calcium really high??

[airforceb2]

Then I guess you would be fine. Just try and remember where the water line is so you can fill it up to the same point every day or every other day.

 

[fedukeford]

mines not like that theres and inch of glass at the top where theres no water but ill start filling it up to the black

 

[carshark]

check your salinity first!!!!!. don t just start adding water...what do you use to check your salinity?

 

[fedukeford]

i use a hydrometer but its not very acurate i will buy a new one soon. is there ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD BUY INSTEAD??

 

[crazyzeus1]

Buy a refractometer...much more accurate

 

[fedukeford]

how much do they cost?

 

[airforceb2]

Anywhere from $60 to $150. Well worth it though.

 

[mudplayerx]

Doesn't a refractometer measure the amount that light waves bend when passing through a substance? These are used to measure salinity? I'm curious, does it measure the amount that the salt crystals in the water refract light?

 

[fishieness]

hmmm.... i doubt it would be the salt cyrstals..... cause if you have a salinity of 1.026, it is not going to be in crystals. because of water's polar properties, the ions of salt are going to seperate and bond with either the O- or the H+ depending on the charge. there would not be actualy crystals..... but i am not sure how a refractometer works.lol

 

[mudplayerx]

Well you know what I mean The salt is still going to refract light. Salt is NaCl I believe, so it is still going to be a compound when dissolved. Nerds unite!

 

[fishieness]

i wouldnt though would it?! NaCl (table salt/sodium chloride) will become ionized and form an ionic bond with each end of the water. The Na would bond with the O while the Cl would bond with the H. The molecules would form ionic bonds so NaCl is no longer present in the water as a molecule.....right?lol someone correct me if i am mistaken..... but now i am realy wondering if i am wrong or not.....

 

[airforceb2]

I thought it just measured the density of water. I thought salt water is lighter than regular water so you would refract more light the higher the salinity of the sample.

 

[fishieness]

salt water is heavier. cause a the arm on a hydrometer sinks to the bottom in freshwater, but suspends in salt water. this would mean that the density of salt water and the arm of a hydrometer are equal when the arm is perpendicular to the ground on an accurate hydrometer.

 

[airforceb2]

I was second guessing myself. I put heavier first but changed it to lighter. Thanks.

 

[fishieness]

lol yup..... i still dont know how a refractometer works.... it could be from the density..... to tell you the truth, i have never used one, one is next on my list. right after a generator for when winter hits and we loose power.
but i finaly got a job!!!! so that helps.

 

[airforceb2]

Well this thread sure has been hijacked!! Sorry Fedukeford! Plenty of good information though.