db1979 wrote:Have you checked your hydrometer in tap water? If it doesn't read 1.000 in tap water then it's out of calibration and you should adjust all readings accordingly. Are you measuring it at 20 degrees C? If it's not at 20 degrees C then it won't be accurate. The tap water mentioned above also needs to be at 20 degrees C.
I actually haven't checked the hydrometer in tap water, it's brand new but I should check it.
I compensate for temperature using a conversion calculator, usually I pitch yeast at 35C and measure SG just before pitching.
Calculator usually adds 4 to what I've measured so 1.040 would be 1.044 at that temp.