refractometer to measure brix - Page 3 - Organic Soil - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

EclipseFour20 · 04-25-2012, 05:01 AM

I found this pdf on brix useful.
https://www.nutritionsecurity.org/PDF/Brix.pdf

rrog · 04-25-2012, 08:16 PM

This is very interesting indeed. I'm just hung up on what exactly is being measured. Sucrose or total dissolve solids? Is the refractometer calibrated to a wavelength equated to Sucrose or is this an optical TDS measurement like my Electronic TDS probe?

EDIT: Brix is affected by TDS. Also, it seems to get a high Brix product, you have to do what the organic fanatics already do.

04-26-2012, 03:45 PM

I just read an article in an older issue of Acres, USA, on increasing brix in pastures. The article reported a rancher getting a reading of 27 in the fall on a fescue pasture! He's using coral calcium, and my fish-eyes aren't happy with 'coral calcium' being chosen. Sourced from where and processed how, exactly? Or is someone dredging up reefs? Why coral calcium? IIRC, coral skeletons are primarily CaCO3... but I think I'm gonna double check on that.

I have a friend at Reed Mariculture who may know. <muses>

As for the how the refractometer reads sugars, aminos, minerals, etcetera, I could not tell you. I know that it's not reading only sugars, but I can't quite equivocate it to an EC meter.

rrog · 04-26-2012, 03:59 PM

SM, the light is bent / refracted more if dissolved solids are present. Pretty simple once I looked into it. with high-sucrose products, the presumption is that a lot of the TDS is sucrose. Technically, the refractometer is measuring all the dissolved solids.

Maina · 04-26-2012, 04:00 PM

its suger it shows not minerals

04-26-2012, 04:06 PM

If you read up on the technology, it shows minerals as well. Otherwise, saltwater enthusiasts wouldn't be able to use refractometers to measure salinity/specific gravity.

rrog · 04-26-2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maina

its suger it shows not minerals

As Seamaiden said, this is not technically correct

**exploziv** · 04-26-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaMaiden

If you read up on the technology, it shows minerals as well. Otherwise, saltwater enthusiasts wouldn't be able to use refractometers to measure salinity/specific gravity.

Quote:

Brix refractometers are meant to measure the percentage of sugar in a pure sucrose solution.

You are right. Also, it seems that there are different types of refractometers. The difference between them seems to be the density of the things they are calibrated to measure.

example: salt is more dense than sugar.

Now, from what I can understand, our cannabis sap brix readings will show the sugars, the minerals, as well as other "impurities" in the plant sap.
Looks like the natural variation of those other "impurities" can make our so called "sugar content"readings inaccurate.

Anyway, can't wait to play with my refractometer, once I get it shipped to me. I'm sure it will at least be helpful with other vegetables and fruits I/I'll grow, if not with cannabis.

I'll lurk around for any further info from people that have used one, and I'll also try to help others when I'll start using it.

Have a great day!

ixnay007 · 04-26-2012, 05:39 PM

If you think the brix measurement might be inaccurate., you could do like smurf, and instead of worrying about numbers, worry about increases or decreases in the measurement after you've added ferts..

**exploziv** · 04-26-2012, 05:44 PM

That's what I plan to do, also, I'm thinking of comparison between readings from different cultivars under same conditions, to see which of them are doing better in the said environment.

04-25-2012, 05:01 AM	#21
EclipseFour20 aka "Doc" Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So Kalifornia Posts: 1,741	I found this pdf on brix useful. https://www.nutritionsecurity.org/PDF/Brix.pdf __________________ Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before. (Mae West) *Nobody has a monopoly on good ideas! Nobody! (Kevin O'Leary)* *The more I learn, the more I learn how little I know. (Socrates)* *Somebody who agrees with me 80 percent of the time is a friend and ally, not a 20 percent traitor. (Reagan)* *Why are women are so uptight? They've got half the money and all the pussy. (DC Cab, 1983)* *If you think you know everything; you know nothing. If you think you know nothing; you know something. (Jayce O'Neal)*
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

04-25-2012, 08:16 PM	#22
rrog Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,978	This is very interesting indeed. I'm just hung up on what exactly is being measured. Sucrose or total dissolve solids? Is the refractometer calibrated to a wavelength equated to Sucrose or is this an optical TDS measurement like my Electronic TDS probe? EDIT: Brix is affected by TDS. Also, it seems to get a high Brix product, you have to do what the organic fanatics already do. __________________ __________________ OVERGROW with SOIL Fully Medical MJ Compliant Last edited by rrog; 04-25-2012 at 08:42 PM..
	Quote

04-26-2012, 03:45 PM	#23
SeaMaiden Guest Posts: n/a	I just read an article in an older issue of Acres, USA, on increasing brix in pastures. The article reported a rancher getting a reading of 27 in the fall on a fescue pasture! He's using coral calcium, and my fish-eyes aren't happy with 'coral calcium' being chosen. Sourced from where and processed how, exactly? Or is someone dredging up reefs? Why coral calcium? IIRC, coral skeletons are primarily CaCO3... but I think I'm gonna double check on that. I have a friend at Reed Mariculture who may know. <muses> As for the how the refractometer reads sugars, aminos, minerals, etcetera, I could not tell you. I know that it's not reading only sugars, but I can't quite equivocate it to an EC meter.
	Quote 0 members found this post helpful.

04-26-2012, 03:59 PM	#24
rrog Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,978	SM, the light is bent / refracted more if dissolved solids are present. Pretty simple once I looked into it. with high-sucrose products, the presumption is that a lot of the TDS is sucrose. Technically, the refractometer is measuring all the dissolved solids. __________________ __________________ OVERGROW with SOIL Fully Medical MJ Compliant
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

04-26-2012, 04:06 PM	#26
SeaMaiden Guest Posts: n/a	If you read up on the technology, it shows minerals as well. Otherwise, saltwater enthusiasts wouldn't be able to use refractometers to measure salinity/specific gravity.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

04-26-2012, 04:00 PM	#25
Maina Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,283	its suger it shows not minerals
	Quote

04-26-2012, 05:39 PM	#29
ixnay007 "I can't remember the last time I had a blackout" Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,348	If you think the brix measurement might be inaccurate., you could do like smurf, and instead of worrying about numbers, worry about increases or decreases in the measurement after you've added ferts.. __________________ "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson
	Quote 2 members found this post helpful.

04-26-2012, 05:44 PM	#30
exploziv pure dynamite Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 20,173	That's what I plan to do, also, I'm thinking of comparison between readings from different cultivars under same conditions, to see which of them are doing better in the said environment. __________________ "We ought never do wrong when people are looking." - Mark Twain If the whole world smoked a joint at the same time, there would be world peace for at least two hours. Followed by a global food shortage.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.