Salts give the water it's characteristics.Outside of the laboratory, salt is measured by aquarium enthusiasts and farmers concerned about salt build up in the soil.Animals, aquatic organisms, and crops all need different levels of salinity to thrive.Maintaining the correct salinity depends greatly on your purpose, and there are several devices you can use to measure it.To find out what salinity to aim for, you need to consult an aquarium instruction manual or look in references for information on a particular crop.
Step 1: This tool can be used to measure salinity in liquids.
Light bends when it enters the liquid.The Refractive index is what this is called.The more salts are dissolved in the water, the less resistance the light will meet and the more it will bend.Light travels at different speeds depending on the medium.The freshwater is less salty than the saltwater.Try a hydrometer for a cheaper method.You can use a conductivity meter to measure the soil's salinity.
Step 2: You can use a refractometer to measure liquid.
Different liquids have different amounts of light that can be used to measure additional salts.The refractometer is designed to measure salt water if the liquid is not mentioned on the package.Retometers are used to measure salt in water.Seawater refractometers can be used to measure the mixture of salts in a saltwater aquarium.It is acceptable for non-laboratory purposes if you use the wrong one.Due to temperature changes, refractometers are designed to compensate for the expansion of a material.
Step 3: There is a plate near the end of the refractometer.
A handheld refractometer has two ends, one round and one open.The small plate can be moved to one side if the surface is on the top of the device.If you haven't used your refractometer yet, you might want to calibrate it first.The process is explained at the end of the section, but you might want to read the steps first so you know how to use the device.
Step 4: The liquid should be put on the exposed prism.
Use an eyedropper to pick up a few drops of the liquid you want to measure.When you moved the plate, you saw the translucent prism.With a thin layer, add enough water to completely cover the prism's surface.
Step 5: The plate needs to be closed carefully.
Push the plate back into position.If the parts on the refractometer become stuck, try not to apply a lot of force.You can wiggle the plate back and forth with your finger.
Step 6: To see the reading, look through the device.
Look at the end of the device.The scales should be visible.The scale is labeled "parts per thousand" and can be found at the bottom of the scale to the top.The line where the white and blue areas meet has a salinity measurement.
Step 7: The cloth is soft and damp.
Once you have the measurement you need, open the plate again and use a soft, slightly damp cloth to wipe the prism until it is free of water droplets.The refractometer can be damaged if water is left in the prism.If you don't have a cloth that is flexible enough, a damp tissue may work.
Step 8: The refractometer needs to be Calibrate periodically.
Use pure, distilled water to calibrate it between uses.If the salinity reading is "0," then add the water to the prism.If not, use a small screwdriver to adjust the calibration screw, which can be found under a cap on the top or bottom of the device.Calibration of a new high-quality refractometer can be done once every few weeks or months.Before each use, a cheaper, older refractometer may need to be adjusted.Calibration instructions may specify a certain water temperature.Use room temperature distilled water if none are included.
Step 9: This inexpensive tool can be used for accurate water measurements.
The specific gravity of water is measured by a hydrometer.The weight of fluid being displaced by the body is equal to the upward force that is exerted on a partially submerged body.A hydrometer reading can show you how much salt is in the water.Many models of hydrometer are inaccurate or easy to use, but this is accurate enough for most purposes.Solid material cannot be used in this method.See the method for measuring the soil's salinity.For a more accurate measurement, use one of the two methods.
Step 10: You should narrow down your hydrometer options.
Different basic designs of hydrometers are sold online or at aquarium shops.Glass hydrometers that float in water are usually more accurate than other designs, but often don't have precise measurements listed.Plastic "swing arm" hydrometers are less accurate over time.
Step 11: You can choose a hydrometer with a temperature standard.
Knowing the temperature of the hydrometer is important when using it to calculate salinity because different materials expand or shrink at different rates.There is a listed temperature on the device or packaging.The most common standards for measuring the salt water's salinity are 60 F (16C) or 77 C.You can use a hydrometer with a different calibration if it has a reference chart to convert its readings into salinity.
Step 12: Take a sample of water.
Take some of the water you plan to measure and put it in a transparent container.The water should be deep enough to submerge most of the hydrometer, and the container wide enough.The container should be free of dirt, soap, or other materials.
Step 13: The temperature of the water sample should be measured.
The temperature of the water sample can be measured.If you know the temperature of the sample and the standard of your hydrometer, you can calculate the salinity.For a slightly more accurate reading, you can either heat or cool the sample.The specific gravity can be altered by steaming or boiling the water.
