question about calibrating my refractometer

[lkb3493]

I just got my new refractometer.

The model number is RHS-10ATC if that helps.
My question is whether or not I am understanding the calibration correctly.

I took some distilled water and some water from my tank in separate containers. I let them reach room temperature so that they were the same temp. I put 2 drops of the distilled on the prism and let it sit 30 seconds. I then looked through the eyepiece and adjusted the line so it was at 0. I then put two drops from my tank on the prism and let that sit for 30 seconds. Did I do this right? :notsure: I am wondering because my plastic swingarm hydrometer says 1.025 but the refractometer says 1.020. WHOA! :scared: Big difference. Before I start to slowly raise the salt content in my tank I want to make sure I know that the number is really that low....
Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[chipmaker]

Well if you used distilled or rodi water and filled up that cover piece the plastic piece flips over and there wa no air bubbles under it, and then after a few, adjusted the scale so it was at zero and secure it in place again. Its zeroed. Thats it. Swing arms are nortorioius for being crazy.......

 

[lkb3493]

Thanks! I just thought it seemed too easy

It looks so much more complicated than it really is. This thing is AWESOME!

 

[zman1]

I don't calibrate every or even every other time --lol. I don't wait that long either to view the result. However, I will say what you are doing would/should work.
Yes, swing arms are not accurate and your refractometer is more accurate. Seeing a difference like that is not unusual. Mine was the opposite, the swing arm was reading lower than the refractometer.