Best hydrometer

[umbrellacorp]

What's the best most accurate brand of hydrometer? I have two different ones and they never read the same. Also when I get it tested at the LFS its never what mine say. So what's the best?

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[redstang]

Most people will probably recommend a refractometer. They can be found new for less than $50 fairly easily. FWIW though, my hydrometer always reads the same as my refractometer when I fill it correctly. No bubbles is key so fill it slowly and with its "belly" facing down.

 

[umbrellacorp]

ah okay.. how difficult is a refractometer to use? I found one for $47 on sale. Says i have to buy the calibration fluid separately. Is that essential?

 

[redstang]

UmbrellaCorp;678067 wrote: ah okay.. how difficult is a refractometer to use? I found one for $47 on sale. Says i have to buy the calibration fluid separately. Is that essential?

I use RODI water to set mine to 0 but I'm sure someone will tell me that I should calibrate with a known solution that is closer to what I'm measuring. IE I should calibrate to a SG of 33 or 35 or something like that!

Full disclosure, I've been at this for 2 months so I am NOT the most experienced and my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt :thumbs:.

 

[crew]

I took mine to my LFS and had them calibrate it with their refractometer... we took a sample of water that we knew was 1.025, and then drew a line with a sharpie where my hydrometer was. it was pretty close, but not exact. Now I just try and get my water near that line.

 

[db366]

My instant ocean hydrometer is spot on with a refractometer. I also had a Deep six hydrometer, and the old school glass one that bobs in the water that all read within .001 of each other which is close enough for me.

 

[redstang]

db366;678078 wrote: My instant ocean hydrometer is spot on with a refractometer. I also had a Deep six hydrometer, and the old school glass one that bobs in the water that all read within .001 of each other which is close enough for me.

My hydro is an IO one and is spot on with my refractometer as well.

 

[umbrellacorp]

db366;678078 wrote: My instant ocean hydrometer is spot on with a refractometer. I also had a Deep six hydrometer, and the old school glass one that bobs in the water that all read within .001 of each other which is close enough for me.

yeah i have an instant ocean hydrometer that is REALLY old, and a deep six coralife. i use both and like i said they never read the same, and when i take to the LFS its never the same. They use a refractometer.. heh i was always wondering what he was looking into. I thought thats how he was testing the water, didnt know he checking the salinity with it. Whew a lot has changed in the last 10 years. I guess ill go ahead and order that portable refractometer and see if i can figure it out.

 

[hnguyen]

I can't seem to use the hydrometer for the life of me. As for the refractometer, yes you should get the calibration fluids for it as you want to calibrate your retractometer to the nearest reading point you want to get. Just like how you would calibrate your pH probe with the 7 and 10 solution if you were to just monitor your pH in your tank and then use 4 and 7 if you wanted to use it to control a calcium reactor. You want to calibrate it within the ball park of your readings so there's not much of an error. the solution for the refractometer is cheap and last you before, so it's always nice to have one on hand.

 

[smallblock]

Refractometer, from marine depot is pretty good. Affordable too. You want to get the calibration fluid and keep it in check once a month. If you use RODI water to calibrate it I've heard from a PRO that it will calibrate slightly lower. This has been my experiance as well. I used RODI to calibrate for a little while but now I use the calibration fluid. Its worth the few extra bucks. Vibration can throw off the refractometer. So over time even handling it gently it can get off. Essential tool IMO

 

[acroholic]

Here is what I use. Too much of a PIA to use the ocular kind. And the submersible types are to inaccurate IME. This will spoil you. Absolutely awesome, and completely worth the money. I have had mine for over a year.

 

[umbrellacorp]

Acroholic;678103 wrote: Here is what I use. Too much of a PIA to use the ocular kind. And the submersible types are to inaccurate IME. This will spoil you. Absolutely awesome, and completely worth the money. I have had mine for over a year.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/MIL-MA887.html">http://www.premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/MIL-MA887.html</a>[/QUOTE]

thats awesome..

 

[acroholic]

They are especially useful if you have more than one reef. I have three tanks and two separate water change reservoirs, so it is great for multiple SG testing between different salt water sources.

 

[redstang]

Acroholic;678103 wrote: Here is what I use. Too much of a PIA to use the ocular kind. And the submersible types are to inaccurate IME. This will spoil you. Absolutely awesome, and completely worth the money. I have had mine for over a year.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/MIL-MA887.html">http://www.premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/MIL-MA887.html</a>[/QUOTE]

Very cool and not a terrible price.

 

[acroholic]

RedStang;678127 wrote: Very cool and not a terrible price.

Not too much more than a high quality ocular refractometer. What I like about it is it takes the human error out of the equation, like trying to discern between different salinity gradations when looking through an ocular type. Hanna makes the same thing, but I think the MI unit is the same thing only repackaged and lower priced.