Best method to check salinity?
- Thread starter jurel
- Start date
whiteshark
Active member
I'd say get a refractometer personally. Several people use swing arm or floating hydrometers with success, but I think, if calibrated correctly with calibration solution, a refractometer takes a lot of potential user error out of the equation.
As for brands, most any one will work fine.
As for brands, most any one will work fine.
that
pyithar
New member
this. for me, refractometer is the best invesment that i've made since i started this hobby. i had two hydrometers when i started. one was more expensive but its swing arm was always stuck at the top(because of high salinity). so i thought that was wrong. so i always used the cheaper one. and i set my salinity at 1.025 using that hydrometer. my clarkii was fine. but when i started my first coral, zoanthids, polyps opened for a few minutes and never opened again. that's when i decided to get my refractometer and to my surprise, my salinity was at 1.030! i'm very thankful for my beloved refractometer.
downbeach
New member
Refractometer, properly calibrated with this. I used a TM glass floating hydrometer successfully for years, but for ease of use and convenience you can't beat a decent refractometer.
Last edited:
reepher315
Humble Student
Just for reference. I bought a refractometer and once calibrated it read .005 higher thank my swing arm. Glad i spent the extra cash.
SFish
New member
refractometer works great!
I'm considering upgrading to a digital one soon. eyes kinda bad
I'm going to buy this my self. Hanna also makes one but it costs a little bit more. I also like the small Hanna color meters as well they're only $50 and are way better then test kits.
shesacharmer
New member
I wouldn't be without my refractometer. My swing arm was a waste of money. I use this: http://www.amazon.com/Salinity-Refr...&qid=1409503493&sr=1-1&keywords=refractometer
cloak
New member
A floating glass hydrometer is another option. These have been known to be pretty accurate.
Just as an example, as long as the meniscus lines up somewhere in the green area, (preferably at the bottom of it) everything seems to work out ok. (~1.025)
FWIW, my parents used to use the same thing on their saltwater tank back in the late 70's early 80's. Here it is 2014, and the design is exactly the same. It just goes to show that they do work, quite well actually. GL.
Just as an example, as long as the meniscus lines up somewhere in the green area, (preferably at the bottom of it) everything seems to work out ok. (~1.025)
FWIW, my parents used to use the same thing on their saltwater tank back in the late 70's early 80's. Here it is 2014, and the design is exactly the same. It just goes to show that they do work, quite well actually. GL.
lazy_reefer
New member
Refractometer is good, but digital refractometer is better! if you have spare money, but digital!
melvinakshay
Member
Apex pm2
Hi!
Colleagues recently did a test: 2 different floats, 2 refractometers different manufacturers and electronic Milwaukee - here are the results:
1022 - Milwaukee
1023 - float 1
1025 - float 2
1026 - refractometer 1
1028 - refractometer 2
as you can see the difference really big and yet accurate result salinity we need to measure anything then ...
In seawater, the most important are the right proportions but not knowing the salinity levels such as Ca does not give us anything because it depends on what salinity, therefore I think it is worth:
http://www.amazon.com/MASTER-S-Mill...409579377&sr=1-4&keywords=refractometer+atago
I greet
Jarek
Colleagues recently did a test: 2 different floats, 2 refractometers different manufacturers and electronic Milwaukee - here are the results:
1022 - Milwaukee
1023 - float 1
1025 - float 2
1026 - refractometer 1
1028 - refractometer 2
as you can see the difference really big and yet accurate result salinity we need to measure anything then ...
In seawater, the most important are the right proportions but not knowing the salinity levels such as Ca does not give us anything because it depends on what salinity, therefore I think it is worth:
http://www.amazon.com/MASTER-S-Mill...409579377&sr=1-4&keywords=refractometer+atago
I greet
Jarek
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
refractometer works great!
I'm considering upgrading to a digital one soon. eyes kinda bad
+1 this is what I use, takes the guess work out of trying to read a line that's at or just over a mark on a refractometer
