chellie4u2
Member
oh yeah i figure a good 4 weeks before i put the coral in
HELP... Mixing saltwater question
- Thread starter chellie4u2
- Start date
azfishgal
Active Member
Originally Posted by FlCandy
I have never used a refractometer as I just didn't know about them as my LFS (idiots) did not carry them. I do replace mine every 6 months to yearly and that is expensive as they tent to run 12-20 dollars depending on the store you go to.
Buy a refractometer, you will NEVER go back to a Hydrometer. Worth every penny.
I have never used a refractometer as I just didn't know about them as my LFS (idiots) did not carry them. I do replace mine every 6 months to yearly and that is expensive as they tent to run 12-20 dollars depending on the store you go to.
Buy a refractometer, you will NEVER go back to a Hydrometer. Worth every penny.
larryndana
Active Member
if you can get some more rock in there it will help cycle quicker.
chellie4u2
Member
I had one more piece in there but then as i was walking by i noticed two baby star fish on it so i pulled it out and put it in our existing tank out of fear of hurting them during the cycle, over the course of the night they crawled off and Im going to put it back in in a bit.. I do have a few more really good sized rocks but they have some coral on the and i am assuming that i will hurt them by putting them in now...
larryndana
Active Member
yeah, don't put any in with coral on them until after your cycle. just use as much as you can for your cycle. of course, you can put a piece of raw shrimp or put a few flakes of food in everyday, which will start the cycle.
chellie4u2
Member
What about a small chunk of frozen brine shrimp??
kirkland
Member
Originally Posted by thud
I'll add my two cents.
You can mix the salt at any time, but it will dissolve faster/better in warmer water.
Do not immediately add the water to your tank after mixing, let it sit for at least a day.
Measure the salinity before adding the water to your tank.
Using a refractometer will give you a much accurate reading than a hydrometer will.
I am going to start letting water sit for a day before adding it to a tank but I was just wondering why we do this? What happens to saltwater when it circulates and heats for a day in a container?
I'll add my two cents.
You can mix the salt at any time, but it will dissolve faster/better in warmer water.
Do not immediately add the water to your tank after mixing, let it sit for at least a day.
Measure the salinity before adding the water to your tank.
Using a refractometer will give you a much accurate reading than a hydrometer will.
I am going to start letting water sit for a day before adding it to a tank but I was just wondering why we do this? What happens to saltwater when it circulates and heats for a day in a container?
darthtang aw
Active Member
Oxygen content increases and PH raises and stabilizes. Salt dissolves thoroughly....basically everything you need to have happen
larryndana
Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
Oxygen content increases and PH raises and stabilizes. Salt dissolves thoroughly....basically everything you need to have happen
agreed.
nice avatar Darthtang AW,
.
Oxygen content increases and PH raises and stabilizes. Salt dissolves thoroughly....basically everything you need to have happen
agreed.
nice avatar Darthtang AW,
.
chellie4u2
Member
Hey I just wanna thank everyone for there help and input!!!
tx reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
Wrong, over time your hydrometer will not work as well as it should have. It will start to stick and the plastic on it will begin to slowly erode from cleaning solution and saltwater affect the size of the needle. also at different altitudes it can be affected. While if you know what you are a doing you can using them to almost precision accuracy, the refractometer will not have any variances that you have to worry about besides calibration.
I am not in any way wrong. It is very obvious when the plastic needle hydros start sticking and then you simply replace it.
I used a floating glass hydrometer. Guess what....when I got a refracometer and calibrated it (using calibration fluid) and checked the water in my tank....the salinity was dead on 35.
Wrong, over time your hydrometer will not work as well as it should have. It will start to stick and the plastic on it will begin to slowly erode from cleaning solution and saltwater affect the size of the needle. also at different altitudes it can be affected. While if you know what you are a doing you can using them to almost precision accuracy, the refractometer will not have any variances that you have to worry about besides calibration.
I am not in any way wrong. It is very obvious when the plastic needle hydros start sticking and then you simply replace it.
I used a floating glass hydrometer. Guess what....when I got a refracometer and calibrated it (using calibration fluid) and checked the water in my tank....the salinity was dead on 35.
darthtang aw
Active Member
Originally Posted by TX Reef
I am not in any way wrong. It is very obvious when the plastic needle hydros start sticking and then you simply replace it.
I used a floating glass hydrometer. Guess what....when I got a refracometer and calibrated it (using calibration fluid) and checked the water in my tank....the salinity was dead on 35.
Keyword is glass, I don't know to many LFS that sell a GLASS hydrometer. Most are plastic...
And if it is sticking can you guarantee the edges the needle slides on aren't etched and have a bit more friction...I have used both....My refractometer has never been wrong...the hydrometer has, after years of use the hydrometer losses it's accuracy....
I am not in any way wrong. It is very obvious when the plastic needle hydros start sticking and then you simply replace it.
I used a floating glass hydrometer. Guess what....when I got a refracometer and calibrated it (using calibration fluid) and checked the water in my tank....the salinity was dead on 35.
Keyword is glass, I don't know to many LFS that sell a GLASS hydrometer. Most are plastic...
And if it is sticking can you guarantee the edges the needle slides on aren't etched and have a bit more friction...I have used both....My refractometer has never been wrong...the hydrometer has, after years of use the hydrometer losses it's accuracy....
tx reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by thud
Each reply on this forum should probably automatically begin with "In my opinion, ...."
In my experience and from what I've heard others say, they thought their salinity was at 1.023 with the hydrometer and when testing their water with a refractometer their salinity was actually at 1.015 - 10
What I stated is pure fact.
It is a fact that a floating glass (or even a plastic needle) hydrometer is every bit as accurate as the salt/brine refractometers (these are the refractometers that almost every hobbiest uses).
The reason people see a big difference in the specific gravity of their water when using a refractometer as opposed the hydrometer is due to not making corrections for temperature.
This is the chart I always used....
Each reply on this forum should probably automatically begin with "In my opinion, ...."
In my experience and from what I've heard others say, they thought their salinity was at 1.023 with the hydrometer and when testing their water with a refractometer their salinity was actually at 1.015 - 10
What I stated is pure fact.
It is a fact that a floating glass (or even a plastic needle) hydrometer is every bit as accurate as the salt/brine refractometers (these are the refractometers that almost every hobbiest uses).
The reason people see a big difference in the specific gravity of their water when using a refractometer as opposed the hydrometer is due to not making corrections for temperature.
This is the chart I always used....
darthtang aw
Active Member
That chart doesn't account for elevation which plays a part on how things react....Higher elevations affect it as well...
tx reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
Keyword is glass, I don't know to many LFS that sell a GLASS hydrometer. Most are plastic...
Every pet store I have ever been to that sells saltwater fish has glass floating hydrometers.
The have metal beads in the base and are cylinder shaped with stem that has graduations for specific gravity. The also generaly have a thermometer built in...
Keyword is glass, I don't know to many LFS that sell a GLASS hydrometer. Most are plastic...
Every pet store I have ever been to that sells saltwater fish has glass floating hydrometers.
The have metal beads in the base and are cylinder shaped with stem that has graduations for specific gravity. The also generaly have a thermometer built in...
darthtang aw
Active Member
I am not going to argue any further about this...You claimed the Hydrometers were 100% accurate. I have stated why they aren't and you come back with "well it isn't enough to make a difference". Interesting. The difference between 1.017 and 1.016 when running hyposalinity is HUGE difference. But oh well...you are right and all knowing even though General consensus is opposite of what you say.