I have just set up my first tank a couple days ago. It is currently cycling, so I took some water over to the LFS to have it checked out (and for an excuse to go to the LFS). The LFS added some of my water to a cylindrical device and looked through it. He was concerned as the device was telling him my specific gravity was around 1.028-1.03.
I have been testing at home with an Instant Ocean Hydrometer, and it is saying around 1.023. I am inclined to believe the LFS reading however, as it is more in line with the amount of salt I put in. Since the reading on my Hydrometer was low I kept adding more salt till I got around 1.024. At this point I probably have 12 pounds of salt into a 30 gallon tank.
Has anyone seen an Instant Ocean Hydrometer be off this much in this direction before? From what I read air bubbles can make it read to high, but I'm seeing it read significantly low. I realize I can just do a water change to bring the levels back down, but I'm wanting to make sure that when I do I will be able to reliably gauge the specific gravity in the future.
Any thoughts or comments?
Thanks!
AGreyCrane
I have been testing at home with an Instant Ocean Hydrometer, and it is saying around 1.023. I am inclined to believe the LFS reading however, as it is more in line with the amount of salt I put in. Since the reading on my Hydrometer was low I kept adding more salt till I got around 1.024. At this point I probably have 12 pounds of salt into a 30 gallon tank.
Has anyone seen an Instant Ocean Hydrometer be off this much in this direction before? From what I read air bubbles can make it read to high, but I'm seeing it read significantly low. I realize I can just do a water change to bring the levels back down, but I'm wanting to make sure that when I do I will be able to reliably gauge the specific gravity in the future.
Any thoughts or comments?
Thanks!
AGreyCrane
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