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Will dirt affect the accuracy of a hydrometer?
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:10 pm
by Mrs.Puff
After we get some good rain and thuderstorms, our water gets kinda cloudy and there is probably some dirt in it, but its still safe to drink and all, but i was wondering if the amount of dirt in the water would affect the reading on my hydrometer, because when i did a 50% water change and my specifect gravity was .003 it still said .003 and i did not add any salt into the water like i was going to. Is it either off because of my water, or is it still salty enough in my tank?
Re: Will dirt affect the accuracy of a hydrometer?
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:52 am
by Iliveinazoo
it can do if it gets stuck on the lever. try soaking it in warm water and then test it using your tap water
Re: Will dirt affect the accuracy of a hydrometer?
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:04 am
by Mrs.Puff
ok thanx. ill try that. Im actually thinking about getting a refractometer now since they are so much more accurate
Re: Will dirt affect the accuracy of a hydrometer?
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:28 am
by Pufferpunk
Refractometers still need to be calibrated every few months.
Re: Will dirt affect the accuracy of a hydrometer?
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 2:03 pm
by LilGreenPuffer
Mrs.Puff wrote:my specifect gravity was .003 it still said .003 and i did not add any salt into the water like i was going to.
Why not?
Re: Will dirt affect the accuracy of a hydrometer?
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:26 pm
by Mrs.Puff
lilgreenpuffer-because it still said i was at .003 and i didnt want to raise it anymore till it was time to.
Re: Will dirt affect the accuracy of a hydrometer?
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 6:07 pm
by LilGreenPuffer
Oh, sorry! I got confused... never mind...
Re: Will dirt affect the accuracy of a hydrometer?
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:46 pm
by Mrs.Puff
lol its ok...yea ive gotta wait for my water to clear up or something i guess it wouldnt hurt to put some salt in there anyway but def. not as much as i would.