mrg02d
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Hello all,
I have been having trouble with my refractometer for months now and finally decided to give in and ask for help.
I have a SmartReef refractometer from TBaquatics. There are two problems I am having:
1-Calibration wont EVER hold. Basically, it has a screw and some nut that you use to lock the calibration with. I use 35ppt fluid and adjust the line to the right mark on the screen. I then lock the nut down so the set screw cant move. I check again that the line hasnt moved, clean the prism and plastic screen with DI water, dry, and then attempt to check my tanks salinity. More often than not, I am alarmed at either way too high or way too low salinity. I check the refractometer with some more 35ppt fluid and find that the dang line has wondered off signitficantly even though the screw cant move! If I try enough, I can get an accurate reading on tank water and PWC water.
2-More often than not, the line is blury or there are multiple lines. This makes the reading useless! If I push down hard on the plastic screen that goes over the prism, the line will sometimes clean up. Letting go causes chaos again!
Help! I am going crazy! This was a $50.00 refractometer! It shouldnt be having these problems, right? I am about to go back to my hydromter as at least its consistent.
Ideas?Tips? Anyone have these issues before? This thing was a problem from day one but it was my first one so I figured I was doing something wrong.
Thanks!
Matt
I have been having trouble with my refractometer for months now and finally decided to give in and ask for help.
I have a SmartReef refractometer from TBaquatics. There are two problems I am having:
1-Calibration wont EVER hold. Basically, it has a screw and some nut that you use to lock the calibration with. I use 35ppt fluid and adjust the line to the right mark on the screen. I then lock the nut down so the set screw cant move. I check again that the line hasnt moved, clean the prism and plastic screen with DI water, dry, and then attempt to check my tanks salinity. More often than not, I am alarmed at either way too high or way too low salinity. I check the refractometer with some more 35ppt fluid and find that the dang line has wondered off signitficantly even though the screw cant move! If I try enough, I can get an accurate reading on tank water and PWC water.
2-More often than not, the line is blury or there are multiple lines. This makes the reading useless! If I push down hard on the plastic screen that goes over the prism, the line will sometimes clean up. Letting go causes chaos again!
Help! I am going crazy! This was a $50.00 refractometer! It shouldnt be having these problems, right? I am about to go back to my hydromter as at least its consistent.
Ideas?Tips? Anyone have these issues before? This thing was a problem from day one but it was my first one so I figured I was doing something wrong.
Thanks!
Matt