new refractometer

[Jimbos11]

Took everyones advice and ditched the cheap plastic hydrometer. Got my new marine depot refractometer in the mail today. Calibrated it and checked my water. Perfect 1.025. The hydrometer was at 1.023. Not a huge deal but I like the refractometer. It just feels like quality.

Jim

 

[smellslikeTUNA]

Good to know jimbo! Mine will be here tomorrow!

 

[sponger0]

I bought the same one used....love it.

 

[rovster]

Cool. They are nice. Just make sure you calibrate it every so often. I took a reading last month and nearly $h!t myself. It was WAY off. I recalibrated, and everything was all good. Not sure why. I use the hydrometer for ballpark measurements when checking the tank and mixing salt water, and use the refractometer for my "final values".

 

[Sanveann]

Just ordered my first, as well (I went with the one from BRS.) I feel like such a geek -- I'm super-psyched for it to get here!

 

[Sport507]

Welcome to the refracto club.

 

[organism]

Nice! That's one of the best investments you can make for a reef tank

Just to make sure, are you using calibration fluid to calibrate it? Using ro/di like it says in the instructions is not a good plan, I learned that one the hard way...

 

[organism]

Nice! That's one of the best investments you can make for a reef tank

Just to make sure, are you using calibration fluid to calibrate it? Using ro/di like it says in the instructions is not a good plan, I learned that one the hard way...

 

[WetShepherd]

Grats

It was one of my very fist purchases. The guy at the LFS placed an 80.00 refractometer and a 10.00 Hydrometer on the counter and said choose. I had the feeling if I bought the hydro I would have been back later for the refracto. It turned out to be a good guess.

I still find it strange that they sell an expensive and precise piece of equipment like that, but if I want to buy a thermometer all they have is cheap 5.00 digitals or tiny alcs.

Anyway, enjoy living it salty certitude

 

[barbouri02]

Is the reclaibration difficult? I've been wanting to get one before everything is all set up. I've forever used the swing arm type hydrometer but would rather a more precise piece of equipment.

 

[WetShepherd]

Easy stuff. Use the calibration fluid instead of tank water and turn a screw accordingly. At least that's how it is with mine - I assume they are all pretty much the same.

 

[rovster]

Recalibration is easy. Put the calibration solution and take the measurement. There is a small screw you adjust to get your instrument to match your calibration solution value.

Edit: beat me to it

 

[barbouri02]

Sounds like the best route. For $50 (or so) for the more precision instrument sounds like it beats all other options.

 

[smellslikeTUNA]

Sounds like the best route. For $50 (or so) for the more precision instrument sounds like it beats all other options.

I've seen marinedepots go as low as $35 fairly recently (think I just paid ~$40)