Blog Comments

i use rodi to calubrate my refractometer..however the little screw thing has rusted stuck...the good news is it rusted at 0 when i have rodi on it....which means this really isnt good news at all....hmmmmmm my cat loves to throw if off my aquarium stand...chances are its not reading accuratly anymore, i guess i should look in to a new one

I think it is important that we all know how to properly use and maintain our equipment. It is useless if we don't. I have one of those marine depot refractometer's, it says in the instructions to use distilled water and calibrate to 1.000. Yes, calibration solution is manufactured in a controlled setting(we all hope), but distilled water is just as accurate in my opinion if you know its quality. Moral of the story, read the instructions, some use distilled water and some use calibration fluid, know your equipment.

Even though I did order the D-D one, I have my doubts on whether the brine vs seawater refractometer makes an actual difference as long as the user calibrates it with a 35 ppt seawater-based calibration solution; both refractometers calibrated with that solution will read exactly the same at 35 ppt. I can see that the D-D one would be more accurate than a regular refractometer if both were calibrated with RO/DI, but that's not what we're doing (hopefully).

The D&D refractometer is designed for 35ppt calibration, considered one of the best choices you can make.

It was a Marine Depot refractometer, so it doesn't appear to have a specific brand on it. The new one I bought is was recommended to me by some members of my local club, called D-D Refractometer.

Originally Posted by JimM

No disrespect... but hypo = low... hyper = high... at least in the world of fire and EMS sciences.

im pretty sure that why he said that when his refractometer was reading 35 ppt his tank was really at 30 ppt which would be hypo, like he said. no disrespect

I'm glad you brought this up. Please continue to spread this information because it seems like everyone uses RO or Distilled Water to calibrate and that is incorrect.



As I stated in the Water Quality article:

Salinity - The best tool to measure salinity is a refractometer that has been properly calibrated. These cost $40 and up, and the 35ppt calibration solution is less than $10. A few drops on the glass slide allows you to view the salinity precisely. The target range for a reef tank is 1.026 sg or 35ppt. Buy a refractometer and use it often.

My TDS is at 2.

Blown- I get what you mean by wet skimming affecting salinity in between water changes, however I do multiple small water changes a day, so from what I have seen so far my salinity is rock solid no matter what, even if it is at 30!

gerbilbox - Out of curiosity which refractometer did you previously have and which one did you buy?

No disrespect... but hypo = low... hyper = high... at least in the world of fire and EMS sciences.

Another tip, use a refractometer that's can actually keep calibration for a decent period of time. I grew frustrated with mine when it would slip by a few ppt just by a gentle bump or merely putting it down on the table. My new non-POS refractometer is arriving tomorrow!

While I agree you should calibrate your refractor, I don't think running a tank at 30 ppm is hypo-saline. At least not on my refractometer, 30 ppm is equal to 1.022-1.023. I thought Hypo-saline was like 1.012-1.015 range. I would check your RO/DI water to make sure TDS is 0 or near 0. I've used both RO/DI and the calibration solution and both have always equaled the same readings, UNTIL the TDS creeps up then it changes. I wouldn't think STN would be caused by a 5ppm swing, you can see that between waterchanges if you have a good skimmer and have to dump it out regularly. I'd be double checking the TDS.

Raising my hand!!!!! I do.

Now I just have to drill some holes and then move it in. yay!!!

WOW.... drool...
That is amazing.

Man, that's some cool stuff for sure. And, you are right about pricey. I could finish reefing out my tank for how much that cost. But, if I could afford it I would probably go for it! Seems to make tank maintenance a little easier. Shoot, I have to wait for my BD or Christmas yo get a reefkeeperor something....hahahhah.

Jason- What can I say. I like to live on the edge! That was the set of outlets my old tank was hooked up to, which was taken down yesterday. I plan on just disconnecting that outlet and putting on a blank plate to cover the hole today.

Hat- I will work on getting a couple FTS pics put up. The rock still is quite matured but it does look a lot better.

Wow, nice setup! Very clean electrical panel too. Can you put a FTS in your album, would love to see how that awesome rock-work matured.

Nice to have pics up for everyone here Ryan.

Under your carbon and GFO reactors I saw the outlet directly underneath. Any chance you might want to throw a waterproof box for that just in case situation? Just a thought.

Tank looks awesome though.

Very, very nice. I'm glad you have these up, I'm building my own system that's a 90 gallon with a 50 frag and 55 sump. I need some "look at what I COULD be doing" pics for when my wife calls my setup too big.

OH WOW! That must really suck! I don't know how you will manage!

Weirdest thing happened to me today, I was supposed to get my new 150 gallon Lee Mar tank but it never arrived. Turns out Lee Mar managed to chip the front pane of glass. Then I go on this forum and see your post. What a weird coincidence!!!!!

Yeah, yeah Ryan....

Just glad I get to look forward to a whole week of hearing about this until I get my tank.