refractometer

[BioCube14]

anyone have one in good shape?

[captexas]

If you can't find a used one, Marine Depot has one on sale right now for $39.99.

[Bill S]

If I had one, I'd sell it to you...

Sorry. Just one of those that ONLY uses old-fashioned floaters.

[BioCube14]

no problem i guess i'll go with a hydrometer for now (cheap)

[glennr1978]

dude get the refractometer. Things like this you shouldn't skimp on.

[Bill S]

Sorry Glenn, but I disagree. I've got something like $20K invested in my tank. I've been keeping SW for over 35 years. Call me old fashioned, but if you GAVE me a refractometer, I wouldn't use it. Sorry, I've seen too many tanks crashed by refractometers slowly going out of calibration. There is NO substitute for a good floating hydrometer.

[captexas]

Sorry Bill, but that's kind of like blaming a gun for killing someone instead of the person that pulled the trigger. If a person's tank crashes because of the salinity, it's not because of the refractometer was bad, it's becuase the person using it failing to follow the instructions and check it every so often. Any measuring device/controller should be periodically checked for accuracy and calibrated as instructed. Doesn't matter if it's a refractometer, Ph controller/probe, temp controller/probe, etc.

[rocknrollgirl]

Dr Fosters and Smith also has them on sale for $40. I am getting mine tomorrow :)

[Bill S]

Chris,

There are many, many instances of very well known reefers (and some around here - they are just too embarrassed to admit it) who "forgot" to calibrate their refractometer. It's way too easy to do. It takes the SAME amount of time to check with a quality hydrometer. I have 2, just in case.

[captexas]

I know it happens, but again, calibrating a refractometer is a requirement of owning one. If the user fails to do so, then it's not the refractometer's fault, it's the user. Kind of like if a tire on my truck blow's out because it didn't have enough air in it, it's not because that model tire is bad, it's because I was too lazy to check the tire pressure in the past few months.

Overall, refractometers are still a great addition to testing equipment for a saltwater tank when used properly. While they may not be as simple to use as your quality hydrometer, they are still much better than those plastic swing-arm hydrometers.

[Bill S]

Swing arms = junk. FINALLY something we can agree on!

Your tire analogy is a bit faulty - 'cause when the refractometer goes out of calibration, I can't sue the maker for 100x the loss in my fishtank...

BTW, I buy the BIG hydrometers. They run $14. I can easily get to 1/2 of a thousanth: 1.024 vs 1.0245, for instance. That's close enough!

I'm really not trying to argue - there are MANY folks out there with refractometer that use them correctly. It's just that I've found, in particular in this hobby, it's the stupid things that bite you. I've had several local folks tell me that this particular problem has happened to them, with dire consequences - one more than once. Just seems to me that it's one of those instances where the KISS philosophy works.

Oh, yeah. Let's not forget that calibration fluid sometimes fails, and that using distilled or RO/DI water is NOT correctly calibrating your refractometer.

[JimD]

I check the calibration of my refractometer just about every time I use it, after three years, its still right on the money, however, Im using RO/Di water and from what Ive read, Its not the ideal soution to use, If matt would chime in, Im sure he would have some valuable information.

[captexas]

I'm sure there are different guidelines based on the brand/model you buy, but mine specifically says to use distilled water to calibrate. Of course it says the ambient room temperature should be 68 degrees at time of calibration and to let the distilled water sit on the prizm for 30 seconds to adjust to the ambient temp.

[captexas]

Oh, and you could sue if they gave you faulty guidelines. In my analogy the user was at fault, not the tire or the tire manufacturer, just as with using a refractometer.

[Bill S]

Chris, you DID read about the group of underage, drunk, teenagers driving the Ford Explorer on a gravel ranch road, on Firestone tires, and won a $31M suit when it rolled over?

[captexas]

Yeah, our wonderful court system. Anyways, I think we have a confirmed hijacking in progress! LOL :bigsmile:

[Bill S]

I think we have a confirmed hijacking in progress! LOL :bigsmile:

Not necessarily. I think it's a great discussion. It shows that everyone has opinions, and it's up to the thread starter to determine if he/she still wants one. It also serves to keep a thread alive that would have likely died, raising the infinitesimal chance of someone actually having one they want to get rid of!

[captexas]

LOL :hypnotyized: :wink_smile:

[glennr1978]

Take a poll, Refract. vs. hydrometer. Not to say that you're wrong in any way bstreep, but I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority would agree with me on this one.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose. I still vote refract. However, I have 0 experience with hydrometer's. While doing my research when I first started in sw basically everything I read stated that refracts. were preferred over hydrometers. Something about hydrometers getting stuck, innaccurate right out of the package, etc. I really don't remember the specifics that was a couple years ago.

BUMP!!!

[Bill S]

SWING ARM FLOATING hydrometers = junk. FLOATING LAB QUALITY (not cheap ones) hydrometers = very accurate (calibrated to water temp, which in our tanks, basically doesn't change). Refractometers = cool.

JMHO.

Read this and then see if you disagree:

http://www.tropic-marin.com/web/english/produkte/araeo.htm

[glennr1978]

I forgot I actually had a floating hydrometer a long time ago. It wasn't made by tropic marin though. The only thing I remember about it was that it was very hard to get a reading from it. The spaces between the incraments (sp.) of measurement were so close together, and the way the water level sat around the thing made it very had to distinguish an exact reading. Then there's the fact that I had to turn off all pumps in the tank to use it.

How much do the tropic marin hydrometers run? If they don't cost too much I may look into one. Kind of like a Dr.'s second opinion.

[glennr1978]

I just found one on a site that is exactly the one I have. It's the Hagen model.

[Bill S]

Tropic Marin's are around $25. The big Hagens are decent. The small ones are too small...

I have a timer on my return pump, that I use for feeding time. Keeps food from going thru the sump. Since I also clean my skimmer a couple of times a week, it's very convenient for me to check check the salinity at the same time.

[alton]

BIO Cube did you ever get your refractometer? Or did you save your money and buy a Hydrometer? I have used a glass hydrometer since 1982. Tamer tried to show me how to use a refractometer once but with my glasses it was a pain. I thought good refractometers where around $200?

[tony]

ive used and own both but i prefer a refractometer

[erikharrison]

LOL, Tony, just so YOU know. I checked my refracto against Jeremy's, JC's, Barry's, and yours! I do it everytime I get a new frag. That way I can let them know what reading I get in comparison to theirs. :)

"Swing arms are horrid", do a search on this site for it. Floating ones, are the best, Refractos... ease of use, and you look SUPER nerdy while checking it. :nerd:

[tony]

Refractos... ease of use, and you look SUPER nerdy while checking it. :nerd:

you should do your "dance" while using yours, thatll help :wink_smile: