Cheap salinity tester

[reefmusic]

Is anyone using a cheap tester like this one I got from Amazon? It actually seems to work well, and after checking the calibration, it's hard to see what can go wrong. Just insert in the tank, jiggle it a bit to free any bubbles, and read from the scale.

 

[Reefing102]

I use an instant ocean hydrometer. I have a refractometer but the hydrometer is just easier.

 

[reefmusic]

I use an instant ocean hydrometer. I have a refractometer but the hydrometer is just easier.

I have used a floating hydrometer, but the scale on this is easier to read.

 

[griss]

Yep, used those a while back. I just use a refractometer now.

 

[kharmaguru]

Here's mine from literally 1996. I keep my water at 1.025 with a refractometer and this is reading 1.024 which I guess is not bad after 28 years.

 

[Drummer98]

Back in the old days I used those floating hydrometers. I always fought the bubbles and wondered if it was really accurate.
Fast forward 20 years and I came back to the hobby and now use nothing but a refractometer. No bubbles to worry about and easily calibrated.

 

[reefmusic]

Here's mine from literally 1996. I keep my water at 1.025 and this is reading 1.024 which I guess is not bad after 28 years.
View attachment 32396480

Same design, yeah.

 

[griss]

Here's mine from literally 1996. I keep my water at 1.025 with a refractometer and this is reading 1.024 which I guess is not bad after 28 years.
View attachment 32396480

And Coralife, that’s the one I had as well.

 

[reefmusic]

Back in the old days I used those floating hydrometers. I always fought the bubbles and wondered if it was really accurate.
Fast forward 20 years and I came back to the hobby and now use nothing but a refractometer. No bubbles to worry about and easily calibrated.

Since the bubbles only create error in one direction, you just have to tap/shake/jiggle it until the reading is at it's minimum. If it won't go down any further, that's the correct reading.

 

[T Diddy]

Here's mine from literally 1996. I keep my water at 1.025 with a refractometer and this is reading 1.024 which I guess is not bad after 28 years.
View attachment 32396480

I still use the same one. The guys at my LFS tell me that the new ones suck, and are nowhere near as accurate as the old ones like we still have