A stupid question regarding protein skimmer

[mrhasan]

Yah I do that

BTW did you refer "manual calibration of hydrometer" as checking the reading with freshwater?

Originally Posted by Myka

Just check your salinity. If you find the salinity has gone up by 0.001 add some freshwater. Make sure you are using a hydrometer that has been manually calibrated or a refractometer that you calibrated a few times per year.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Yah I do that

BTW did you refer "manual calibration of hydrometer" as checking the reading with freshwater?

No, that is not a good way to do it. A hydrometer should be checked against a calibrated refractometer. If you don't have a refractometer your LFS should be able to check your hydrometer against their own refractometer. Just politely ask when they last calibrated their refractometer before using it to calibrate your hydrometer.

[mrhasan]

Ooooo...yah that's a good idea....but hopefully in sept I will be buying a refrac...they are pretty cheap in ebay

[Myka]

Yeah, you get what you pay for though. Sometimes you're better off looking for a better brand in the used classifieds.

[mrhasan]

Yah I do keep an eye out. Being a student (particularly an international one), I have to keep my eyes towards the cheaper side :P

[Myka]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Yah I do keep an eye out. Being a student (particularly an international one), I have to keep my eyes towards the cheaper side :P

I hear ya. I like used equipment. I'm nowhere near retired, so I think there is always a better place to spend money so I'm quite thrifty too. Everything on 90-gallon SPS reef is used equipment except for the skimmer I bought new. My 50-gallon LPS reef is all used too except the return pump I bought new.

[mrhasan]

In my case, my whole 20long setup is all shiny and brand new (ah well, my scholarship's money just flew buy) except the light (I just couldn't spare another $150) and things are coming along just fine

And to keep the things even better, I removed everything "readable" from my reading table and kept the 20long on it