other parameters in check seems to be hard enough as it is.

I bought it used for $75 I think. New is around $130.

 

[Hemmdog]

Hello,

Oh that is super neat and where did you find that and are they costy? It would be nice to have one that is always accurate and fail safe. Keeping other parameters in check seems to be hard enough as it is.

Like before my tank is consuming alk and calcium at an incredible rate that concerns me. I am now up to 2.5 tablespoons of each per day, and this is just to maintain an alk of 8 and calcium of 440. I am now dosing trace elements as well because water changes just don’t seem to help in my case.
My nitrates are between 2-5ppm and phosphates lower than .25 (or first color chart on api test kit), but it keeps the cynao away. I can’t seem to think my nitrates are tooo low still because I still have some traces of cyano and some hair algae (which is a good sign I haven’t bottomed My tank out). However some lps corals really have issues now like my aussi blastos, they die one at a time but been in the same spot for over a year. I have now started to spot feed them and maybe they were getting starved. Even the ones discolored had Polpys out to get food. Any good suggestions?

You gotta get a 2 part doser, it’s gonna change your life.

 

[NY_Caveman]

My Jebao DP-2 doser was $50 and it was quick and easy to set up. Came with several extra parts as well.

 

[Hemmdog]

Hello,

Oh that is super neat and where did you find that and are they costy? It would be nice to have one that is always accurate and fail safe. Keeping other parameters in check seems to be hard enough as it is.

Like before my tank is consuming alk and calcium at an incredible rate that concerns me. I am now up to 2.5 tablespoons of each per day, and this is just to maintain an alk of 8 and calcium of 440. I am now dosing trace elements as well because water changes just don’t seem to help in my case.
My nitrates are between 2-5ppm and phosphates lower than .25 (or first color chart on api test kit), but it keeps the cynao away. I can’t seem to think my nitrates are tooo low still because I still have some traces of cyano and some hair algae (which is a good sign I haven’t bottomed My tank out). However some lps corals really have issues now like my aussi blastos, they die one at a time but been in the same spot for over a year. I have now started to spot feed them and maybe they were getting starved. Even the ones discolored had Polpys out to get food. Any good suggestions?

And I will literally buy you quality test kits, salifert test kits, you can’t trust api and there is no low end which is what your dealing with primarily. Lol. I want you to have more continued success!

 

[Hemmdog]

My Jebao DP-2 doser was $50 and it was quick and easy to set up. Came with several extra parts as well.

Care to give a quick review of it? How long have you had it, any issues. I’m looking for a budget doser for my 40b; since I’m doing a tank transfer I’ll have consumption fairly early on.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Care to give a quick review of it? How long have you had it, any issues. I’m looking for a budget doser for my 40b; since I’m doing a tank transfer I’ll have consumption fairly early on.

I have had it since September, 2018. You need to calibrate it first. I test the output occasionally and the calibration has held. No issues at all and the price is so right.

 

[neoGeorge]

Care to give a quick review of it? How long have you had it, any issues. I’m looking for a budget doser for my 40b; since I’m doing a tank transfer I’ll have consumption fairly early on.

I have 3 Jebao dosers (1 for freshwater, 2 for reef) and they have been working great for the last year. They are not super accurate (for example, I would not rely on them to accurately dose a 1 ml - your more likely to get closer to 2 ml instead), but I use them for NOPOX and 2 part, and the tank has been looking good