i just bought a instant ocean hydrometer, i fill it, tap out bubbles and read, if take 4 readings back to back they are all different, this is for brackish so it will read between 1.0004 to 1.0010 which are within normal limits but not accurate enough for me, when i say back to back i mean literally one after the other, what am i doing wrong :sad
hydrometer
- Thread starter keekeemama
- Start date
Swing arm hydrometers just aren't very accurate. However, make sure to wash it out between each usage, and I'd recommend filling and dumping it 2-3 times with tank water before trying to take a reading. If you need precise readings, consider returning this and buying a refractometer:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9957&Ne=40000&R=20996&N=2004+113410
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...duct_Code=REFRACT-PA&Category_Code=Hydrometer
If just knowing a good range is enough, get somebody with a refractometer or a precision hydrometer to calibrate your swing arm and tell you how much it's off by. I've heard of the swing-arms being off by .006 salinity (ie reading 1.024 when it was 1.031) which is consistent with what you're seeing.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9957&Ne=40000&R=20996&N=2004+113410
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...duct_Code=REFRACT-PA&Category_Code=Hydrometer
If just knowing a good range is enough, get somebody with a refractometer or a precision hydrometer to calibrate your swing arm and tell you how much it's off by. I've heard of the swing-arms being off by .006 salinity (ie reading 1.024 when it was 1.031) which is consistent with what you're seeing.