Problems with hydrometer

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micstarz

micstarz

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2008
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Hong Kong
I have a Coralife Deep Six hydrometer. It is a swing needle type. It doesn't work, and the needle rests at the bottom. I am not testing it in freshwater...

The package said something about seasoning the needle for 24 hours in saltwater...but I find it hard to believe that the needle would show no reaction AT ALL until it is fully seasoned...

Is my hydrometer broken?
 
i left mine filled with salt water for 48 hours. i use white vinegar once a month to make sure the salt isn't lodged in the needle but make sure it's washed after :D
 
Ok. Thanks for both your replies! My hydrometer works now...I'm just too embarrassed to tell you why but this thread was posted too hastily ><

Maybe when I've been keeping salt for a while I'll tell...hopefully it'll be funny then but it's defo not funny now ;D
 
It's a good thread though... so when others later search with the same problem, they'll be able to find out. And I learned something! I've alway used a refrectometer or the old school floating hydromemter. Never had a new floating pin style hydrometer.
 
Zoodiver;2594544; said:
It's a good thread though... so when others later search with the same problem, they'll be able to find out. And I learned something! I've alway used a refrectometer or the old school floating hydromemter. Never had a new floating pin style hydrometer.
Click to expand...

Always have to go one better, eh lol saying that i just bought a refrectometer and its amazingly good! with my hydrometer i thought my SG was at 1.023 but its actually 1.029 thats hella difference!!!! I was so stunned when i saw it but my fish didn't seem any different now it's at 1.023 after a month of slowly lowering it.

why are you in texas? lol
 
princess;2595713; said:
Always have to go one better, eh lol saying that i just bought a refrectometer and its amazingly good! with my hydrometer i thought my SG was at 1.023 but its actually 1.029 thats hella difference!!!! I was so stunned when i saw it but my fish didn't seem any different now it's at 1.023 after a month of slowly lowering it.

why are you in texas? lol
Click to expand...
are you sure your refactometer is calibrated ? i droped mine once and it knocked it way out,so i always check its calibration now every week or so:)
 
Refractometers are the way to go, I took a coralife hydrometer right next to a red sea one and got a considerable difference, of which both were off from the instant ocean (which was the closest to the real specific gravity) and all of them were taken care of properly, although it should probably be noted they were plastic and not glass. You can't really argue with refractometers results, as it deals more with light wavelength and it's penetration through the liquid as long as you calibrate it correctly with the screw, which is better over a floating needle with relative results imo. However, hydrometers are quite a bit cheaper and that is still what I am using, however with caution, so I can see both sides of the fence. (although I do plan to upgrade very soon)
 
Here is the one I ave and they ARE the way to go. I started with one of those floating needle styles initialland it was reading 1.015 and my actual level was 1.027. Scrap it and buy one of these. SW fish, Live Rock, etc ae too expensive to risk for $50 meter.
 
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