refractometer

stiltman

stiltman

Active member
I'm shopping for one now, since I've been using a $7 hydrometer for the last 2 years I'm thinking I can get by with one of the cheaper models out there.

Is there much difference between the best and the cheapest? So far I just see that calibration may be a bit easier in the more expensive models. Is calibrating hard?

I'm thinking about the lower end models from big al's or foster and smith's.

Thanks.
 
MarineDepot has one on sale right now for $39.99, reg $59.99. I think my wife saw my email and bought me one :)
 
I got mine from ebay and it looks just like marinedepot for 39.99 but it was only like 20.00 I can't say if is as good but looks the same and works great for me.
 
i think its all the same. just depend on.... if ur a brand name junkie or not and if u want to pay more for the extra feature
 
ebay for half off specials. $20 all day long. Make sure to get one for aquariums that has the proper scale and some calibration fluid.

I really am surprised LFS don't have them for $30. They would sell one to every customer and make good profit vs selling them for $100 and maybe selling 1 a year...
 
I have one like the "Marine Depot" version and it is just fine. I do recommend getting a standard solution to calibrate with over using RO water. RO will get close but if your buying a refractometer "close" is not what you are interested in our you would still playing with a swing arm.
 
Jared J said:
MarineDepot has one on sale right now for $39.99, reg $59.99. I think my wife saw my email and bought me one :)
Click to expand...

+1
I have the MarineDepot one as well, for the same price. It is not at all difficult to calibrate and very easy to use. I calibrate mine monthly with RO/DI water.
 
$27.00 shipped ATC refractometer on ebay.
And I have been calibrating with distilled water. Most likely
will purchase the AMP salinity calibration fluid on my next
bundle online purchase.
 
maybe consider a better hydrometer

maybe consider a better hydrometer

I can recommend Tropic Marin Precision hydrometers (accept no substitute) instead of a refractometer. I cant be bothered calibrating a refractometer. I am not alone. I bought my 260 gal reef set up from a guy that had the salt way off because he hadnt calibarated his refractometer. There is a highly accurate hydrometer out there, it is much more accurate than any aquarium refractometer and never needs calibration. It is
Tropic Marin Precision hydrometer (accept no substitute)
It is accurate to 0.0005 count those zeros folks, it is about 10X more accuate than aquarium refractometers (whose scales doent even go that low).
they are about $36 and really easy to use.
 
jbardwel said:
I can recommend Tropic Marin Precision hydrometers (accept no substitute) instead of a refractometer. I cant be bothered calibrating a refractometer. I am not alone. I bought my 260 gal reef set up from a guy that had the salt way off because he hadnt calibarated his refractometer. There is a highly accurate hydrometer out there, it is much more accurate than any aquarium refractometer and never needs calibration. It is
Tropic Marin Precision hydrometer (accept no substitute)
It is accurate to 0.0005 count those zeros folks, it is about 10X more accuate than aquarium refractometers (whose scales doent even go that low).
they are about $36 and really easy to use.
Click to expand...

haha, didn't you say that already?
 
Ebay here and it was shipped from china. Has a finger adjustable calibrator and I have found that it is the best thing since folding money was invented. :lol:
 
gosteen said:
wouldn't that be distilled water? That is what mine calls for.
Click to expand...

Most refractrometers have the ppt scale opposite of the specific gravity. I use this side for calibration. You can make calibration fluid of different salinity by using 1 gram of salt per one liter of water. This equals 1 ppt, so 10g of salt in one liter of water = 10 ppt and so on.
 
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