Table of Contents
This article is part of the “Cyclic tasks” series, intended for beginner aquarists who are looking for the basics of running a saltwater aquarium, or for those who are considering setting up a tank and want to understand the amount of work involved.
In the article What work on the aquarium should be done periodically you’ll find a complete list of tasks, along with links to articles that expand on individual topics.
Happy reading!
Which devices do we calibrate?
We calibrate dosing and measuring devices. Calibration makes them accurate, and we all want our equipment to be accurate, repeatable and fulfill its functions.
Devices that need calibration
- dosing pumps
- automatic meters, for example to measure KH (such as KH keeper)
- monitors for measuring water, for example, for pH or salinity
- you can calibrate the device for replenishing evaporated water (ATO), if it has such a function (Level keeper is an example)
How often should devices be calibrated?
Calibration is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. In some cases, if we can rely on our own experience, we can do it to the best of our knowledge. I calibrated my pumps once, checked after 3 months and the calibration was still valid – I’ll definitely talk about it in one of the future articles!
During the calibration, I suggest verifying the condition of the hoses on the dosing pumps and testing machines. We check that the hoses are not clogged or frayed.
The process of calibrating individual devices can be found in the manuals of a given device.
Double checking
It is important to perform tests after calibration. In the case of dosing pumps, we check whether they pour the right amount of liquid, and in the case of measuring devices, we perform trial tests.
I remember a situation when a customer, during the calibration, incorrectly entered the amount of liquid he administered, and then did not check the calibration with the test for pouring the right amount of liquid. The final result was deplorable, so remember to have limited confidence in yourself in this case and always do a double check after calibration!
Summary
The topic of calibration itself is not difficult. As always, it’s all about habits and following a few simple rules.
About the author
Marek Protasewicz
Reefkeeping has been my passion for over 10 years now. I love learning. The hobby has taught me many valuable lessons, patience being the best example. Combining work and passion is my path. I run Crazy Coral, a marine aquarium shop, for a number of years. Building this business from the scratch I learnt from my own mistakes at a heavy cost.
Later I managed a project aimed at development of methods for quick growth of Corals in non-natural conditions. The project was carried out by Get Sales, Poland. Presently, I am responsible for distribution strategy at Reef Factory, of which I am a co-founder. The company produces smart devices for marine aquaristics. The last projects I have been involved in are Social Reef and ReefPedia.
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