Do hydrometers go bad?

[Candy803]

I have a hydrometer that was given to me with my "established" tank. It belonged to the man I purchased the tank from. I had bought a new one. The new one has my sp at 1.023 the old one has it at around 1.017. Bubbles have been shaken off both. What to do?

 

[kzickovich]

buy a refracometer!!! hydros s**k!!!

 

[mattpenn]

i agree hydros arent perfect and do wear out buy a refracometer

 

[inachu]

Where to buy a refracometer? Would hardware stores like the top major hardware stores sell them?

 

[Michael]

hydrometers are not precise when reading the sg, try a refractometer, easy to buy from your lfs or even E-Bay, much more reliable and accurate

 

[inachu]

I rinse mine out before and after each use and I let it sit in the tank so the warm water disolves any left over salt by previous use.

 

[abulgin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13038572#post13038572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by inachu
Where to buy a refracometer? Would hardware stores like the top major hardware stores sell them?

I got this one and love it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Salinity-Refrac...ryZ20755QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Make sure you buy some Calibration fluid. Go here: http://stores.ebay.com/jcaquatics, then click on American Marine Pinpoint Salinity Calibration Fluid US $4.99

 

[Michael]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13038625#post13038625 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by inachu
I rinse mine out before and after each use and I let it sit in the tank so the warm water disolves any left over salt by previous use.

to keep your marine creatures alive and well temperature and sg=salinity needs to remain stable, hydrometers are known to be finniky, best to get a refractometer as mentioned by kzick and ensure proper tests each time with accuracy

 

[snorvich]

Yes, you will need a refractometer and calibration fluid. Anything else is a gamble.

 

[gummi]

I was told that a good hydrometer was fine as long as you kept the salt from building up on the arm and didn't drop it. I did research and bought the one with the best reputation (Instant Ocean) and saved myself $50 over getting a refractometer...YES!

I always rinsed it with fresh water, never dropped it, and cleaned it with vinegar regularly until I noticed that something just wasn't right. I brought a sample of my water to a LFS and he tested it and where my hydrometer said 1.024 it was really 1.033!!!!

For the hydrometer, the trouble, the vinegar to rince the stupid thing etc.... I should have just bought a refractometer.

I eventually did over a year ago and never looked back. It is 100% worth it and essential... hydrometers are a waste of money.

 

[Sk8r]

Salt and calcium build up and change the reading.

Get a refractometer once and you'll be happy for years.

 

[cloak]

I've never had any problems with these $5.99 hydrometers.

 

[IslandCrow]

Swing-arm hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate. You can calibrate them, but they're still not ideal. Now, the bulb style hydrometers are supposed to be much more reliable. You'll just have to be sure to calibrate them. I think a refractometer is easier to use, but. . .you guessed it. . .make sure it's calibrated. Over almost 2 years of use, though, the calibration on my refractometer has changed by les than 1ppt, and that's one of the cheaper refractometers.