difference between specific gravity and salinity?

[billyv]

What is the difference between salinity and specific gravity? What are the differences between a refractometer and a specific gravity meter? I am setting up a QT, and plan to use hydrosalinity treatments to cure an outbreak of ick. These are questions that have come up in reading other peoples posts. Thanks.

 

[kris walker]

I thought a refractometer and specific gravity meter were the same thing, but I could be wrong.
The "specific gravity" is a measure of the density of your water relative to the density of fresh water. It turns out that the salinity is the dominant factor that controls the specific gravity. So when one goes up, the other does too.
Recommended s.g. is 1.022-1.025 for reefs.
There are tables to convert from specific gravity to salinity, but you really never need to, so it is rarely done.
EDIT: you prob. already read, but for hypo, take salinity (s.g.) down to 1.009, preferrably but not mandatory over 2 days.
kris

 

[luke]

I HATE THE INTERNET SOMETIMES!!!!
I wrote you a long almost report on salinity Specific gravity, hydrometers, and refractometers... pressed submit... and my connection died before it sent. But after it cleared my screen <img src="graemlins//yell.gif" border="0" alt="[yell]" /> <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> <img src="graemlins//yell.gif" border="0" alt="[yell]" />
Oh well
Luke

 

[billyv]

Thanks guys for the info, and the attempt on Luke's part. I no longer want to be "that guy" who wonders why things sometimes don't go my way in the reef tank.

 

[kris walker]

Yea Luke, that happened to me before as well. The problem seems worse with Netscape for me for some reason. IE4 seems to have that info cached, so i can hit back and get it if it doesn't go thru the first time.
cheers,
kris

 

[drkegel]

IE4!?!?!?! Wow, I didn't think anyone used anything that old anymore! IMO, IE 5 and 6 are mucho improovo, especially for viewing sites with frames/java scripts.

 

[kris walker]

What can I say? I'm behind the times with windows. I still prefer the old Win98 to any of these fancy new operating systems. But a friend at work hounds me to death about it, saying it stinks compared to Win2000 Prof. Maybe I'll learn some day.
kris