REFRACTOMETER.....Eeek

[kirboid]

Hi guys, I have just recently moved my lovely Ceylon puffers from a 50 litre tank to a 180 litre tank. Now I am fairly new to puffers, started out mid July this year and they are fairing very well.

Anyway, I had been using a hydrometer which I was never particularly keen on as you have to knock off all the bubble with a cocktail stick and the original tank was currently running on 1.005.

Due to upgrading my tank size and wanting to do the best for my puffers I also bought a D&D Refractometer so that I could match the salinity levels between the 2 tanks. I bought this from my LFS and explained that I would be using it for my brackish tank which I would be looking at moving up the salinity over time to bring it up to marine level. Anyway, he said that it would be perfect as the reading goes from Zero to 1.030. The trouble is It doesn't start at zero, it starts at 1.015, and below that is a big gap before it drops to zero with no markings/ measures. Why would he say it measures from zero ? Am I being a plank and not reading things correctly ?

To my horror the salt level on my original tank read as zero on the refractometer !!!!

PS - he did calibrate it for me in RO water prior to me bringing it home.

Any suggestions would be great as I always want to do my best for my 3 Ceylon Puffers.

Phil

[purplecandle]

I don't know the answer to your question...but wanted to say. Aww, I love ceylons
Oh and get ready to upgrade your tank again, the tank you have now is only big enough for one

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Brackish/T_Fluviatilis/

Anyways, that is one seriously cute ceylon in your avatar pic

Just hang out someone will be able to answer your question.

[Pufferpunk]

RO water will do in a pinch but calibration solution is really the way to go: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aqua-craf ... fluid.html

Sounds like you were sold the wrong refractometer. Get one from the link above.

[kirboid]

Thanks guys for the advice. I love this forum. And yes, I know I'll have to upgrade my tank size again, but I need time too work on the missus first...

[purplecandle]

Thanks guys for the advice. I love this forum. And yes, I know I'll have to upgrade my tank size again, but I need time too work on the missus first...

LOL

[sgtmyers88]

I got a refractometer from Premium Aquatics brand. It reads the full range of salinity. BTW how big are your Ceylon puffers?

[Master of Puffers]

Thanks guys for the advice. I love this forum. And yes, I know I'll have to upgrade my tank size again, but I need time too work on the missus first...

pufferghoti has to keep up with me buying fish I don't have tanks that they will grow into...

[Master of Puffers]

I got a refractometer from Premium Aquatics brand. It reads the full range of salinity. BTW how big are your Ceylon puffers?

does that work for non-saline water???

[sgtmyers88]

It has a range of 1.000 (freshwater) to 1.070 (beyond dead sea salinity).

[kirboid]

Two of the puffers are about 2 & 3/4 inches and one of them is about 2 & half inches.

[purplecandle]

Two of the puffers are about 2 & 3/4 inches and one of them is about 2 & half inches.

Why is it that whenever one owns a group of puffers there is always one that is a lil bigger than the rest?

You watch kirboid, for as long as you own all 3, that one will always be bigger than the other 2!

[Pufferpunk]

There is always a pecking order in every animal class. The dominant one will get the most food.

[Master of Puffers]

It has a range of 1.000 (freshwater) to 1.070 (beyond dead sea salinity).

I was thinking more about brewing use so it sems like a duel use item...thanks.