My refractometer is way off when testing with Pinpoint 53mS calibration fluid - Page 3

sjm817 · #51 10/21/2006, 01:45 PM

Not sure. Its ~ the same diameter and 1/2" taller than the CA-3 Salifert bottle if that helps.

Billybeau1 · #52 10/21/2006, 01:52 PM

Yes that helps. Thanks. And I also now know what calcium kit you use.

sjm817 · #53 10/21/2006, 01:54 PM

So, would 1.021 - 1.022 be enough to drop ca down to 360 or so?

Billybeau1 · #54 10/21/2006, 01:59 PM

Well lets see if the math works out.

420 div by 26 is about 16. So 16 x 4 is 64

420 minus 64 is 356........ Yes I'd say it could.

Boomer · #55 10/21/2006, 02:08 PM

Great Billy

sjm817 · #56 10/21/2006, 02:09 PM

Damn.
It makes me mad that my tank has been this far off for a long time now. I would not have thought the refractometer would be that far out of whack. Oh well, lesson learned. I just about have the 180g up to where it should be. I went fast since there is nothing in the tank but sand and LR. The 90g I'm doing slowly.

sjm817 · #57 10/21/2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Billybeau1
Well lets see if the math works out.

420 div by 26 is about 16. So 16 x 4 is 64

420 minus 64 is 356........ Yes I'd say it could.

That is additional evidence of the calibration problem.

Billybeau1 · #58 10/21/2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Boomer
Great Billy

You and Randy are rubbing off on me, Scary isnt it ?

Yes sjm, I do believe it is.

DrHarryLopez · #59 10/22/2006, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cwegescheide
Randy has a recipie to make your own calibration fluid of 1.026 from a 2litre bottle and table salt.

Hey, where is the link to making the calibration fluid for the pinpoint salt meter? Thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · #60 10/22/2006, 08:42 AM

Reef Aquarium Salinity: Homemade Calibration Standards
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.htm

You'll be much more likely be accurate using a balance to weigh the salt and to accurately measure the water volume by mass or volume.

Tomzpc · #61 10/22/2006, 10:35 AM

Wow...glad I came across this thread. Look forward to your test results Billy.

Boomer · #62 10/22/2006, 10:59 AM

You and Randy are rubbing off on me, Scary isnt it ?[

No Bill, it is called bringing you over to the Dark Side

And Randy is so far Dark that if you shot at him the bullet would come back and say

"I can't find him"

Billybeau1 · #63 10/22/2006, 11:22 AM

I just ordered 10 bottles of that pinpoint stuff. I'll let you know what happens.

sjm817 · #64 10/22/2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Billybeau1

I just ordered 10 bottles of that pinpoint stuff. I'll let you know what happens.

We ought to point Jeremy from Premium Aquatics to this thread so he knows why his Pinpoint calibration fluid stock is getting wiped out.

Billybeau1 · #65 10/25/2006, 09:57 PM

Well the test is complete.

Pinpoint 53mS calibration fluid at 77 degrees

Inexpensive refractometer. 35 ppt (1.0264) on the button.

My floating hydrometer - 1.026 something (somewhere between 1.026 and 1.0265)

The Instanat Ocean swing arm I bought for the last test, forget about it. 1.0315

One observation. The intensity of the color change on the refractometer is much less with the calibration fluid than natural salt water. You can barely see the line but its there.

I bought enough to do this one more time to verify my results. Tommorrows another day.

sjm817 · #66 10/25/2006, 11:00 PM

Thanks for doing the testing and validating the Pinpoint fluid is suitable for refractometer calibration.

Randy Holmes-Farley · #67 10/26/2006, 06:34 AM

Sounds good. I talked to Lou again and I plan to recommend it in my refractometer article (along with my DIY salinity recipe).

RichConley · #68 10/26/2006, 10:22 AM

misread post

Boomer · #69 10/26/2006, 10:24 AM

Billy was your refract calibrated before the test with Randy's DIY, as you stated yours is -.003 in RO/DI to get 1.0264 or did you set it to the floater.

Billybeau1 · #70 10/26/2006, 11:32 AM

I set the refract to the floater which was checked againt Randy's DIY to be on the money.

If I try to put ro/di in the refract it reads -.003

Boomer · #71 10/26/2006, 12:13 PM

OK then that suff is really on the nose

seattlerob · #72 10/31/2006, 01:31 PM

Thanks guys for this thread. I just ordered a bottle of the calibration solution from PA. I have never calibrated my Marine Depot refractometer (blue one) except using RO/DI (which read zero when I received it and still reads zero), so I am anxious to find out how out of whack my salinity really is...

Randy Holmes-Farley · #73 10/31/2006, 01:32 PM

Let us know what you find!

ostrow · #74 10/31/2006, 02:27 PM

So, basically, we all have cheap refractometers right? Meaning, if you got it from an aquarium supplier, it's likely to have inaccuracy?

If I get the bottle of stuff am I right that the process is as follows:

1. Use RO water and set to zero.
2. Use the calibration fluid and if it does not read 1.026, set it to 1.026, and in the future use that to calibrate to 1.026.
3. Test tank water and adjust with topoff as necessary.

Pyrrhus · #75 10/31/2006, 10:22 PM

On my Milwaukee refractometer the line is easily distinguishable with the Pinpoint cal fluid, found out that my refrac was reading .003 high.