Beth Hypo info

[almarktool]

Beth,
I wanted to jot down some notes and the exact way to do hypo and what buffers i might need perhaps you have something written down already that you could share, doing searches on the BB usually gets me locked up or time out error, also i picked up a pinpoint monitor i thought i heard you say u were going to get one save your money they are not that great do you have any idea on where to purchase a top of the line refractometer?
Thanks
Mark
Almarktool@aol.com

 

[beth]

I do have the procedures for hypo written, and I can post them for you here, but I've posted them a few times already here on the BB. When I get home, I'll get it and post again.
Yeah, I did get the pinpoint. I'm not really satisfied with it and I'm thinking of returning it. First, I used the ac adapter rather then the battery and I could not get a "settled" reading. Meaning that the readings kept jumping round non-stop...including when submerged in the calibration fluid. I tried various things, including testing my water in a bottle [remove water from the tank & placed in container] under the premise that the readings were being effected by bubbles in my tank. Well the readings were still jumping around like crazy. Then I called the manufacturer and spoke to the guy who makes these. He told me that the adapter and the electrical setup in my house may be in conflict??? Huh? Well, ok, maybe. He also seemed a bit miffed, and commented that he may omit the decimal reading on the monitor in future models. I guess he thought I was being obsessive about the decimal values jumping around. I installed a battery, and the jumping around readings did settle down. However, the reading will still be different [in the same tank] just by moving the probe to another location in the tank. I bought the monitor from a competitor, so I won't mention the name, but they have offered to take the monitor back for refund or exchange. Which I might do. May play around with it more.
Ed [anthem] uses the monitor and seems to have good results with his, so, it may just be my monitor, or, perhaps, my tank...or maybe it is just my whole house that is messed up! LOL Perhaps I should post this over in the Equipment Forum and see what other members' experiences are. What trouble are you having with yours?
I don't have a refract, yet...though I am planning to get one, as well as a high grade glass hydrometer. Aquamarine sells a refract [for about the same price as the salinity monitor]. I was thinking of getting all of the basic instruments, since it is such a talked about subject here, and see what all the fuss is about.

 

[almarktool]

Beth,
i had the same problem with the readings bouncing around alot, (i was using the battery only) that and i had a air bubble once which nearly gave me a heart attack, the unit seems to be well made but in the long run i think it might have too many factors to compensate for air, temp, water movement from a power head etc, i am def going to be returning mine that is why i asked about the refractometers i have used them before in my machine shop for water soluable oil concentrations and they are always fast easy to use , not to mention just wipe it off and it is clean, no nead to run the probe under the sink trying to get the salt residue out like i was doing last night
well that's my review :
MARK
Thanks for doing a repost on the hypo hopefully i will be able to find it

 

[almarktool]

Beth,
Do u have a link on Aquamarine?

 

[beth]

No, I don't...and I was looking for it. So, if anyone has a link, please post it.
Yeah, this monitor is getting on my nerves, I think I will return it.

 

[almarktool]

anyone out there have a refractometer and a link to where it was purchased i have found a few but not sure on the differences have seen them for 105.00 and as high as 247.00 the both seem to have atc and both SG and PPT readings

 

[beth]

Here is the hypo write up:
O.S.T. stands for Osmotic Shock Therapy which is commonly referred to in the hobby as hyposalinity [water that is deficient in sea salt]. Essentially, O.S.T. simply places the infectors [Cryptocaryon parasite---ick] in an environment in which they cannot survive while the host, (or infected fish) can. This remedy WILL NOT work in reef systems or invert tanks as it incorporates lowering the specific gravity of the entire system [hospital tank] to 1.009.
To drop the salinity, this is done as you would do a normal water change. However, you are simply replenishing your tank with fresh RO/DI water---not salt water! Monitor the lowering closely so as to not reduce it too fast. Usually over a period of 48 hours is fine. By lowering the salinity, you will also be lowering the osmotic pressure of the water. Fish tolerate this treatment very well, in fact, once the water becomes hyposaline, you will likely note a significant improvement in your fish health and appetite. There is no reason to fear this treatment.
Your goal is to drop the specific gravity to 1.009 [48-hrs] gradually. Once all signs of the parasite are gone, then keep your fish in this hypo-saline water for 3-4 wks. If all is well, then you can gradually [over the course of 4-5 days] bring the specific gravity [salinity] back up to normal levels . If all is well after a week, then return the fish to their main tank.
As for buffering, you can use baking soda. Or, if you want to spend more money for the same thing, any quality hobby buffer will be fine.

 

[almarktool]

Thanks Beth