Hydrometer

[Creature Seeker]

Hello,

I have had a large piece of driftwood soaking outside for a month but I would like to see if it has any salt content as I can't have this leeching into my aquarium.

Is a hydrometer what I need? Will this tell me if there is any salt leeching from the driftwood?

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[poopsydrew]

Hello,

I have had a large piece of driftwood soaking outside for a month but I would like to see if it has any salt content as I can't have this leeching into my aquarium.

Is a hydrometer what I need? Will this tell me if there is any salt leeching from the driftwood?

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A hydrometer would be what you would use to test the specific gravity of the water, however, i wouldnt worry about the driftwood. Just boil it if you are really worried, but even if it was soaked in salt water, the amount it would give off would be so small it probably wouldnt be detectable. Also with water changes that would just dilute any salt that much more anyway.

I wouldnt worry about it.

Drew

 

[Creature Seeker]

Thanks for replying.

The reason I'm worried is because I have a mormyrid within the tank and I don't think he'd appreciate any salt content.

I would like to boil it but it's about two foot long so I can't see a way.

Is there any other way I can make sure it doesn't contain any salt?

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[raptorrex]

its worth remembering that ha hydrometer does not measure the salinity of the water, just the specific gravity. many things can effect this, heat and salt being just two. if you have sensitive fish its well worth getting a REAL salinity meter.

 

[Creature Seeker]

What is a real salinity metre and where can I get one?

Thanks

 

[raptorrex]

http/search.ebay.co.uk/salinity-meter_W0QQfnuZ1

 

[poopsydrew]

its worth remembering that ha hydrometer does not measure the salinity of the water, just the specific gravity. many things can effect this, heat and salt being just two. if you have sensitive fish its well worth getting a REAL salinity meter.

thats what i said...specifig gravity...

And again, I dont think it matters what fish, the amount of salt would be so low as to have no effect, especially if it is a sensitive fish that wouldnt last long without water changes anyway, the salt would already be so diluted with one water change it wouldnt be of any worry.

Drew