sslak
01/08/2011, 02:20 PM
Ok, so I always hear "check salinity with a calibrated refractometer" and I figure, duh!, that's a no brainer. I've been doing that for years...I skipped the whole swingarm hydrometer phase and went straight for a trusted brand of refractometer. It's the best way to go, everyone knows that!
Well, for the last 4-5 months I've been struggling to keep my SPS colored up. It grows, but it's all pale and brown...the more sensative stuff was pretty bad looking.
Lately I notice my LPS and even frogspawn not looking good...ok WHAT IS UP? I'm no noob! I'm running GFO, carbon, I'm 2-part dosing. My Ca and Alk are where they belong...I have a good skimmer and I do water changes with quality salt and RO/DI that reads 0tds. I've got quality lights, with new bulbs.
So I'm having a beer, doing my water tests and I misplace my refractomter. Whatever, I'll go grab my brothers out of the box in the basementq quick. Wait a second...this batch of water I just checked was way closer to 1.026 on mine...why does this one say it's so low?
I finally find my refractometer...and I get a different reading! Uh oh.
Hrmmm. I grab the bottle of calibration fluid (yeah, I had it...just never used it). My brothers checks out at 1.024...so I tweak it a little.
Mine reads waaay low. Yikes! I better check the tank!!! :thumbdown
My reef is running at 1.020...
So, I've done a large water change using 1.031 water and I'll put some saltwater in my topoff to raise it back to 1.026
Moral of the story...learn from my noobness!
CALIBRATE CALIBRATE CALIBRATE!
Just because it's always worked fine doesn't mean it isn't drifting! I feel like an idiot. Hopefully no real harm has been done...looking forward to watching my SPS regain colors. *fingers crossed*
Well, for the last 4-5 months I've been struggling to keep my SPS colored up. It grows, but it's all pale and brown...the more sensative stuff was pretty bad looking.
Lately I notice my LPS and even frogspawn not looking good...ok WHAT IS UP? I'm no noob! I'm running GFO, carbon, I'm 2-part dosing. My Ca and Alk are where they belong...I have a good skimmer and I do water changes with quality salt and RO/DI that reads 0tds. I've got quality lights, with new bulbs.
So I'm having a beer, doing my water tests and I misplace my refractomter. Whatever, I'll go grab my brothers out of the box in the basementq quick. Wait a second...this batch of water I just checked was way closer to 1.026 on mine...why does this one say it's so low?
I finally find my refractometer...and I get a different reading! Uh oh.
Hrmmm. I grab the bottle of calibration fluid (yeah, I had it...just never used it). My brothers checks out at 1.024...so I tweak it a little.
Mine reads waaay low. Yikes! I better check the tank!!! :thumbdown
My reef is running at 1.020...
So, I've done a large water change using 1.031 water and I'll put some saltwater in my topoff to raise it back to 1.026
Moral of the story...learn from my noobness!
CALIBRATE CALIBRATE CALIBRATE!
Just because it's always worked fine doesn't mean it isn't drifting! I feel like an idiot. Hopefully no real harm has been done...looking forward to watching my SPS regain colors. *fingers crossed*