Hydrometer Advice

ken55 · 03/30/2012, 06:11 PM

Ok, so i'm trying to do this right (for once

)

My Live aquaria purchase should be here tomorrow and I'm setting up the QT. I called LA and they told me that they ship at 1.025 so that is the target for my QT. I went to lfs to get water (I don't have my own RO/DI yet) and filled the QT. When I tested it I got a reading of 1.027 That seemed pretty high. So, not sure what to do I filled the hydrometer with sink water expecting it to read 1.000 Instead it gave me 1.002

Am I doing something wrong? It seems simple enough. I looked for bubbles on the swing arm and couldn't find any. Can I assume this thing just reads .002 high and remember to compensate?

Thanks for your help,
Ken

scooter268 · 03/30/2012, 06:17 PM

Use ro/di water to see where it measures. Tap may have some desolved salts or other giving ulyou that reading. After using ro/di and you still get an indication of salt well your hydrometer is off.

Get a refractometer, they are more accurate than the hydrometer

Sent from my Galaxy S2 using Tapatalk

Agu · 03/30/2012, 06:17 PM

If you have time tomorrow before the delivery go to your LFS and compare the hydrometer reading to their refractometer/hydrometer and then compensate for any differences.

BTW, if there's enough water in the bags just check their water against your water using the same hydrometer to check both.

If you don't have time to check the hydrometer do the acclimation and don't worry. A .002 difference isn't that big and not a deal killer.

sponger0 · 03/30/2012, 06:26 PM

My advice is get a refractometer lol.

FreakingReefing · 03/30/2012, 06:31 PM

ya another vote for refractometer, well worth the investment!

ken55 · 03/30/2012, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agu

If you have time tomorrow before the delivery go to your LFS and compare the hydrometer reading to their refractometer/hydrometer and then compensate for any differences.

BTW, if there's enough water in the bags just check their water against your water using the same hydrometer to check both.

If you don't have time to check the hydrometer do the acclimation and don't worry. A .002 difference isn't that big and not a deal killer.

Thanks.

Others: Yes I know a refractometer is probably better but an ice storm last January broke the branches off my money tree......... I think it's recovering but so far it's only budding nickels and dimes

cordell · 03/30/2012, 07:12 PM

According to a recent debate here at RC, a hydrometer is pretty consistent over time about how much off it is from the actual salinity. So, if you go check your hydrometer reading against your LFS's refractometer reading, you'll know how much off yours is high or low. Just remember that number (some folks write it on the hydrometer with sharpie)...

ryeguyy84 · 03/30/2012, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cordell

According to a recent debate here at RC, a hydrometer is pretty consistent over time about how much off it is from the actual salinity. So, if you go check your hydrometer reading against your LFS's refractometer reading, you'll know how much off yours is high or low. Just remember that number (some folks write it on the hydrometer with sharpie)...

Yup and it's good for a quick check.

Im14abeer · 03/30/2012, 08:23 PM

If nothing else, bring the qt down. Less harm likely acclimating down a little than up. Do get confirmation though.

cloak · 03/30/2012, 08:36 PM

Do you know what the differnece is between two knuckleheads? Nothing... One person has problems with a plastic hydrometer, the other one can't seem to calibrate the refractometer. It's all up to U...

bnumair · 03/30/2012, 08:56 PM

if u cannot get more ro/di water to bring the salinity down then other choice u have is to drip acclimate the livestock coming in for 1 hr or more. this will adjust the salinity and ph problem and temp will be balance.

Ron Reefman · 03/31/2012, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cordell

According to a recent debate here at RC, a hydrometer is pretty consistent over time about how much off it is from the actual salinity. So, if you go check your hydrometer reading against your LFS's refractometer reading, you'll know how much off yours is high or low. Just remember that number (some folks write it on the hydrometer with sharpie)...

+1
I have both. I calibrate my refractometer every 3-4 months (almost always right on... but not always... just like everybody else's). I compared my hydrometer to my refractometer and it reads 0.004 low. So I added a lable that says "ADD 0.004". I've been using that hydrometer for over 2 years now and it's alway dead on the money with the regularly recalibrated refractometer.

