refractometer recommendation

[DMBillies]

I'm looking into buying a refractometer and I wanted to collect some opinions about brands that have worked well for people. I've just been using two hydrometers and comparing readings for a while and I'm sick of it and am worried about the amount of fluctuation I see in them. I know this is the topic for the next meet, but I was thinking about jumping in on the marinedepot order for one.

 

[turboex901]

ive heard nothing but good thinks on the foster and smiths 39 dollar special. i think thats pretty much the "standard" refrac. on RC. maybe marinedepot has something similar? <~~steve

 

[TitansFan]

this is the one I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Salinity-Sa...9QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11876QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I bought it from member premiumaq which turned out to premiumaquatics.com. I got a great deal on it. Here is it on their website. Whatever one you get make sure it has ATC (Automatic Temperature Compensation)

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...n=PROD&Product_Code=REFRACT-PA&Category_Code=

 

[Highside]

I have the marine depot version and it was dead on with both RO water and pinpoint 53.0mS calibration solution. Works good for me.

 

[SRT80]

I've got the blue one from Drsfostersmiths. I've been using it for 2 years now. Still workin' good.

Steve

 

[crumbletop]

I have one of the blue Marine Depot ones (I think it was like around $40). It works fine. The trick is making sure it is calibrated correctly. I am finding that salinity measurement is not an exact science with the tools we have ready access to -- but is likely "close enough". I'll talk more about that at the March meeting. BTW, I'll have some super accurate calibration solution at the meeting. C_stowers made some up in the lab with ultra pure NaCl on a super accurate balance, with a super accurate amount of 18 megaohm ultra-pure water. I and some others have been getting inconsistent readings from pinpoint 53 mS solutions (we have around 8 bottles or so) -- so we made up the super accurate stuff to see what was up. At any rate, if anyone wants to calibrate their refracto at the March meeting, I'll have some 1.0264 and some 1.009 available.