I keep learning thanks Jagermeister

[roadracn]

As I continue in this hobby, I would like it to be known that I have never said that I know it all. I read a lot of threads on our Reef Club, and it always seems that I learn little tid bits here and there. Recently I read "Anyone know where to get Pinpoint refractometer calibration fluid or similar locally?" and I actually thought that I was going to be able to help someone out and just let him know that all you have to use is Ro or distilled water in order to calibrate the meter. I followed the thread with intrest after I was told that I was doing it correctly as the instructions say to do, but that it actually was not going to be accurate. I spent a couple of days reading into the topic, and getting several different ideas on how to properly calibrate the meter. I made several batches to cross check my solution and make sure that everything added up correctly, and what I found was almost unbelieveable. My refractometer that I spent 100.00 online, that I bought to replace my plastic one that I knew was off, was in fact also off. I have been fighting problems with my tank for sometime, since a crash that happened almost 18 months ago, and have asked my friends on here for advice time and time again, and you guys have thankfully helped me out time and time again. ...on now to add my .02 and let anyone on this board know what I have found out.

For starters, I am going to order another solution from someone to confirm my findings, but here is what I have found. I have chosen to keep my reef tank at 1.026 because I saw 1 time on a tank of the month that was the setting he went for. My water is well mixed and warm prior to doing water changes, and I make sure its set as close to 1.026 as I can. I checked the tank settings prior to making any adjustments, and it read a perfect 1.026. I made a saltwater solution consisting of 1tsp of table salt, and 161 ml of RO water. This, according to the chemists on the boards, will make a perfect salinity of 1.026 of which I used to calibrate the meter. I made 5 different batches, using 3 different measurement methods, and was able to get consistant readings from all 3 mothods. My meter was off by a whopping .007. I have to check it over and over just to keep my head on strait. What this means is my tank although I thought it was 1.026 is actually at a corrected 1.019, and I wonder why the corals arent colorful and the fish are stressed. I also did some more research, and called most of the LFS in Denver Metro asking for a fluid to calibrate the meter with, and I got the same response at every single store....use RO water to calibrate the meter. How is it that the so called experts in the hobby that we are in dont know that what they use and tell people is for the most part incorrect, not on something complicated NO3 management, but the easiest (or so I thought) principle Salinity.