You mentioned being on a budget so take your hydrometer to the LFS or a friend who has a hydrometer and do the comparison and mark the hydrometer acordingly. You can buy a refractometer later when money isn't an issue.

BTW, I've been doing this for 7 years now... when does the money not being an issue thing start to kick in?

ken55 · 03/31/2012, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

Do you know what the differnece is between two knuckleheads? Nothing... One person has problems with a plastic hydrometer, the other one can't seem to calibrate the refractometer. It's all up to U...

I don't mind the knucklehead comment. It's not slander if it's true

ken55 · 03/31/2012, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

BTW, I've been doing this for 7 years now... when does the money not being an issue thing start to kick in?

Beats me. I thought it had something to do with the 50/90

Just joking of course. Money will always be an issue for me.

03/30/2012, 06:11 PM	#1
ken55 A wing and a prayer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoChes Posts: 635	Hydrometer Advice Ok, so i'm trying to do this right (for once) My Live aquaria purchase should be here tomorrow and I'm setting up the QT. I called LA and they told me that they ship at 1.025 so that is the target for my QT. I went to lfs to get water (I don't have my own RO/DI yet) and filled the QT. When I tested it I got a reading of 1.027 That seemed pretty high. So, not sure what to do I filled the hydrometer with sink water expecting it to read 1.000 Instead it gave me 1.002 Am I doing something wrong? It seems simple enough. I looked for bubbles on the swing arm and couldn't find any. Can I assume this thing just reads .002 high and remember to compensate? Thanks for your help, Ken __________________ Current tank info: Last time I saw them they were leaning against a tree in my ex's backyard.

03/30/2012, 06:17 PM	#3
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	If you have time tomorrow before the delivery go to your LFS and compare the hydrometer reading to their refractometer/hydrometer and then compensate for any differences. BTW, if there's enough water in the bags just check their water against your water using the same hydrometer to check both. If you don't have time to check the hydrometer do the acclimation and don't worry. A .002 difference isn't that big and not a deal killer. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

03/30/2012, 08:23 PM	#9
Im14abeer BRILLIANT! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Posts: 406	If nothing else, bring the qt down. Less harm likely acclimating down a little than up. Do get confirmation though. __________________ Veni, vidi, fishi Current Tank Info: Mixed 235 "reefin' in the corner." Reefbreeders 48 & 32. 2x Tunze 6255 on a 7096, Basement sump, Avast cs1, mag 18 return. Chaeto, kalk.

03/30/2012, 08:56 PM	#11
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	if u cannot get more ro/di water to bring the salinity down then other choice u have is to drip acclimate the livestock coming in for 1 hr or more. this will adjust the salinity and ph problem and temp will be balance. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

03/30/2012, 06:17 PM	#2
scooter268 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Houma, La Posts: 36	Use ro/di water to see where it measures. Tap may have some desolved salts or other giving ulyou that reading. After using ro/di and you still get an indication of salt well your hydrometer is off. Get a refractometer, they are more accurate than the hydrometer Sent from my Galaxy S2 using Tapatalk

03/30/2012, 06:26 PM	#4
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	My advice is get a refractometer lol.

03/30/2012, 06:31 PM	#5
FreakingReefing Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: North Tonawanda, New York Posts: 79	ya another vote for refractometer, well worth the investment!

03/30/2012, 07:12 PM	#7
cordell Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Monroe, LA Posts: 655	According to a recent debate here at RC, a hydrometer is pretty consistent over time about how much off it is from the actual salinity. So, if you go check your hydrometer reading against your LFS's refractometer reading, you'll know how much off yours is high or low. Just remember that number (some folks write it on the hydrometer with sharpie)...

03/30/2012, 08:36 PM	#10
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Do you know what the differnece is between two knuckleheads? Nothing... One person has problems with a plastic hydrometer, the other one can't seem to calibrate the refractometer. It's all up to U...