Help!? Anyone!? NEED advice and opinions!
- Thread starter TheNewbie
- Start date
schneijt
Premium Member
If you don't have calibration solution, trust none of them. Otherwise, calibrate your refractometer with the 1.036/35ppt solution and that's the tool for the job. Hydrometers are usually fairly worthless, since you never know what they're calibrated to, etc. A regularly calibrated refractometer is your source of truth in this hobby.
schnebbles
New member
do the refractometers need calibrated before use? I got one and it says to use distilled water. I didn't try it yet. I was having trouble with the hydrometer as well. I just left it in the tank - it's the fluval that sticks to the glass. For now anyhow, Just started my tank tonight.
You should always calibrate a refractometer after shipping, it shouldn't move by much but always better to be safe. Hydrometers are only accurate +/- .002 specific gravity at a given temperature. If you are going to use one, I recommend getting some water at your desired specific gravity and temperature and sharpie a marker right where the needle settles. For me, 1.025 Specific gravity is 1.023 on my Hydrometer at 298K.
Ron Reefman
Active member
+1 to what Walla2GSP said.
Despite what some say about hydrometers, they can be the perfect tool, easy to use and 100% accurate! Here is how:
I have a refractometer and 2 hydrometers. For several years I would calibrate the refractometer ever 6 months and then compare it to the hydrometers. The refractometer was always close, but did need some calibration. The first time I did it I labeled the hydrometers with their error correction (example: add 0.004). Over 5+ years the hydrometers haven't changed at all. They are NOT accurate, but can be "calibrated" with a label or a mark like Wall2GSP suggested. And once they are calibrated, they have proven to me that they are COMPLETELY reliable year after year. I never use my refractometer any more.
Despite what some say about hydrometers, they can be the perfect tool, easy to use and 100% accurate! Here is how:
I have a refractometer and 2 hydrometers. For several years I would calibrate the refractometer ever 6 months and then compare it to the hydrometers. The refractometer was always close, but did need some calibration. The first time I did it I labeled the hydrometers with their error correction (example: add 0.004). Over 5+ years the hydrometers haven't changed at all. They are NOT accurate, but can be "calibrated" with a label or a mark like Wall2GSP suggested. And once they are calibrated, they have proven to me that they are COMPLETELY reliable year after year. I never use my refractometer any more.
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