Hydrometer

[freshwaterfishlover]

When using a Hydrometer do you fill it to the top with water? I am using a Instant Ocean Hydrometer.

[Drumachine09]

You shoulda bought a floating hydrometer. They're idiot proof! (im not calling you an idiot, they are just really simple to use.)

[*Sarah*]

Don't know, what is it? lol

[freshwaterfishlover]

The problem is I keep getting all diffrent results all over the meter. It is buging me.

[cocoa_pleco]

i had your brand. You fill it with water to to top line, and read where the stick meter goes.

Theres floating ones?? il have to get one instead of the one i have now

[freshwaterfishlover]

I keep adding more salt and still keep getting 1.004.

[freshwaterfishlover]

I must not be adding enough salt to make the meter go up. I did a test twice with table salt and rapidly the meter went up. I just need to keep adding salt. Ha it is only a 5 Gallon with 3 plants. All I lose is 3 plants a water chance wirth adding more salt.

[cocoa_pleco]

i read my hydrometer wrong my first time and had 500% more salt then i needed. DONT read it upside down. lol

[freshwaterfishlover]

About how much salt was that? Also what was the reading?

[cocoa_pleco]

sorry, im starting with SW again tuesday, and my last salt tank was in 2003.

I think it has a bunch of numbers on the side, 1.075 to 1.090 gravity? im not sure, and cant remember. You want it to be as close to the middle of the reading as possible

[cocoa_pleco]

oh, youre doing brackish. Cant help you there. Never had brackish, buy you want half freshwater, and half salt, so half of the salt youd use for SW to make it brackish

[Chrona]

Normal reef specific gravity is like 1.023-1.025 I believe.

[cocoa_pleco]

Normal reef specific gravity is like 1.023-1.025 I believe.


1.025 sounds REALLY familiar. Thats probably it

[freshwaterfishlover]

I need Between 1.005-1.010 for Brakish. I have only made it go up to 1.004. I must just need to add more salt. Man does it take a lot of salt to make that meter move.

[cocoa_pleco]

just add a tad more than the 1.004 and youre good

[freshwaterfishlover]

I think I finally got the Hydrometer to work. Man you need to add a lot of salt to make that meter work. I have it at about 1.006-1.007.

[cocoa_pleco]

thats good for brackish.

Im actually going right now to get a hydrometer