Greetings! I'm new to the hobby and trying to understand why my salinity tests are so sensitive.
I also was encouraged to buy the Milwaukee Digital Refractometer by my LFS.
I have the 1.000 and 1.025 calibration fluids that came with the Milwaukee and use them frequently.
However, when I read my tank water.... the salinity on the MIlwaukee changes frequently.
For instance today I :
The ATC visual one held steady at 1.025 throughout.
This happens frequently, and especially when I'm mixing the water --- so it makes it very hard to determine as a new hobbyist if I'm mixing up the right amount of salt or not.
Tips/ideas?
I also was encouraged to buy the Milwaukee Digital Refractometer by my LFS.
I have the 1.000 and 1.025 calibration fluids that came with the Milwaukee and use them frequently.
However, when I read my tank water.... the salinity on the MIlwaukee changes frequently.
For instance today I :
- Calibrated (1.000) fluid
- Wiped clean, filled well with RODI water, wiped clean again
- Filled well with tank water
- Read: 1.024
- Waited 30-40 s; Read: 1.025
- Waited: Read 1.026
- Waited: Read 1.025
- Waited: Read 1.027
- Waited: Read 1.026
The ATC visual one held steady at 1.025 throughout.
This happens frequently, and especially when I'm mixing the water --- so it makes it very hard to determine as a new hobbyist if I'm mixing up the right amount of salt or not.
Tips/ideas?