yes so I have heard. I am now in the market for one as well... didnt realize I was going to be spending $80++ ugh...

That will be fine. It is more stressful to inhabitants to go up in salinity than to go down. For example, when doing a hyposalinity treatment you can take fish down to 1.009 in 24 hours, but going back up will take 5-7 days depending how the fish are coping.

I am wondering if the effect is the same with soft and hard corals

wow who sells refractometers for 80+? we sell the vertex ones for 50.... never have failed yet...

Steve

Big als. I need some reliable equiptment though, I'm tired of wasting my money! lol if its a good refractometer I will get it lol, what are your hours on saturdays?

It is a good idea to check a hydrometer at least every 6 months against a refractometer. In my experience most hydrometers are somewhat accuracy (+/- 0.003) for the first year or so, but wander off as time goes on. I have two hydrometers and they are off by 0.006 and 0.008 which is plenty enough to cause some serious issues in the tank! Both of my hydrometers read lower than they are, so the one reads 1.026 when the water is actually 1.034! :eek: I like to use hydrometers for daily use though because it is quick and easy. I just use a Sharpie to mark the numbers I like to use. Rubbing alcohol will take the Sharpie off to re-mark when I re-calibrate.

Corals don't tolerate hyposalinity, so there should never be a great swing. Some LFS keep their salinity at 1.020 or 1.023 though and I have never had trouble swinging from that to 1.026 or going the other way.

yeah I hear that haha, mine read 1.029 but the refractometer said 1.032 (YIKES!!!) so I know its off but .003 as well for now, I would still like to invest in one though to prevent further mishaps... I can see why many people give up so quickly lol, but not me my tanks are my hobby. gotta figure out all the tricks then I will have no problem

my only coral that is affected is my xenia, so hopefully it can come back nce the salinity is back to normal, I hope to have it ate 1.023-1.024 by sunday (its at 1.027 now

normal would be considered 1.026

K so I'm just about there then. My clown seems a little bit stressed from the change but he's still eating and swimming so I think he's ok?