Digital Refract- Milwaukee Digital VS Hanna Instruments ?

[ClownBubbaJoe]

Digital Refract- Milwaukee Digital VS Hanna Instruments ?

Which would you recommend for accuracy, quality and ease of use ?

Hanna-

Hanna Instruments Digital Seawater Refractometer

Milwaukee-

Milwaukee Seawater Digital Refractometer with Protective Hardshell Case

 

[Supurderek]

I love my milwaukee! Insanely accurate.

 

[shadow64]

I love my milwaukee!

 

[phxreefer]

I also have the Milwaukee and absolutely love it. I have calibration fluid and check it once a month and it is never off at all. Best thing I've ever bought for my tanks.

 

[Reefvet]

Digital Refract- Milwaukee Digital VS Hanna Instruments ?

The Hanna is a re-branded Milwaukee. You didn't notice that they're virtually identical except for color/branding ?

Unless you're going hiking with it I don't see the value of the hard case. Save yourself that cost. Mine sits where I can use it and never moves.

 

[firemountain]

Whole I love the Hanna's, I wouldn't trade my Milwaukee Refract for the world. It's awesome!!

 

[evan38109]

I'm also a huge fan of my Milwaukee. Easier measurements means more measurements means more stable salinity for me!

 

[ClownBubbaJoe]

Wow, very positive review from you guys !

I have the meter from BRS, but my eyesight is not good and I have to point it at a lamp or direct sunlight to view the reading, so that's why I was looking at these two digital units.

And I agree with reefvet, I don't need the case.

Although I've never heard of this company, they have the lowest price.

Test Equipment Depot. $96 and free shipping.

What do you think ?

http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/milwaukee/refractometers/ma887.htm

 

[Sn8kbyt]

Wow, very positive review from you guys !

I have the meter from BRS, but my eyesight is not good and I have to point it at a lamp or direct sunlight to view the reading, so that's why I was looking at these two digital units.

And I agree with reefvet, I don't need the case.

Although I've never heard of this company, they have the lowest price.

Test Equipment Depot. $96 and free shipping.

What do you think ?

http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/milwaukee/refractometers/ma887.htm

Never owned the Hannah but do own the Milwaukee and can say it is a solid and easy to use unit. Since a good refractometer is $40ish spending an extra $60 is a good investment.

 

[reefwiser]

Got one for Christmas.

 

[ClownBubbaJoe]

I just watched a video on BRS about Refractometer's. He really like's the digital. He mentioned using a calibration fluid, since we're not using it at "0" range with RO/DI.

Other video's I've watched on YouTube are using RO/DO to calibrate.

So why are both RO and special calibrating fluid being used ?
Is the RO method giving us incorrect results ?
If so, by how much ?

I'll have 4 tanks set up, do we need to recalibrate the machine after checking each tank ?

 

[outssider]

they are advertising an accuracy of +or- 2ppt ???

that seems like a pretty wide range , that means if you're shooting for 36ppt it could really be at 38 ppt ???

this doesn't seem to be as accurate as a regular refractometer

 

[ClownBubbaJoe]

Hum,.....

Speciation's-

Range 0 to 50 PSU
0 to 150 ppt
1 .000 to 1.114 S.G. (20/20)
0 to 80°C / 32 to 176°F
Resolution 1 PSU
1 ppt
0.001 S.G. (20/20)
0.1°C / 0.1°F
Accuracy ±2 PSU
±2 ppt
±0.002 S.G. (20/20)
±0.3°C / ±0.5°F

The SG seems closer at .002.

 

[firemountain]

I didn't appreciate the Milwaukee unit until I started having to test multiple batches of salt water at once. I run my QT a bit lower than my DT. ... So I make and premix 2 separate batches of water. Hence at any given time I am running up to like 4 tests.

 

[ClownBubbaJoe]

What do you think about the accuracy being +/- 2 ?

 

[shaggss]

What do you think about the accuracy being +/- 2 ?

As others have said, I test mine regularly with calibration fluid and it is always spot on. I wouldn't worry about it.

Also, you use RODI to calibrate it as you need to zero it.

 

[Cysco]

The Milwaukee is so fast at making multiple readings that I always zero the unit with RODI then test with 35 put cal fluid and it's always spot on.

 

[saintsnsinners]

What do you think about the accuracy being +/- 2 ?

I measure in s.g.

 

[ClownBubbaJoe]

I measure in s.g.

You can convert it though.

 

[Reefvet]

What do you think about the accuracy being +/- 2 ?

I've always wondered about that because mine has always been correct when tested with calibration fluid and NSW.

They seem to have good success in the market since they're offering 11 different refractometors. I think that suggests accuracy isn't an issue.