Instant Ocean Hydrometer accuracy?

[Jerzey]

I've been using the instant ocean hydrometer for about six months with zero issues.

I don't buy into the hype.

its not hype were not even comparing apple's to apple's here.. the inconsistency can be minimal when there new but as they age salt build up and just regular ware and tear begins to make them extremely unreliable.... it's not as critical in fowler tanks as reef tanks but why skimp on such a cheap piece of equipment when we have hundreds to thousands of dollars worth of live stock invested its an accident waiting to happen and i don't know about you but i try to have the best equipment i can for what i can afford

 

[dkeller_nc]

Thats just common sense...theres no calibration solution for a hydrometer and that's why any refractometer you buy comes with 35ppm calibration solution now as per the instructions they say to calibrate before evert test but once you get a feel for yours you'll know how long till you'll need to recalibrate...mines lasts about 2 weeks till it begins to read slightly off

Actually, a densiometric calibration solution is both purchasable as a commercial product and is also easy to make if one has a kitchen scale and plastic bottle. Having said that, it's far easier to just take the hydrometer a LFS or another reefer that has a properly calibrated refractometer and compare readings.

And no, not all refractometers are supplied with a calibration solution, and one must be careful to get a seawater refractometer, or be prepared to do conversions if you have a brine refractometer.

It's also incorrect to say that a swing-arm hydrometer becomes less accurate or precise with age. It is true that one needs to be careful to prevent salt buildup on the swing arm - one way to do this is to simply fill the hydrometer with RODI after rinsing, and store it that way.

 

[Jerzey]

Actually, a densiometric calibration solution is both purchasable as a commercial product and is also easy to make if one has a kitchen scale and plastic bottle. Having said that, it's far easier to just take the hydrometer a LFS or another reefer that has a properly calibrated refractometer and compare readings.

And no, not all refractometers are supplied with a calibration solution, and one must be careful to get a seawater refractometer, or be prepared to do conversions if you have a brine refractometer.

It's also incorrect to say that a swing-arm hydrometer becomes less accurate or precise with age. It is true that one needs to be careful to prevent salt buildup on the swing arm - one way to do this is to simply fill the hydrometer with RODI after rinsing, and store it that way.

I'm sure your enjoying using your hydrometer still

 

[davocean]

I've been using the instant ocean hydrometer for about six months with zero issues.

I don't buy into the hype.

Really no hype about them, if you read on here long enough you are bound to see someone having tank issues while all params seem to be in check only to find out they are using a hydrometer that is way off.
I've seen plenty enough threads pointing this out as a sometimes accurate, most of the time not tool.
A reefracto is about $40
For what I have in animals and time invested it seems silly to cheap out on such a basic tool need.

 

[ReeferMark]

I've had my IO Hydrometer for ten years! Granted, I haven't used it in several years since I bought a refractometer. But when I had to use it at the end of last year to measure a large container of saltwater, the old Hydrometer wasn't that far off. I've always rinsed before and after each reading while I used it for my FOWLR tank. Having said all this...I'd still recommend you get yourself a refractometer...just to have that precise reading.

 

[kmbyrnes]

While researching my jump into reefing, it became clear that water parameters were crucial. I wasn't going to risk hundreds ( thousands ? ) of dollars in livestock for the cost of a bucket of salt.

Got the BRS with calibration fluid and have never looked back.

 

[dkeller_nc]

I'm sure your enjoying using your hydrometer still

Yes, I still use it when mixing saltwater (use a digital refractometer for checking tanks). That said, I have the equipment and knowledge to make very precise calibration solutions.

 

[OnceTrueFalseBr]

type of salt?

type of salt?

I've been using the instant ocean hydrometer for about six months with zero issues.

I don't buy into the hype.

I asked in another thread, but not sure if ill hear a response, but is it possible that the IO hydrometers are calibrated with the IO salts they sell too?

It might not seem like a big thing, but have you ever put the wrong fluid in a transmission before? yea...

maybe there salts have a different effect on hydrometer/refrac readings than other stuff?

just an abstract thought....

 

[OnceTrueFalseBr]

both?

both?

Really no hype about them, if you read on here long enough you are bound to see someone having tank issues while all params seem to be in check only to find out they are using a hydrometer that is way off.
I've seen plenty enough threads pointing this out as a sometimes accurate, most of the time not tool.
A reefracto is about $40
For what I have in animals and time invested it seems silly to cheap out on such a basic tool need.

i think it is even wiser to use both? if they sync great! if they are both far off from each other then you got a problem somewhere LOL

you could never have too many clocks =P