Which Salinity Reading do I trust?...

[zibba]

I have both refractometer and a hydrometer and they are giving me such different readings...

Refractometer = 1.017
Hydrometer = 1.027

Which do I trust?

Here is the refractometer that I'm using: http://www.reichertai.com/products.html?productID=14

but it came in a box that looks like this:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...n=PROD&Product_Code=REFRACT-PA&Category_Code=

 

[RobSW1]

If its calibrated.....id trust a 900 dollar refractometer ,over a plastic swing arm hydrometer anyday.

 

[zibba]

The thing is....I just got it from a club member. I'm not sure if it's calibrated...and I'm not sure if it is really the $900 dollar model because I got it along with 50# of live rock and a seio 820 for $135. I'm going to call up the company Monday to check the serial number.

 

[danielmanlee]

zibba . is very easy place some tap water on the refractometer and see if it read 1.000 and if it does then is calibrated.. it not readjust it until your level is at 1.0000 hope this help

 

[Lotus99]

It doesn't look like that refractometer is designed for saltwater use, it says it's for urine (!). Could you call the person you bought it from and ask?

 

[Nano Chris]

If thats a refractometer and someone paid that much for it, i wouldn't have gave it away with that stuff for $135. Who would pay that much for that anyway.

 

[kevin2000]

You don't want to use tap water to calibrate a refractometer ... use distilled water.

Until your comfortable that your refractometer is accurate you should have your LFS test your salinity.

You can buy a decent refractometer for about $50 from Drs Foster/Smith

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1