Affordable refractometer

[Spiker101]

Hey, I am finally ready to take my reef keeping to the next level and purchase a refractometer. Anyone has any recommendation on an affordable one? Also on ebay there are electronic pH meters for less than $20 (some are like 1$), are those accurate at all?

 

[airplanes1016]

Heres the on I use. http://cgi.ebay.com/Sea-Water-Salin...056?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33537b5658 I love it, and very easy to cailibrate, also I can tell you I wouldnt trust a probe for a $1. JMO

 

[Agu]

Hey, I am finally ready to take my reef keeping to the next level and purchase a refractometer. Anyone has any recommendation on an affordable one? Also on ebay there are electronic pH meters for less than $20 (some are like 1$), are those accurate at all?

The problem with electronic probes is that they have to be calibrated with special calibration fluid and the probes wear out. It's false economy to buy one IME. A refractometer should be calibrated also but it's easier/cheaper and they don't wear out. Don't know about the Ebay refractometer but I got one from Premium Aquatics about ten years ago and it's still working fine for me.

 

[Dustin1300]

Agreed with Agu. I purchased the following refractometer from PA:

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/me...ode=PA&Product_Code=REFRACT-HD&Category_Code=

I calibrate from time to time with solution but does not typically fluctuate.

 

[Spiker101]

I just got the ebay one

 

[Dustin1300]

I'd make sure and calibrate with fluid often. I don't trust many products/sellers on eBay.

 

[bertoni]

I suspect most of the electronic meters won't ready high enough for a saltwater tank, either. I used a PinPoint salinity meter for years and liked it, but it was a lot more than $20.

 

[C0rp]

Get the BRS one, its cheap , real nice quality and comes with calibration liquid. Im very very glad I got this.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...eading-salinity-w-free-calibration-fluid.html

 

[SA13]

I wish BRS would get those back in stock. I may just have to go with the PA one.

 

[C0rp]

I wish BRS would get those back in stock. I may just have to go with the PA one.

Oh jeez..i didnt see that...I just got mine last week so I didn't think about checking the inventory on it. Call em up and ask when they are getting more!

 

[Larz_1]

Yep ... just got mine from BRS last week, too.
Must have been a run on them ... LOL

Love mine so far ....