What do you use?

[Nu2SW]

I was wondering what everyone on here uses's to test the salinity levels for there tanks.

do you use a swing arm or a refracto meter?

 

[Sk8r]

I own a swing-arm to use if there is any possible question about calibration of the refractometer. But it takes about 10 minutes worth of futzing to bang any last bubble off that cursed arm, and even then it's not to be trusted.

I believing in backing up every piece of technical equipment with a mechanical primitive as a last resort: 2 thermometers, etc.---but I hate that swing-arm.

 

[Reefugee]

I use a refractometer. When I first received a refractometer, I compared it to my swing arm, and the results were WAY off. I can're remember by how much, but it was something like my swing arm reported 1.026 and my refractometer was reporting something in the low 1.03x.

You can buy one from Dr. Foster Smith for $35 by going to through the following link. I think it's normally $40 on sale, and $60 regular price.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11275&ref=2020&subref=AC

Do yourself a favor and get a refractometer. Great investment!

Minh

 

[Unarce]

Neither...I mastered the taste test:hmm4:

 

[Elite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7310153#post7310153 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnutz
Neither...I mastered the taste test:hmm4:

:lol:


I use both. I use to swing arm to do a quick test when mixing salt. I use the refractometer to double check before using the water.

 

[duec22]

I've been useing the swing arm, but will be getting a refractometer very soon.

 

[Nu2SW]

thanks for the link minh.

So do all of them you see thru, I thought it was electronic and it dips in the water.

Interesting.... I think ill have to get one in june.

Kids birthday is coming up on june 6th, first birthday.
You guys can get her wonderful corals and frags.... or a meter... LOL j/k

If anyone is In sac and has one, would yall mind to check my water and see how off it is from my swing arm??

 

[sagitariuscbc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7082022#post7082022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Marc Daniels
April - No Meeting


May - Water Testing Forum
This forum/workshop will be led by Rich Van Dusen & myself. Bring your tank water, and even your makeup water if you want it tested. We will have a large collection of various test kits, digital readers, and so on. We will look at the discrepancies between the kits, and I think some of you will be surprised to find out how accurate that $15 test kit you picked up a Petco really is. If you have a swing arm hydrometer it will give you a chance to calibrate it against a refractometer. This should be a very informative meeting, hands-on type meeting.


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[duec22]

I'm interested in seeing some of the results from this next meeting. I honestly don't think my swing arm is all that off, but everytime I use it I know how off it can be. I may even make up a few blind test samples. If you guys want I can make up a few standards for nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia, and calcium.

 

[sagitariuscbc]

david i think that would be very helpful, why don't you post this offer under marc's thread for up coming speakers or just bring them i am sure they would be of use.

!~)

 

[Nu2SW]

hmm i forgot about that was what they were doing at the may meeting

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7310345#post7310345 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nu2SW
thanks for the link minh.

So do all of them you see thru, I thought it was electronic and it dips in the water.

The thing you are thinking of is a conductivity probe. It measures the conductivity of the water and from that infers the salinity. There are a number of hand held conductivity meters. There are also a number of controllers that are available with conductivity probes. They can be used as a safety measure to turn off auto-top-off if salinity drops too low. They are also used with some of the more complicated auto water change systems.

 

[seaworks]

Milwaukee refractometer.