how to calibrate refractometer?

[Toshas79]

I bought pinpoint salinity 53.0ms calibration fluid, when I am using it my refractomerer should show what kind of value?

[Konadog]

When you place a few drops in the water sample area, it should read 35.00ppm or 1.0259.
Taken from: http://www.americanmarineusa.com/sal...onversion.html

[mg426]

I agree.

[Embowe]

Mine came with a little bottle of liquid..I am assuming its calabration fluid..(distilled water?)....

[Pmolan]

Min came with distilled water also.

[IndyReefMan]

The distilled water will probably result in inaccurate readings. It is better to make your own salinity standard or use the Pinpoint fluid mentioned above. Randy's article below describes this--

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

[adtravels]

Originally posted by IndyReefMan
The distilled water will probably result in inaccurate readings. It is better to make your own salinity standard or use the Pinpoint fluid mentioned above. Randy's article below describes this--

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

Great I was gointg to post this one as well, I made the calibration fluid (I did need an electronic balance to get it right)

I then use atwo point system to calibrate.
I put ro water on the refractometer. LEAVE IT FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS TO EQUALISE then adust to 0 on the scale. The I claen the refractometer and repat the process with the standard 35 ppt salt mix suggested by randy. If it does not read 35 ppt then I adjust it to read 35 ppt. Then you are good to go

Why not just use water?
Alot of refractometers have been proven to give false readings with ro water, so you adjust to zero with ro but actually the real value is below zero, meaning even though you think you have 1.026 you may have 2-3 points lower.

There are some good threads on this on the reefchemistry forum.
Hope this helps, probably clear as mud now.