refractometer and salinity readings

blue_eyes53813 · 12-03-2006, 10:20 AM

Well I have no idea what the salinity of my tank is and it is driving me nuts.. I just realized my refractometer has been reading wrong for months. I have been wondering why my polyps ( like star polyps) have been retracting for awhile... I have had a shadow on my refractomter and I dont know how to fix it. I have a little digital salinity/temp reader as well but I just havent trusted them because of bad reviews.. My refractometer after calibration read a shadowy 1.030

and my not so good battery opperated tested read 1.023???? I have no idea which one to believe... I did order a new refractomter from Marine depot right away....

I did a little bit more testing about a half hour later from the first reading and got 2 totally different readings from both? So everytime I do the silly little testing from both . I get different readings everytime.... I have no idea what to do in the mean time before the new refractometer get s here?

any ideas

BoomerD · 12-03-2006, 11:13 AM

Take a sample to a trusted LFS and ask them to test it for you...

ReefGuy69 · 12-03-2006, 11:20 AM

Just out of curiousity what brand refractometer? I am currently looking into getting one and dont want to run into the same problem.

blue_eyes53813 · 12-03-2006, 12:09 PM

I got mine about 3 years ago from refractometers.com... it has been very accurate.. Im thinking it may have got dropped or something. They are very good gadgets..

blue_eyes53813 · 12-03-2006, 12:12 PM

Here is the brand,, they are sold at most online sites... They are a good gadget http://www.refractometers.com/

BoomerD · 12-03-2006, 03:24 PM

We;re putting together a group buy on refractometers at the local reef club. Price will vary from $20 to $30 each, depending on how many we buy. I'm still trying to find out if the President of the club will hassle with shipping, but if you're interested, PM me and I can let you know once I find out.
We did a group buy on them a couple of years ago, and everyone was very happy with the products.

Dragon Wrasse · 12-03-2006, 04:35 PM

WOW...$20 - $30 for a refractometer, that's a super price...this is the one I use and it cost over $100...but the scale is big and it has great clearity.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113761

BoomerD · 12-03-2006, 04:55 PM

This is the one they're getting. Not sure of the manufacturer.

blue_eyes53813 · 12-03-2006, 09:23 PM

I took a sample of water to the lfs today and it read 1.024-1.025.. So my refractometer was way off. the battery operated little gadget I got was alot closer... cant waite for my refractometer to get here

Gillfluke · 12-03-2006, 09:37 PM

your local veterinarian may also have a refractometer. They are used for determining total solids in blood and urine specific gravity. I'm sure they'd check your water for you (it's cleaner than pee)

12-03-2006, 10:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	refractometer and salinity readings Well I have no idea what the salinity of my tank is and it is driving me nuts.. I just realized my refractometer has been reading wrong for months. I have been wondering why my polyps ( like star polyps) have been retracting for awhile... I have had a shadow on my refractomter and I dont know how to fix it. I have a little digital salinity/temp reader as well but I just havent trusted them because of bad reviews.. My refractometer after calibration read a shadowy 1.030 and my not so good battery opperated tested read 1.023???? I have no idea which one to believe... I did order a new refractomter from Marine depot right away.... I did a little bit more testing about a half hour later from the first reading and got 2 totally different readings from both? So everytime I do the silly little testing from both . I get different readings everytime.... I have no idea what to do in the mean time before the new refractometer get s here? any ideas __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

12-03-2006, 11:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refractometer and salinity readings Take a sample to a trusted LFS and ask them to test it for you... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

12-03-2006, 11:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
ReefGuy69 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 934 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refractometer and salinity readings Just out of curiousity what brand refractometer? I am currently looking into getting one and dont want to run into the same problem.

12-03-2006, 12:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refractometer and salinity readings I got mine about 3 years ago from refractometers.com... it has been very accurate.. Im thinking it may have got dropped or something. They are very good gadgets.. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

12-03-2006, 12:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refractometer and salinity readings Here is the brand,, they are sold at most online sites... They are a good gadget http://www.refractometers.com/ __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

12-03-2006, 03:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refractometer and salinity readings We;re putting together a group buy on refractometers at the local reef club. Price will vary from $20 to $30 each, depending on how many we buy. I'm still trying to find out if the President of the club will hassle with shipping, but if you're interested, PM me and I can let you know once I find out. We did a group buy on them a couple of years ago, and everyone was very happy with the products. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

12-03-2006, 04:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dragon Wrasse Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 991 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refractometer and salinity readings WOW...$20 - $30 for a refractometer, that's a super price...this is the one I use and it cost over $100...but the scale is big and it has great clearity. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113761 __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* "A wise man learns more from a foolish question, then a fool learns from a wise answer" - Bruce Lee _____________________________ 75 gal SeaClear II Reef Tank (softy tank) - Coralife 125 Super Skimmer - Little Giant 2-MDQX-SC - Angstrom 2537 UV 15W - HOB Refugium - Eheim Pro 2228 - Red Sea Wave Maker w/Maxi-Jet 600 (X4) - 100 lbs Live Sand (DSB) - 100 lbs Live Rock - 260W PC lighting - 470nm lunar lights (X15) - AquaController II Custom 75 gal Starphire glass tank (SPS/LPS tank) - Custom 24 gal Refugium - Tuzne Wave box - JBJ Chiller - 390W PC lighting - 175W MH (X2) - Knop Cal. Reactor - AquaController 3 Pro - Aqua C Skimmer - Phosban Reactor - 18W Turbo-twist UV sterilizer - Sump - Sony Computer 5 gal Nano Hospital Tank - Eheim 2213 - Red Sea Prizm Skimmer - Live sand - Live Rock - Built in Refugium - 36W PC lighting

12-03-2006, 04:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refractometer and salinity readings This is the one they're getting. Not sure of the manufacturer. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

12-03-2006, 09:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: refractometer and salinity readings I took a sample of water to the lfs today and it read 1.024-1.025.. So my refractometer was way off. the battery operated little gadget I got was alot closer... cant waite for my refractometer to get here __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

12-03-2006, 09:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
Gillfluke Tunicate Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: refractometer and salinity readings your local veterinarian may also have a refractometer. They are used for determining total solids in blood and urine specific gravity. I'm sure they'd check your water for you (it's cleaner than pee)

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