get a refractometer!!!
- Thread starter pcircle85
- Start date
N
nereef
Guest
that's quite high. thanks for sharing.
lexluethar
Active Member
Had the same EXACT thing happen to me. Hydrometer consistenly said 1.025. Got a refractometer, callibrated it, and my SG was 1.018. Crazy stuff. Although some may attest that hydrometers are fine, i think a refractometer is a MUST BUY in SW.
sepulatian
Moderator
I absolutely agree! Swing arm hydrometers can be very far off in either direction. Refractometers are definitely a must.
scopus tang
Active Member
fish master
Member
ive had my hydrometer for 5 years.after reading all the posts about refractometers,i got worried that my hydrometer was probaly off.so i bought a refractometer and it read the exact same thing as the hydrometer.i cant speak for reef tanks but for fish only tanks i dont know that they have to be that exact on salinity. ive read thru the posts that people keep their salinity anywhere from 1.016 to 1.026.so to me a hydrometer would be just fine.surely it wont be off that much.the only reason maybe a person should want a refractometer for a fish only would be if their fish are sick,and your doing hyposalinity.just my opinion
lexluethar
Active Member
They reflect light. So at certain salinities, light travels through the water differently. That is the basic idea.
fish master
Member
you put drops of your water on it ,look thru an eye piece.it tells you what the salinity is
pcircle85
Member
Originally Posted by fish master
http:///forum/post/2495200
ive had my hydrometer for 5 years.after reading all the posts about refractometers,i got worried that my hydrometer was probaly off.so i bought a refractometer and it read the exact same thing as the hydrometer.i cant speak for reef tanks but for fish only tanks i dont know that they have to be that exact on salinity. ive read thru the posts that people keep their salinity anywhere from 1.016 to 1.026.so to me a hydrometer would be just fine.surely it wont be off that much.the only reason maybe a person should want a refractometer for a fish only would be if their fish are sick,and your doing hyposalinity.just my opinion
But when your hydrometer says 1.023 and you cant figure out why your fish are dying, a refractometer is worth it
http:///forum/post/2495200
ive had my hydrometer for 5 years.after reading all the posts about refractometers,i got worried that my hydrometer was probaly off.so i bought a refractometer and it read the exact same thing as the hydrometer.i cant speak for reef tanks but for fish only tanks i dont know that they have to be that exact on salinity. ive read thru the posts that people keep their salinity anywhere from 1.016 to 1.026.so to me a hydrometer would be just fine.surely it wont be off that much.the only reason maybe a person should want a refractometer for a fish only would be if their fish are sick,and your doing hyposalinity.just my opinion
But when your hydrometer says 1.023 and you cant figure out why your fish are dying, a refractometer is worth it
perfectdark
Active Member
FWIW fish wont die in salinity levels @ 1.032. What would kill them is the jump to 1.032 from a lower salinity in a very short period of time. eg. if you purchased a fish from a LFS whos salintiy was 1.020 and you acclimated for an hour and a half to your 1.032 this could definatly cause enough stress to kill a fish. However if you have had fish in your tank for a while and your salintiy slowly rose to 1.032 in a matter of a week or more then IMO the cause of the fishes death wasnt the high salinity. Fenner talks about a scenario of a shipment of Lion fish whos holding tank had gone untouched for a few weeks. After skimming the algea off the top of the water they revealed a bunch of very happy lion fish swimming in rather clear water with a salinity of 1.055 and none had the appearance of being stressed.
Quick question too, how many people test the salinity of their LFS water before they acclimate their fish? I actually never have although I know my LFS keeps their salinity at 1.020 and mine is at 1.025 that IMO is a big jump for only an hour and a half of acclimation.
Quick question too, how many people test the salinity of their LFS water before they acclimate their fish? I actually never have although I know my LFS keeps their salinity at 1.020 and mine is at 1.025 that IMO is a big jump for only an hour and a half of acclimation.
lexluethar
Active Member
I haven't tested their salinity, but they SAY they keep it at 1.022 or so. Mine is at 1.026 and I haven't lost a fish yet.
Next purchase i will be testing their water though. That brings up a good question, what should the acclimation process be if you find a difference of salinity above .005?
Next purchase i will be testing their water though. That brings up a good question, what should the acclimation process be if you find a difference of salinity above .005?
perfectdark
Active Member
Originally Posted by LexLuethar
http:///forum/post/2495299
I haven't tested their salinity, but they SAY they keep it at 1.022 or so. Mine is at 1.026 and I haven't lost a fish yet.
Next purchase i will be testing their water though. That brings up a good question, what should the acclimation process be if you find a difference of salinity above .005?
IMO Longer acclimation time..
http:///forum/post/2495299
I haven't tested their salinity, but they SAY they keep it at 1.022 or so. Mine is at 1.026 and I haven't lost a fish yet.
Next purchase i will be testing their water though. That brings up a good question, what should the acclimation process be if you find a difference of salinity above .005?
IMO Longer acclimation time..
fish master
Member
if you look online you can find them for about 40.00.i payed about 60 at lfs
ci11337
Active Member
Originally Posted by pcircle85
http:///forum/post/2493169
I am now a 142% firm believer in the use of a refractometer over a hydrometer.
'member how I was complaining 'bout all my percs dying?
Hydrometer said 1.023SG.
Refractometer finally came, it said 1.032SG
If you dont have a refractometer, get one!
exact same thing happened to me, killed my seahorse...
http:///forum/post/2493169
I am now a 142% firm believer in the use of a refractometer over a hydrometer.
'member how I was complaining 'bout all my percs dying?
Hydrometer said 1.023SG.
Refractometer finally came, it said 1.032SG
If you dont have a refractometer, get one!
exact same thing happened to me, killed my seahorse...
lexluethar
Active Member
This website, bought it for 40 bucks.
big
Active Member
Originally Posted by LexLuethar
http:///forum/post/2495599
This website, bought it for 40 bucks.
Yep it is a good one for the price!
http:///forum/post/2495599
This website, bought it for 40 bucks.
Yep it is a good one for the price!