Hanna salinity checker vs tropic Marin hydrometer?

[Borat]

I have Red Sea refractometer and TM hydrometer (which bought about a month ago). I would never go back to refractometer - having bought the hydrometer. It's also very easy to use and very easy to read (unlike refractometer where 1.024 and 1.025 are difficult to distinguish. Quite a gentle device though - so needs care in handling not to break it.

 

[merkmerk73]

Just out of curiousity - if you stick your Hanna into a calibration packet, does it read correctly?

Yep! Funny huh

Going to take the below posters recommendation

 

[Northern Flicker]

Yep! Funny huh

Going to take the below posters recommendation

It's hard to imagine it's wrong then.

I wonder if there is some kind of temp related thing going on here.

 

[Mr. Gonzalez]

Do yourself a favor and ditch the Hanna calibration fluid and use the Neptune fluid. I get exactly the same

Do yourself a favor and ditch the Hanna calibration fluid and use the Neptune fluid. I get exactly the same readings with the Hanna salinity checker against the TM hydrometer when calibrating it with the Neptune. The Hanna fluid is always off.

I'm gonna have to try this once I run out of my calibration solution from hanna.

 

[Borat]

I'm gonna have to try this once I run out of my calibration solution from hanna.

Calibrate your hanna tester to hydrometer and they would both show the same salinity!

 

[merkmerk73]

Calibrate your hanna tester to hydrometer and they would both show the same salinity!

Brilliant idea and this is what I’m doing from now on

 

[Borat]

Brilliant idea and this is what I’m doing from now on

That was meant to be kind of a joke However, if that's what you are doing, why not just bin the Hanna tester and use hydrometer?

 

[The_Paradox]

Salinity is a great topic. No one actually knows what their tank is. There are several common methods to test and none of them are going to give you a truly accurate number, but all should be close enough for what we require.

 

[merkmerk73]

That was meant to be kind of a joke However, if that's what you are doing, why not just bin the Hanna tester and use hydrometer?

Great question

Calibrating my checker to the TM Hydrometer allows me to use the checker for fast comparisons when I don't want to turn off all pumps and wait a long time for the water to becalm and allow the hydrometer to work

Otherwise I'd agree.

 

[Borat]

Great question

Calibrating my checker to the TM Hydrometer allows me to use the checker for fast comparisons when I don't want to turn off all pumps and wait a long time for the water to becalm and allow the hydrometer to work

Otherwise I'd agree.

If you are using refractometer - the above is almost useless. Refractometers are quite sensitive (IMO) to the temperature variations and unless they are kept in a sump area to stabilise to 25C temperature - they are unlikely to give you an accurate reading..

With this in mind - I find hydrometer easier to deploy than refractometer (and hydrometer is much more accurate).

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

I only use the Tropic Marin Hydrometer. I bought a HM and returned it.

 

[dr_vinnie_boombatz]

I have both and much prefer the Hanna for convenience. However, the Hanna needs to be kept clean (RO rinse) and have probably monthly calibration. The hydrometer is just a pain where I basically have to shut down all flow and then struggle to get a good measurement. It's really meant to be used with a tall cylinder container.

I use this, only requires a few cups from the DT

 

[areefer01]

Chasing numbers is like chasing a squirrel. You will loose every time unless you shoot it in the leg. Then again it may bust out a light saber in which case you will be the one running.

On a more serious note the glass hydrometer when taken care of and clean is pretty reliable. Less mechanical/electrical parts and noise. I don't know which would be best as I only use the TM product and it works. I have a traditional plastic swing arm for spot checks.

Above poster with the link to the cylinder is a recommended purchase for use with the TM product.

 

[jsker]

I used to have a hydrometer back in the day, wish I still had it. I use the Hanna bench top HI96822. It a pain sometime to recalibrate the bench top at start up every time, but worth the inconvenience. I have not had any issues with the bench top

I still have a refractometer, but I would have to find it

 

[EricR]

Just chiming in since I use both the Tropic Marin Precision Hydrometer and the Hanna digital (EC) checker and they both match well:
- I use Randy's DIY conductivity standard (warmed in tank to 77ish) to calibrate my Hanna
- Never had as much luck with the original Hanna calibration packets although could have been something I was doing wrong (but just don't use them any more)
- I keep my Hanna set in ppt just 'cause I feel like it gives me a more granular view even though I get that it doesn't do anything for accuracy
- I know Hanna has ATC (auto-temp correction) but I still feel like calibrating at 77ish could help with any potential issues introduced by ATC (((but that's just me rationalizing and not based on any data)))

 

[Cnidaria]

I

Who’s lying?

I use the Tropic Marin Hydrometer as a standard to check other equipment as well.