Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - Calibration fluid question

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Calibration fluid question

Has anyone ever used calibration fluid for thier refractometer? Im getting various readings when i use mine. I just wanted to know how well it works. Where in Calgary do you buy the fluid.

I use RO water, works well for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by globaldesigns (Post 492651)

i use ro water, works well for me.

From Reef Central

Quote:

Over on the chemistry forum the consensus is that refractometers should be calibrated with a solution that has a salinity close to that of natural sea water. A lot of people are finding out that even though they calibrated their refractometer with distilled water, when they tested a calibration fluid their measurements were way off.

I'm one of those people. I've been calibrating my refractometer with distilled water since I got it. After reading those posts, I recalibrated it with a calibrating solution. My refractometer was off by 0.005. My reef's actual salinity was 1.021 when I thought it was 1.026. Quite a big difference.

That being said, Randy has written an article detailing how to make your own calibration solution using distilled water and table salt.

Pinpoint Salinity Calibration Fluid

although it is said to be better to use calibration fluid, I find it hard to come by (maybe its just my area) so I use ro/di as well. IF it was readily accessible to me, I would be using it though.