Back in the game! - Just a quick question

[Bananafish]

After being dry since Sandy, I've finally started to get wet again. Just set up in the last few days, not quite a full week yet. Very proud of where I am at this point, but very upset because of where I've been Got a pic - please be kind, hehe:

Got one quick question:

What do you think about the Aqueous Lab brand refractometer? I have been thinking of getting one, but don't want to spend a fortune since my old glass float model has been working fine for about 20 years. This one is ATC and dual-scale, and not too expensive. I don't know if anybody has ever tried this one, and I'm sure everybody thinks the one (s)he has is the best. The real question is: Does anybody think it's a bad product?

Many thanks in advance, folks! Looking forward to getting back in the swing very soon. I actually am going to get some of my clowns back (friend is moving to FL). They're six years old now and have been laying eggs for a month or so, and I'm really stoked about getting them back. Really cool for them to come full circle.

 

[Usernam Invalid]

Welcome back and good luck with the rebuild.
I haven't use that particular brand of refractometer. But almost all of them are good and definitely better than any swing arm one. Only suggestion is to get a bottle of calibration fluid for it. If you can't find any I have an extra bottle of calibration fluid I could give you.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

As long as it can be calibrated it should be fine, as Jay said use a calibration fluid as a check every so often. However if the float works you can use it.
Welcome back.

 

[Bananafish]

Thanks, guys! It does have a calibration screw and all 4- or 5-star reviews, but just wanted to check with people I who know what they're doing. I know my float well, so I can compare it. Also, I know I can get calibration fluid in a few places (thanks for the offer, Jay). I hate the swing arm ones. Bought one once, got 11 different readings on the same water, threw it out and got as close as possible by taste when I started up this tank over 10 years ago. Then, I went back to my parents' basement and dug up my old floatie. I still like the floats - I know, I know...

I am so totally stoked about this rebuild. Hate that my rock is bleached out, but I had it in water and fed it for 4 years, so I'm hoping for a smooth startup. And I saved coralline dust. Hope that takes a foothold, but we'll see. I'm running power heads only and 2-hour light cycles twice a day for awhile to see if I can get any corallines. Also hoping some worm eggs left in the sand might hatch. Will let you all know how it goes and post a few pics.

Again, thanks for your help. Will order the refractometer and let you know

 

[keiferd]

Thanks, guys! It does have a calibration screw and all 4- or 5-star reviews, but just wanted to check with people I who know what they're doing. I know my float well, so I can compare it. Also, I know I can get calibration fluid in a few places (thanks for the offer, Jay). I hate the swing arm ones. Bought one once, got 11 different readings on the same water, threw it out and got as close as possible by taste when I started up this tank over 10 years ago. Then, I went back to my parents' basement and dug up my old floatie. I still like the floats - I know, I know...

I am so totally stoked about this rebuild. Hate that my rock is bleached out, but I had it in water and fed it for 4 years, so I'm hoping for a smooth startup. And I saved coralline dust. Hope that takes a foothold, but we'll see. I'm running power heads only and 2-hour light cycles twice a day for awhile to see if I can get any corallines. Also hoping some worm eggs left in the sand might hatch. Will let you all know how it goes and post a few pics.

Again, thanks for your help. Will order the refractometer and let you know

I am a USAF veteran and have used a refractometer to measure the de-icer fluid for the engines. I think it is overkill. A standard Lever-based salinity meter should be fine.

 

[Bananafish]

I am a USAF veteran and have used a refractometer to measure the de-icer fluid for the engines. I think it is overkill. A standard Lever-based salinity meter should be fine.

Thank you for your service.

I have tried the lever-based tools, and I don't like them. I appreciate we all have very different experiences, and no doubt yours have all been good. My concern here was that this particular model might be a bad product. It may well be overkill, but it's instant when compared to floating hydrometers or lever devices, and it only needs a few drops of water to do an accurate test.

 

[Bananafish]

FYI, gents, I got the thing yesterday and already I love it. This one gets calibrated to zero using distilled water, and was perfect when I received it. Nice case, adjustment screwdriver, etc. GREAT to know my old floatie is 100% accurate. I have a new floatie at the office I was convinced was off a little bit, and the refractometer confirmed. BEST thing.... I bought some hermits for the office tank that I put in this morning. I was able to verify the salinity was a little lower than the tank water. Although I love and trust my old hydrometer, this is not possible without a good 8-10" of water, so I'm happy.

Thanks, guys.