Hydrometer Error - Aquarium Advice

pph_2ppr · 02-26-2008, 08:02 PM

I was one that was naive enough to listen to the guy at the lfs and purchase a hydrometer. After being told that I need something new finially recieved my refractometer in the mail. After calibration I found that the same water which was 1.023 according to the hydro was 1.030 according to the refracto. Have any of you experienced such a large amount of error?(hydrometer has been discarded)

How long should the process while be lowering the SG level? Can I do it in a period of a few days?

Would salt levels this high be enough to have killed my shrimp in acclimation?

Sadielynn · 02-26-2008, 08:33 PM

Yes with levels that high it is possible to kill a shrimp . What were your other perameters specifically your PH ,nitrAtes, and NitrItes that is another ?
I would lower it over a week period by taking out a cup or two and adding fresh water . Checking before and after , if you by chance get to low you can top off with salt water . But you should be ok ...
Mine was off by 1.033 on ours when it read 1.023 upon checking against our refrac we found it to be way higher than it should have been and that was brand new out of the pack , if the rubber stopper inside gets moved just a bit it will throw it out of wack big time ... Refracts are not that expensive compaired to constantly worring or buying new hydrometers on a bimonthly basis

**lando** · 02-26-2008, 08:43 PM

Great advice by Sadie. Best thing you can do is purchase a refractometer...you can find them for under $50 and they are worth their weight in gold! At the very lest, have your hydrometer calibrated against a refracto at the LFS so you know far it is off.

pph_2ppr · 02-26-2008, 10:04 PM

My pH was at 8.0-8.2 ammonia was .25 nitrite was at 0 and nitrate was at 20 ppm. How besides water changes can I get my nitrate levels to go down?

pat8you · 02-26-2008, 10:22 PM

macro algae will export nutrients like nitrates and i think if you have a really deep sand bed 3-4 inches at least that is undisturbed by any kinda of sand sifters or anything eventually it will grow some bacteria that will consume nitrates but i'm not positive on that one someone who knows more will have to correct me on that one if i'm wrong. your ammonia should be at 0 before you put anything in the tank.

fijiwigi · 02-26-2008, 10:31 PM

I also found that my hydromoter was reading 1.024 and I was really at 1.030 glad I bought a refractometer for sure. I can now sleep at night

cmor1701d · 02-27-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pph_2ppr

My pH was at 8.0-8.2 ammonia was .25

Why is your ammonia reading anything above 0?
You should do a PWC now to get that down. A pwc will also help with the nitrates.

**melosu58** · 02-27-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pph_2ppr

How besides water changes can I get my nitrate levels to go down?

Feed every other day and check you PWC water and top off water to make sure you are not adding nitrates yourself. I experienced a big difference between my hydrometer and refractometer.

pph_2ppr · 02-27-2008, 06:20 PM

I'm pretty sure my ammonia is not 0 because I am over stocked or overfeeding. There is two damsels both are pretty small, but I will switch to one clown, firefish, OR goby. I feed roughy 8 small pellets everyday. I have to break them down because the fish are too small to eat them. What should I do differently?

Kurt_Nelson · 02-27-2008, 11:06 PM

And if I recall, you have those two damsels in a 10g that really never properly cycled. That isn't helping matters either.

02-26-2008, 08:02 PM	#1
pph_2ppr Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 164	Hydrometer Error I was one that was naive enough to listen to the guy at the lfs and purchase a hydrometer. After being told that I need something new finially recieved my refractometer in the mail. After calibration I found that the same water which was 1.023 according to the hydro was 1.030 according to the refracto. Have any of you experienced such a large amount of error?(hydrometer has been discarded) How long should the process while be lowering the SG level? Can I do it in a period of a few days? Would salt levels this high be enough to have killed my shrimp in acclimation?

02-26-2008, 08:33 PM	#2
Sadielynn Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,243	Yes with levels that high it is possible to kill a shrimp . What were your other perameters specifically your PH ,nitrAtes, and NitrItes that is another ? I would lower it over a week period by taking out a cup or two and adding fresh water . Checking before and after , if you by chance get to low you can top off with salt water . But you should be ok ... Mine was off by 1.033 on ours when it read 1.023 upon checking against our refrac we found it to be way higher than it should have been and that was brand new out of the pack , if the rubber stopper inside gets moved just a bit it will throw it out of wack big time ... Refracts are not that expensive compaired to constantly worring or buying new hydrometers on a bimonthly basis __________________ Sadielynn Nanoreefing site 2 nanos 10 gallons

02-26-2008, 08:43 PM	#3
lando Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Savage, MN Posts: 7,630 Images: 46	Great advice by Sadie. Best thing you can do is purchase a refractometer...you can find them for under $50 and they are worth their weight in gold! At the very lest, have your hydrometer calibrated against a refracto at the LFS so you know far it is off. __________________ Some people are like slinkies...they serve no real purpose yet can still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs! Have a great day! Brian

02-26-2008, 10:31 PM	#6
fijiwigi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 1,094 Images: 7	I also found that my hydromoter was reading 1.024 and I was really at 1.030 glad I bought a refractometer for sure. I can now sleep at night __________________ The "experts" are many, but the truths are few. "When we have stopped learning, we have stopped listening"

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02-26-2008, 10:04 PM	#4
pph_2ppr Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 164	My pH was at 8.0-8.2 ammonia was .25 nitrite was at 0 and nitrate was at 20 ppm. How besides water changes can I get my nitrate levels to go down?

02-26-2008, 10:22 PM	#5
pat8you Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 485 Images: 5	macro algae will export nutrients like nitrates and i think if you have a really deep sand bed 3-4 inches at least that is undisturbed by any kinda of sand sifters or anything eventually it will grow some bacteria that will consume nitrates but i'm not positive on that one someone who knows more will have to correct me on that one if i'm wrong. your ammonia should be at 0 before you put anything in the tank.

02-27-2008, 06:20 PM	#9
pph_2ppr Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 164	I'm pretty sure my ammonia is not 0 because I am over stocked or overfeeding. There is two damsels both are pretty small, but I will switch to one clown, firefish, OR goby. I feed roughy 8 small pellets everyday. I have to break them down because the fish are too small to eat them. What should I do differently?

02-27-2008, 11:06 PM	#10
Kurt_Nelson Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: WA Posts: 2,171 Images: 28	And if I recall, you have those two damsels in a 10g that really never properly cycled. That isn't helping matters either.