emergency?maybe?

[jon1985]

I had a bobber in my tank that told me my salinity level and it worked well until I replaced it with a refractometer.  However I think my refractometer is dead because it is ready 1.040 when the bobber says 1.025.  Anyways long story short I knocked a peice of rock into the bobber and it racked and dumped all its weights.

Is looked very similar to the bottom end of a thermometer.

Are those little balls going to crash my tank??? they are in the sump so to low to syphon out.

[JD]

Do you have one of those Python no spill clean and fill things? Maybe it would be strong enough to get them out.
Maybe they are just steel balls and a magnet will work. Anyways, I have no idea what they are and what harm may come from leaving them in there.
My first though is to get them out of there. Hey maybe a turkey baster could work too.
Good luck

[jon1985]

They all came out with a magnet.

Great suggestion

[Funkmotor]

Refractometers can be the most accurate device the average aquarist can afford as long as you calibrate it correctly.

There are two ways:

1. Get some distilled or Zero-TDS RO/DI water.  It must be pure.  Rinse the glass and cover of your refractometer with this, then put some on there and cover as normal.  Take a reading with a good point light source (or outside in the sun) and adjust until it reads zero.

That's pretty good, and will suit most folks just fine.  If you want it to be more accurate, though, you can use method #2:

2. Go out and buy a bottle of calibration solution.  The American Marine 53.0mS solution comes in a small bottle for a few bucks and is readily available.  Rinse your refractometer with RO/DI or distilled, dry it off, then put some of the calibration solution on there.  For the 53.0mS stuff, you should adjust until your refractometer reads 1.025.

Method #2 is more accurate because there is very little difference between 1.025 and where you will be running your tank - as long as you're running at some sane level.

[JD]

Cool, good to know that worked.