The Puffer Forum

Hi All,

I am about to configure my refractometer and it mentions to use distilled water. Can i use my normal tap water with some stress coat for this?

Thanks,

Neil

No, you cannot control zero the unit with water of unknown composition. You need high purity water with the minimum available dissolved materials, so DI or RODI at least.

You can usually find high purity water at a drug store, either distilled, or something. It should list the TDS on the bottle.

your local aquatics store (none chain store like pets @ home) should have/sell RO water, they shouldn't mind u using a bit to do your job

Or if your LFS isn't that local, battery top up water from somewhere like Halfords it's De-Ionized water.

I have a new bottle of De-Ionized water!

I purchased it for the job, but when i read the idiots guide it didn't mention this.

If this is ok i will use it.

Thanks.

Just one more question:

I am looking to increase my SG by .002 as members have said this is a good idea not to kill off good bacteria etc.

My refractometer scale reads 1.020. Is this the same?

NO it's not the same!!!!

1.020 is almost full SW!

Your refratcometer should read from 1.000 at the very bottom, and have little incrament dashes of .001.

I didn't think so!!!

This is what i have purchased:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=013


So i guess from the zero line i am looking to have the scale move by 2 of the small notches.

After you drip the DI water on it, hold it up to the light & calibrate it to 0.

It's not zero, it's actually labeled as 1.000, which is FW. When you're doing a wc, ya neilw_uk, 2 of the small notches means .002

Oops! LL is correct, it's 1.0000000000000000!

lol I say that too! I just didn't want him to be confused when he's looking at it.