Refractometer

[Amicus]

I just received the refractometer they sell at Bulk Reef Supply and attempted to calibrate it as per the instructions and I cannot get the blue and white to line up at zero. Can anyone help me with this?

 

[Mrc8858]

You shouldnt be calibrating to zero they should have sent this with the meter

 

[Mrc8858]

This would help haha

 

[Amicus]

I used the calibration fluid and it started at 1.03 sg. I turned the screw to try ang get the areas to line up and now I can't.

 

[Mrc8858]

What do you mean you cant? Drop the fluid onto the lense and then adjust until it reads 35ppt and your done lol very simple.

 

[Amicus]

Do you mean 1.35sg?

 

[Amicus]

I mean 1.035

 

[Mrc8858]

No 35 parts per thousand.. says it right on the bottle lol let me check real quick to see the sg

 

[Amicus]

Nowhere in the instructions does it mention 35ppt.

 

[Mrc8858]

Ya like I thought its natural sea water your meter should read sg on the left and ppt on the right. 1.026/35ppt

 

[Amicus]

There are two scales on the view, the sg and what looks like a fraction on the right side. Is the right side to be used for calibration?

 

[Mrc8858]

Look at the bottle of calibration fluid

 

[Mrc8858]

There are two scales on the view, the sg and what looks like a fraction on the right side. Is the right side to be used for calibration?

Yes the right side is your ppt (parts per thousand)

 

[Mrc8858]

This is what you got right?

 

[Amicus]

Thanks very much, I thought I broke it or something. I'm a newbie. So my Reading after calibration was 1.029. I should top off the water, right?

 

[Mrc8858]

Yep top off with Ro/Di but before you do remember this when you calibrate it give it 45 seconds to sit to adjust to room temp. Then calibrate, now when testing water wait 30-45 seconds for that temp to adjust to room temp because water at the same salinity at different temps will give different readings.

 

[Amicus]

This is what you got right?

Yes, that's the one I got.

 

[Mrc8858]

Yes, that's the one I got.

Your good to go then do you have a build thread?

 

[Amicus]

I thought about it but the tank was kind of a last minute purchase. I got it with water and rock and it was already cycled. Isn't to late to start one?

 

[Mrc8858]

You don't have to name it a build thread.. I kinda just did mine on the sidelines but now that I'm more active in the AA community I opened up my "Mrc's 46 gallon BF thread" which I can now keep my updates and little chit chat and question in a single thread which will help keep clutter down in the forums and allow you to build up more and more followers for a larger pool of answers and advice