How to Use an Instant Ocean Hydrometer
- 1). Rinse the Instant Ocean Hydrometer with distilled water. This will ensure that it is clean before you put it in the aquarium.
- 2). Dip the fill-port in the bottom corner below the water level in the aquarium to slowly fill the hydrometer. The water will flow up and over the weir on the inside of the hydrometer. The weir is the tiny flap inside the hydrometer.
- 3). Pull the hydrometer out once it's full. Tap it lightly with a pen to get rid of any air bubbles.
- 4). Place the hydrometer on a completely level surface to read the salinity and specific gravity. The specific gravity is the outside scale and should be between 1.020 and 1.024 for most tanks. Salinity level should be between .03 and .05 percent.
- 5). Empty the hydrometer and rinse it with more fresh distilled water. Clean it by soaking it in vinegar for 30 minutes. Rinse again with fresh distilled water and let it dry before you store it.