hydrometer

[obsessivelady]

I finally got my new hydrometer & i need help. I have no idea how to read this. Its the tropic marin & its very large. The only instructions it came with are on the case & it says to read the #' by the water. I'm treating a sick tank with puffer & trigger with hyposalinity. My swing arm says 1.09. If anyone can explain this thing to me I would really appreciate it. Thanks.....OBL

 

[timsedwards]

Hmmm have you got a pic of the tropic marine or can you find one on a website you can show me? I think I may have the same? Is it a glass hyrdometer?
A swing arm is no where near accurate enough for hyposalinity, so when it says 1.009 it is countermount to useless im afraid.
Beth and Terry are experts in this!
Tim.

 

[thomas712]

Specific gravity is a measurement used to determine the amount of salt that exists in salt water. When a hydrometer is filled with water, the arm will raise to the appropriate ppm (parts per million,) therefore telling you what the specific gravity of the water is.
In the marine aquarium a specific gravity of 1.021 - 1.024 is considered ideal. Generally, when water evaporates from the aquarium, specific gravity will rise. When specific gets too high, add fresh water; and when it gets too low, add more salt.
HTH
Thomas

 

[beth]

I would suggest that you get a refractometer. Swing arm hydrometers are so off the target, that I wouldn't even use it to measure regualar salinity readings.

 

[broomer5]

Sounds like you have a swing arm, and have recently purchased a Tropic Marin glass floating hydrometer ???
As Beth said - a refractometer is the best tool for measuring specific gravity when doing this treatment.
Here's a link.
Click on me
Is this the one you have ?

 

[marinerock]

Hey OB....
I have the Tropic Marin Hydrometer.....if you bought the
same one as mine or any other hydrometer, I think they
are all read the same way...
Place the Hydrometer in the water at a point that
you can read the numbers at the TOP of the hydrometer
(the skinny glass tube that sticks out of the water)
where it meets the water line in your tank....
let the hydrometer settle for 15 seconds and then read
the number that the water line is at...
this will give you the specific gravity of the water....
Regards....
Marinerock

 

[obsessivelady]

Yes, the link that you posted is the same one I have. I figured out the problem, it won't work in my sick tank as its to small & it drops right to the bottom of the tank. I did pick up a smaller one at my local pet store today & that one reads 1.08. My swing arm reads 1.09. So what do you think. My fish look good & are active & eating very good. Frozen mix soaked in garlic thawed in fridge & pellets soaked in garlic for 1/2 hr to hr before I feed them. Tonigt I gave Puffer some freeze dried krill & he chowed it. He always did love that. They seem to be quite healthy & I'd like to start counting there 3 weeks today as I will finish filling my new 155 this week end & add salt & get the main filter running. I have a fluval 404 running now to move the water & a protein skimmer that I'm hoping will take care of any phosphates. Was thinking of letting that run for up to a week & then add my live rock. Then of course Spot (Puffer) & Trig will be the first fish to go in after it cycles. I also have a chocolate chip star & a carpet annenome in another tank that will need to go in. So what does everyone think? I really appreciate the help. OBL

 

[marinerock]

Hey OB....
Are you sure your Floating Hydrometer reads 1.008
and the swing arm reads 1.009....because usually the
swing arms are off by alot more than that...
After you use the both of them...wash them off with
fresh water from the sink tap....
Check the salinity again with the floating hydrometer and if that is the correct reading, then you are fine...
Also, you shouldnt be using a Protein Skimmer during your
cycle, you should wait a good 3 months before using it....but
that is just my opinion....
As far as soaking the food in garlic, it should soak at
least 1 hr. prior to feeding .... so that your food will have
more potent garlic agents in it, that is why most people
on here soak larger batches of food and place it in the
refrigerator, and feed their fish with it for a week or two...
the pellets are perfect for makin larger batches of food as
they stay together even after 2 weeks in the refrigerator...
Regards....
Marinerock

 

[obsessivelady]

Hey Marinerock......I just rinsed both out real good in fresh running water & took readings again. The hydrometer reads 1.09 this am & the swing arm reads 1.08. So it's still just off by 1 but reversed this am. My fish look great. I didn't realize that you could soak the pellets in the fridge & keep them. How much water? I have a batch of frozen with the garlic mix that I've had in the fridge. I will mix up some pellets & leave in the fridge than too. My fish do love it. Thanks OBL

 

[obsessivelady]

Oh yeah, the protein skimmer isn't skimming yet as tank isn't full. Just have it running to move water until I get tank full & can get the main filter running. I figured the more water moving in there the better as its taking time to fill this new tank. Using all RO water to fill it. So your saying than I should shut the skimmer down when I start cycling. Thanks for the info I will shut it down. OBL

 

[marinerock]

Hey OB....
Use the reading from the Floating Hydrometer and base
your readings on that one only....
Since you have the Floating Hydrometer, just keep the
swing arm as a spare...the Floating Hydrometer is very
accurate...
For your garlic question:
Just enough water to cover the pellets and garlic...
Make a nice batch...maybe for 1-2 weeks...
the longer the garlic permeates the food, the more potent
it becomes...the fresher the garlic the better also, garlic
lasts and stays fresh a long time in the refrigerator,
a clove of garlic can be kept for many months fresh in
the fridge....
You can also throw a couple of powerheads in the tank
to move the water .......
Regards...
Marinerock