Refractometer

[Psyops]

...and I posed this question not long after that
...and I'd bet neither of us had an original idea either (given the size of this place) :spin2:

Better not have posted at all.

FishMan65: I think it was part of another post talking about specific gravity accuracy. Sorry I am not good enough with computers to give you a specific link. Just go to that forum and ask the same exact question. At least you will get more answers than Doctorgori can give you.

I am on duty now. When I get back sometime tomorrow, I will let you know what refractometer I have that Boomer recommended.


Lt Col. Alex Carapeti

 

[Spaced Cowboy]

Actually I think I'm going to do my best with the crappy hydrometers I have and save for the Milwaukee Salinity Meter that costs $110.

Just in case it's not clear - that's the one I'm talking about above. MA887 is the model number.

Cheers
Simon.

 

[ERICinFL]

I bought mine off eBay for $20. After five years, it's still spot on. If paying $150 will give you a warm fuzzy feeling, by all means go for it. :lol:

 

[bladeyamaha]

Psyops, I had a question about what's the difference between a $30 refractometer and a $150 one, not about specific gravity, which did not come up in the search.

 

[Psyops]

Psyops, I had a question about what's the difference between a $30 refractometer and a $150 one, not about specific gravity, which did not come up in the search.

The main difference is that you don't have to worry about calibrating the $150 one. The one I am thinking of is called Vital Sine. It has a green body. It's about $115. It has been very dependable for me. You don't have to worry about temp compensation issues. It is also made for saltwater. My older one usually ran different with different temps. With this one, you just add 2 drops of the water and wait 30 seconds for the temp to adjust and read it.
I found mine at Foster and Smith Aquatics. Sorry again that I can't give you a link. Probably I should learn how to do that.

Alex

 

[foxrazr]

^^^^Let me add to this most refractometer are made for brine solution not seawater according to boomer. I use the vee-gee purchased at Aquarium Specialty which is the same one as the DFS Vital-Sine. Also according to boomer there are only a few refractometers made for seawater which are the Vital-Sine/Vee Gee, and ATAGO. Also I believe that The D-D Refractometer is also made for seawater but a couple of people were having problems with them.

 

[snorvich]

really a vital sine for $114 or captive purity for $60 I did find a blue one for $40, captive purity has one with adjustment without the screwdriver and a light, not sure about the light, but I have looked through a refractometer and a light might come in handy, but I'm not sure its worth $90, even considered a digital salinity meter about $300-IDK!

Well, when you are old like me, you will appreciate the light. I have a manual with a light as well as a digital one.

 

[bladeyamaha]

I have learned during this thread I am going to be better off saving for a digital salinity meter, thank you everyone for all the advice and vice.

 

[Psyops]

^^^^Let me add to this most refractometer are made for brine solution not seawater according to boomer. I use the vee-gee purchased at Aquarium Specialty which is the same one as the DFS Vital-Sine. Also according to boomer there are only a few refractometers made for seawater which are the Vital-Sine/Vee Gee, and ATAGO. Also I believe that The D-D Refractometer is also made for seawater but a couple of people were having problems with them.

Thanks for the info. I was trying to give this info earlier but off the top of my head could not come up with the actual info. Again thanks for chiming in.

Alex

 

[bladeyamaha]

Well ended up finding a Milwaukee MR100ATC for $29.99+$5.00 shipping. When they were new they cost almost $100. Pretty good deal and it works great. Now to save up for a Milwaukee Digital Salinity Refractometer.

 

[emooring37]

I have the Milwaukee. One thing to note is that it can only be calibrated to zero. Not to a 35 ppt soln like is recc with most refractometers. Would rather be able to calibrate to 35.

 

[bladeyamaha]

I just followed the directions and used distilled ro water and then calibrated with that, should be good, its got to be better than the hydrometers that I had, faster too.