How to use refractometer properly.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

I've this using this refractometer for 3 weeks now.. Calibrate with DI water, place drops of aquarium water into the prism.. Seems correct.. But I'm very concern about my refrac, I'm not sure weather does it have Temperature Correction. The manual seems useless. Whenever I look through the hole, i could see 20 degree celcius... Must i correct the temperature of the water or something? My tank is running at 26.5 Degree.. I scared that salinity n Specific Gravity is affected by the temperature diffrences. But still I'm not sure weather the refrac has ATC.

Any help on how to deal with this?

[RockyBoy]

Nothing is very accurate. At least this is better than the floating ones.

What salinity do you want?

[MadScientist]

I've this using this refractometer for 3 weeks now.. Calibrate with DI water, place drops of aquarium water into the prism.. Seems correct.. But I'm very concern about my refrac, I'm not sure weather does it have Temperature Correction. The manual seems useless. Whenever I look through the hole, i could see 20 degree celcius... Must i correct the temperature of the water or something? My tank is running at 26.5 Degree.. I scared that salinity n Specific Gravity is affected by the temperature diffrences. But still I'm not sure weather the refrac has ATC.

Any help on how to deal with this?

Calibrate and check with 1.024/5/6 solution. You can always use a compensation table if your instrument has no ATC. If you need help with calibration, you can throw the instrument at me, I can help you to calibrate.

[John Deroe Kenedy]

Its ok guys... I found out that its ATC... I thought ATC was a brand.. its actually Auto Tempreature Correction lol

[MadScientist]

Its ok guys... I found out that its ATC... I thought ATC was a brand.. its actually Auto Tempreature Correction lol

Even with atc, you still have to calibrate to get sufficiently accurate readings

[John Deroe Kenedy]

I thought using RO/DI water is sufficiemt for calibrating

[mjck]

The instructions will ask you to calibrate with distilled water at 20degrees C. Distilled water should be easy to get. But a stable 20 deg room temperature ... not so. Easier to use std salinity solution and cal at room temperature .