Refractometers ????

[helipilot]

I would like some advice regarding using a refractometer vs a swinging arm type hydrometer. I have a 30 gal reef that is seven months old. I have been using a Deep Six swing arm all along, but after reading about refrac's I was wondering if I should make the step or not. If so what type? Thank you in advance.

 

[Len]

IMO, yes, you should get a refractometer. I've found them more reliable and accurate then the swing-arms i've used. IME with three different refractometers, they actually all work about the same.

 

[Meloco14]

IMO refractometers are a must have item. You will be surprised at how far off a swing arm hydrometer can be. The refractometer I bought was in the $60-70 range and I have had no problems with it.

 

[Anonymous]

I think they are a must have item too. As important as a good thermometer. Not only can swing arm hydrometers be off the mark from the start, but they can change with time as deposits build on the arm and they get banged around. The refractometer will always read true and you can always calibrate it reliably if you doubt it at any time.

 

[pwj1286]

Any brand have a better track record than the other?

I need to get one. Though I could just calibrate my swing arm Instant Ocean hydrometer to a refractormeter everyonce-and-a-while.
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[Anonymous]

>...Any brand have a better track record than the other?

I don't recall any study on the refracto, but I think most of them are pretty much identical unless you want to spend 10X - 50X more to get a industrial one.

 

[Anonymous]

Any brand have a better track record than the other?

I need to get one. Though I could just calibrate my swing arm Instant Ocean hydrometer to a refractormeter everyonce-and-a-while.

Can you calibrate hydrometers? I have two swing arm, but I haven't looked at them in a long time.

I just bought the $50 special refractometer...not sure of the brand, but they don't get any cheaper than that. It's still been more accurate than any hydrometer, and I have 3. One Instant Ocean, one box style of another brand, and one floating glass. All three read differently and none of them read true. Even the floating glass one is off...probably because it is calibrated at a lower temperature than tank temp...I think the floaters are calibrated at 55F or something that low.

 

[helipilot]

Thank you all for your help in my decision making re: refractometer. I have one ordered on-line as we speak. Helipilot

 

[Anonymous]

Can you calibrate hydrometers? I have two swing arm, but I haven't looked at them in a long time.

No, but you can determine how far off they are and adjust that amount after every reading.

 

[jandree22]

Thank you all for your help in my decision making re: refractometer. I have one ordered on-line as we speak. Helipilot

You done good, it'll be worth every penny!

 

[Be11yDancer]

There's a refractometer here for $37, www.refracts.com, I was going to purchase it to treat ich by hyposalinity, but I used kick-ich instead. I don't even think I had ich, just paranoia of a new tank.

Any comment on a cheap refract vs. a $60 one?

I once bought a cheap ear thermometer for taking a kid's temperature and it was terrible, so that made me not buy a refract at all if I didn't have a reason to get an expensive one . . . . now I just keep my salt in the safe zone of the swing arm and hope for the best . . .

I want to be convinced the cheap one is a must-have . . .

 

[Anonymous]

>...Any comment on a cheap refract vs. a $60 one?

One has a higher markup? :? :lol:

It is pretty robust physic (no "solide state" or electronic parts), so the only quality issue is how good did they make the prism/lense and the ATC mechanism. Trust me, it is not like a shutterbug shopping for lense when it come to refractometers. The ATC is not working well anyway, just a marketing thing. (That is, most of us don't follow the procedure for it to work properly, and the ATC is not much of a mechanis most of these are anyway. It is not a Swiss -made watch. And when it come to calibration, some of us even spend the time to get RO/DI. It is just a few drops, but there is no difference if you calibrate it with tap water anyway.

 

[pwj1286]

Can you calibrate hydrometers? I have two swing arm, but I haven't looked at them in a long time.

No, but you can determine how far off they are and adjust that amount after every reading.

That's what I ment. You can save a buck by doing that way, but for a accuracy... you got to spend the $$$.
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[Rlumenator]

I really like my refractometer. I have a "Vitalsine SR6, which comes with instructions for calibration. It uses distilled water at 68 degrees F. I have checked it twice- just because-and both times it was right on. My original swing arm was .03 off, so I just took that into consideration when I used it.