is this possible refractometer vs hydrometer results!?!!?

[murph145]

ok well i have been having some issues lately keeping my sps healthy they have been dying of recently
everything esle checked fine ive been confused to whats going on here
calcium alkalinity phosphates all in check
pleanty of flow and light
my hydrometer said a specific gravity of 1.025
well i purchased my first refractometer today used it and tested it against my hydrometer
hydrometer reading 1.025 again
refractometer reading 1.029!!!!!
can this be possible????-?!?
is this why my corals have been suffering???
the softies and lps seem ok its the sps that have been dying off
please tell me this cant be so

 

[emperor11]

Originally Posted by murph145
ok well i have been having some issues lately keeping my sps healthy they have been dying of recently
everything esle checked fine ive been confused to whats going on here
calcium alkalinity phosphates all in check
pleanty of flow and light
my hydrometer said a specific gravity of 1.025
well i purchased my first refractometer today used it and tested it against my hydrometer
hydrometer reading 1.025 again
refractometer reading 1.029!!!!!
can this be possible????-?!?
is this why my corals have been suffering???
the softies and lps seem ok its the sps that have been dying off
please tell me this cant be so
Wow...Murph, you are just having bad luck lately. Like my grandma always said, "Bad things come in threes." You're still up for one more bad thing. :scared: But yes, hydrometers are VERY irreliable. SPS are very sensitive to all levels, including salt...and 1.029 is wayyyyy high. Slowly bring it down to about 1.024-1.025. If everything else is in check, they should do much better!! And, eventually, the ones that are suffering will come back to full health.
~Emperor

 

[mr.125]

Its very possible Murph145...
seems to be the new thing; Refractometeres give a more precise reading.
When i can afford to spend more than $20 a month on my 125g I think i will buy one...lol

 

[murph145]

yeah i cant believe the salt level it came back at!
i tested 3 times all the same so im slowly gona lower it over a few water changes and things should then take off like crazy i would think with all my other levels correct
but im moving them over to my new tank soon anyways!
it cost me $50 but was worth it if its correct

 

[emperor11]

Originally Posted by murph145
yeah i cant believe the salt level it came back at!
i tested 3 times all the same so im slowly gona lower it over a few water changes and things should then take off like crazy i would think with all my other levels correct
but im moving them over to my new tank soon anyways!
it cost me $50 but was worth it if its correct
If ya ask me, it was the best 50 bucks I've ever spent on anything. Keep us updated on that new tank Murph! How big will it be? Also, are you planning to do mostly SPS?

 

[murph145]

its a lee mar 180
heres a pic
yeah i cant believe the salt is way off
is it possible for the salt to be so high but yet my softies and lps are still doing fine??
are sps that sensitive but the others not
deffinately a good 50 bucks in my mind!!!
and yes its guna be mainly an sps tank with the softies i currently have but this tank is sooo much bigger they will fit in nicely i think.... if not ill trade them

 

[emperor11]

Yes. SPS are THAT sensitive. Nice tank! Can't wait to see it set up! One suggestion, if you dont mind giving up whatever LPS corals you have, get a Emperor Angel or Blueface Angel. If you really dont want to give them up, get a Majestic Angelfishor Regal Angel. All I am saying is that NO tank that big is complete without a large angel! If you have any questions on any big angel, let me know. I know a lot about them.

 

[murph145]

very cool maybe u can help me out im going away for the weekend but would like an angel is there some that wont nip at my clams and LPS or not?

 

[emperor11]

Well, NO large angel is guaranteed. The safest one would be the Majestic Angelfish. Only about 1 out of every 500 will touch ANYTHING. Here's a link on them. Let me know if you have any further questions!
http://link violation

 

[murph145]

wow very cool !!!
i like!
it would be nice to have a nice show fish in this tank
do they coexist with smaller fish too??
how big do they get??
very beautiful fish

 

[emperor11]

Originally Posted by murph145
wow very cool !!!
i like!
it would be nice to have a nice show fish in this tank
do they coexist with smaller fish too??
how big do they get??
very beautiful fish
Yep, they are very, very peaceful. I have kept them with neon gobies with no problem. I have never, ever seen any aggression from this species. People say they are hard to feed, but they are the complete opposite. They are one of the smaller big angels...maxing out at around 7-8". I would HIGHLY recommend it.
~Emperor

 

[emperor11]

Oh, and expect to pay about 75-95 dollars for a small juvenile. Its kind of steep, but trust me...its more than worth it!

 

[emperor11]

Another common name for it is Blue Girdled Angelfish. The scientific name/latin name is Pomacanthus Navarchus.

 

[essop3]

Since you have a refractometer you can now use salinity. It is a more exact science. This chart shows how temperature can effect SG.

 

[lion_crazz]

Yes, I think refractometers are an invaluable tool to this hobby. No hobbiest should really go without one.

 

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by murph145
please tell me this cant be so

Murph, Are you using the swing arm type hydrometer or a floating glass hydrometer? I've seen 6 new swing arm hydrometers dipped in the same tank, all 6 had different readings..Even then I don't think the high SG is your problem.
FWIW, if you value your sps you'll be very carefull in the fish you choose. Large Angels are a poor choice for sps tank.
Mark (aka golfish)

 

[videoguy]

Good to see your back on the boards Mark. Been awhile since I've seen you post. Thanks again for the kalk. Don't know who it is do ya?

 

[emperor11]

Originally Posted by bigmac
Murph, Are you using the swing arm type hydrometer or a floating glass hydrometer? I've seen 6 new swing arm hydrometers dipped in the same tank, all 6 had different readings..Even then I don't think the high SG is your problem.
FWIW, if you value your sps you'll be very carefull in the fish you choose. Large Angels are a poor choice for sps tank.
Mark (aka golfish)
Actually, large angels are one of the BEST choices for a SPS tank.

 

[lubeck]

Murph,
I got my fractometer for Christmas, When i first checked my water level i had to do three times. It read 1.020, while my hydometer read 1.o25. I could not believe how inaccuarate. Anyways I have my own alk and cal problems right now and they suck. i just picked up two new sps corals too, and now i can't get my calcium up over 300. Its discouraging

 

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by VideoGuy
Good to see your back on the boards Mark. Been awhile since I've seen you post. Thanks again for the kalk. Don't know who it is do ya?

Well, you don't spend much time at Reefland or --, otherwise you would know I've been there posting, plus I've been spending a lot of time trying to get that stupid large angel fish out of my tank J/K (I know better then that)
Hmmm, kalk? you either must be a local or Chris...naw, Chris wouldn't post here anymore. So your a local

There are lots of guys who want me to do that again. I've been trying but its hard to get coke to give up 2000 pounds of Kalk for personal uses.
I give up, again.
Murph, if you put a large angel in your tank, there's going to come a time when you say "I wish I would have listen to that" ....well, you know.
VideoGuy, If your a local, am I going to see you at Tyree's Coral Farmers Market tomorrow?