Getting frustrated ith the water cycling!

[yaneo]

Hi, guys! I getting very frustrated at getting the correct S.G of the seawater. i had been cycling my tank for a few days and had been using the hydrometer to chk the SG of the water. At first, i will get this particular reading and to make sure the SG is right, i empty the water from the hydrometer and immediately take another reading and it's different! I allow a day time b4 i take another reading. Nw i wonder even i get the correct reading, it will go off the next time i take another reading on another day. What will happen if my SG is correct and i put in my live rocks and fishes and the reading changes again? What must i do?

[ciaolong]

maybe the salt wasnt mixed well usaly u airate the water while mixing the salt for maybe a few hours be4 using it

[RAV-65]

Bro,

to begin with, the hydrometer isn't a good tool to measure your SG... it's too prone to erroneous readings... Suggest u use a refractometer... but if you insist on ur hydrometer, flush it with warm water to allow the salt residue trapped in it to be dissolved...

[AquaRa]

Evaporation. Salt wasnt well mixed.

[dleecool]

Hi bro,

Where u stay? If u r at the west, I can borrow u my refractometer to test ur water.

Cheers!!

[hammy]

sometime the bubbles attached to the hydrometer might give inaccurate reading .

get a refractometer as suggested . although it might be exorbitant as compare to the hydrometer.

[Kelmen]

In short, forget about the hydrometer. Go get a refractormeter.

[damienkee]

some time we need to do it in simple!

[White Pointer]

I normally let the salinity fluctuate between 1.022 to 1.024. As I top up water everyday due to using fan...evaporation....I will check every week. So far it always around this area.

cheers

[yaneo]

Thks for the advice!

[blue1288]

For those who own the refractometer...is it difficult to use?

[Eric]

Hi, guys! I getting very frustrated at getting the correct S.G of the seawater. i had been cycling my tank for a few days and had been using the hydrometer to chk the SG of the water. At first, i will get this particular reading and to make sure the SG is right, i empty the water from the hydrometer and immediately take another reading and it's different! I allow a day time b4 i take another reading. Nw i wonder even i get the correct reading, it will go off the next time i take another reading on another day. What will happen if my SG is correct and i put in my live rocks and fishes and the reading changes again? What must i do?

Save the trouble, just buy Natural SeaWater from LFS.

Eric

[abflug22]

but wats a good reading?

the refractormeter is a good instrument... highly recommended

[Kelmen]

For those who own the refractometer...is it difficult to use?

Its not difficult to use.

Basically just drop 2 waters, find a nice lighting source, and peek into the scope, get reading.

Rub and dry the watered area.

That's it.

At 1st turn, you need to "calibrate" it. Very simple, get a really pure RO water, which should give 1.0 SG. Drop it on the testkit, and use a special knot to tune to 1.0.

- You need to get the "right" water for this initial calibration. If in doubt, have another buddy use different refractometer for comfirmation.

The only fussing is part is to get a clear reading. You need to point the stuff at a "right" angle at good light source. I'm yet to figure out the "right angle". Testing with torchlight may help.