are there good and bad refractometers?

[Wally.B]

...which still needs to be used correctly and calibrated.

There is no magic bullet. No matter what instrument you use, you need to understand it, calibrate it, and use it properly. Using a "cheap" refractometer properly will give just as good a reading as using a hundreds of dollars electronic instrument, when used properly. I'd trust a reading from a $20 hydrometer or a $40 refractometer, when calibrated and used correctly, over that from an expensive electronic instrument of unknown state or usage. In other words, spending more money doesn't give you a better result. Understanding your instrument gives you a better result.

I know I'm beating a dead horse, but after years of watching people complain about salinity readings in this forum, it's pretty clear that a lot of people don't bother learning the basics of measuring salinity because they think they've bought the "right" tool and therefore don't need to think about it any more. I use a cheap ATC refractometer these days, but I used swingarm hydrometers for probably the first 15 years I was in the hobby, and as part of my day job I've written O&M and calibration procedures for using electronic salinity meters in industrial settings - I have no preference for any one tool over another, because it really doesn't matter for our purposes, as long as the tool is used correctly.

Totally agree with you.
Calibration, proper Calibration Solution, using properly and device USED ACCURACY +/-
I did consider the electronic version, but decided not to get one since I could see it having different issues (PainPOINTS) (Not Water proof Failure, Method of Calibration, Keeping clean, Storage/Space... etc).
Plus another factor is Temp measuring device accuracy, and that is where the ATC (AutoTempCompensation) Refractors have my vote (if ATC works properly/accurately)
The Tropic Maurin Hydrometer (painful to use) doesn't need Salinity calibration (yet still does rely on accurate temperature so now temp calibration and how do you do that?) I used 3 thermometer and took an average to make my 1.0250 calibration solution.

 

[Xxero]

To each their own, I guess. All I know is that I put a drop of water in the well and push a button. Game over.

The Milwaukee Digital Refractometer gives an on-screen temperature reading, and the unit compensates for it (AutoTempCompensation).

The unit and its case are only slightly larger than my refractometer's case, and every time that I check, both readings are the same. The digital refractometer is no magic bullet, but it sure is awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joeIrcK4C3M

 

[flawedexistence]

Aren't the Milwaukee instruments pretty pricey?

 

[Wally.B]

Aren't the Milwaukee instruments pretty pricey?

Some things are worth a higher price. If the value is there.

I just watched the video. The BRS selling points are hoaky. (bright light, bubbles, etc)

I have two concerns with the Milwakee Electronic.

1) How accurate is it using RO water as calibration solution which is a 0 calibration quite far off from salt water

2) A refractomer or even a hydrometer is analog, so you know you are half way between 1.024 and 1.025 when adding salt for example to make new tank water. Easy to overshoot at the last stage where you are adding last bit of salt which become a skill you aquire with analog device Feedback.

with digital display of 0.000 it give you no sense of what salinity is above or below. So accuracy is actually worse from a user perspetive compared to a properly calibrated refractomer

The electronic unit would be great if accuracy was 0.0001 or at least show 1.0255

Get my point?
That's the reason I never got one when reading manual.

It could be handy for just checking salinity of your tank, if you want that kind of convenience. But as mentioned THE PRICE.