Step 14: If necessary, clean the hydrometer.
To remove dirt from the surface, scrub the hydrometer.If the hydrometer was used in salt water, rinse it in fresh water.
Step 15: The hydrometer should be gently lowered into the water sample.
When placed partially in the water, glass hydrometers can float on their own.Swing-arm hydrometers come with a small tab or handle that allows you to dip them into the water without getting wet.Don't submerge glass hydrometers completely, as this can mess up the reading.
Step 16: Shake to get rid of air bubbles.
The wrong density reading can be caused by air bubbles clinging to the surface of the hydrometer.Shake the hydrometer to get rid of the water turbulence.
Step 17: The measurement can be found on a swing-arm hydrometer.
Don't tilt the swing-arm hydrometers in either direction.The specific gravity of your water is the measurement the arm points to.
Step 18: The measurement can be found on a glass hydrometer.
The surface of the water should be read in a hydrometer.If the water surface curves up or down to cling to the tool, ignore that curve and read the measurement at the level of the flat surface.The water curve is caused by surface tension, not salt.
Step 19: If necessary, convert the specific gravity measurement to a salinity measurement.
You don't need to convert to salinity if the aquarium care instructions use specific gravity between 0.998 and 1.031, which is between 0 and 40 parts per thousand.You will need to convert between the first and second measurement if it only provides the latter measurement.If your hydrometer didn't come with a reference chart for this purpose, you can search online or in an aquarium reference book for a "specific gravity to salinity conversion" table or calculator.If you don't use one designed for the temperature standard listed on your hydrometer, you may get the wrong result.The water sample temperature is given in oC.The majority of the charts and calculators are used for salt water.
Step 20: This can be used to measure the amount of water or soil.
The only common device that can be used to measure the salinity of soil is an electrical conductivity meter.A high-quality EC meter is more expensive than a hydrometer and can be used to measure the salinity of water.In order to confirm their salinity reading, some aquarium enthusiasts use a conductivity meter and one of the other tools described on this page.
Step 21: There is an electrical Conductivity meter.
These devices measure how much material resists the flow of current by sending an electrical current through it.The higher the conductivity rating, the more salts there are.If you want to get an accurate reading for common water and soil types, choose an EC meter that can measure up to at least 19.99 mS/ cm.S is an electrical unit.mS is the name of the company.
Step 22: If you are measuring soil, mix it with distilled water.
Shake the soil and distilled water together thoroughly.The mixture should settle for at least 2 minutes.The quantity of these materials in the soil will be reflected by the measurement you get for distilled water.In laboratory conditions, you can either settle the mixture for thirty minutes or use a more accurate method, which can take over two hours.The method above is still reasonably accurate, despite the fact that these are rarely done outside of a laboratory environment.
Step 23: Remove the cap and dip the EC meter into the water.
The thin end of the EC meter is covered by a protective cap.If no level is indicated, immerse this end to the level on the meter or just far enough that the thin probe is submerged.EC meters are not waterproof above a certain point, so don't drop them underwater.
Step 24: The meter should be moved up and down.
Air bubbles are trapped inside the probe.If you shake vigorously, this could cause the water to leave the probe.
Step 25: The temperature should be adjusted according to the instructions.
The temperature of the liquid can be affected by some EC meters.If the water is hot or cold, wait at least 30 seconds for the meter to make the adjustment.The dial on the other meters can be adjusted to the correct temperature.If your EC meter doesn't have either of these features, you can use a chart to manually correct the reading based on the water's temperature.
Step 26: You can read the display.
The display is usually digital, and can give you a measurement in a number of ways.You don't need to convert between the 3 units because they are equal in size.These units are for either deciSiemens per meter or millimho per centimeter.The mho is an old-fashioned name that is still being used in some industries.
Step 27: Determine if the soil is suitable for plants.
The method described here could be used to indicate danger.mango or banana may be affected at an EC as low as 2, while tolerant plants such as coconut are fine with anEC as high as 8–10.You can find out which method was used to test the EC by looking at the ranges.The numbers may be different if the soil isDiluted with 2 parts water or just enough water to make a paste.
Step 28: The EC meter needs to be Calibrate periodically.
calibrate the EC meter by using it to measure an "electrical conductivity calibration solution" that was purchased for this purpose.Use a small screwdriver to adjust the calibration screw if the measurement doesn't match the solution.Calibration solutions may have a "check solution" to test.Your EC meter may be broken if the check solution's conductivity is incorrect.