hanna salinity tester/ and cheap refractometer

iamahab · Dec 22, 2021

I bought a agricultural solutions refractometer when I first started my tank. I struggle to read the numbers on it and have found it to be inaccurate. I went ahead and bought a hanna salinity tester thinking it would be easier to use but I find myself constantly needing to calibrate the thing. I am running through the calibration solution. i'm on my second order from BRS in only a few months. My question is... is there a refractometer out there that's reasonably priced and accurate? What are you guys using? I'm not really trying to spend more than a couple hundred dollars here. I will spend a little more to insure accuracy. Thanks in advance for your help.

polyppal · Dec 22, 2021

I recalibrate my Hanna meter like once every 5-6wk, if your constantly having to redo it there might be something wrong with it. Why do you think its uncalibrated between uses?

redfishbluefish · Dec 22, 2021

If salinity standard is an issue, you can make your own using regular table salt....Randy Holmes Farley came up with the recipe. I'll find it and post back.....HERE it is.

iamahab · Dec 22, 2021

zatch said:
I recalibrate my Hanna meter like once every 5-6wk, if your constantly having to redo it there might be something wrong with it. Why do you think its uncalibrated between uses?

Because when I test the calibration solution it will read high numbers, 36, 36.7 and so on. I'm rinsing the tester with ro water and drying it off after each use. So either the calibration solution is off or the tester is.

polyppal · Dec 22, 2021

Weird, I’d try returning/replacing it with Hanna. I had a cheap refractometer and found out when I got the Hanna that it had been giving me false readings for like 6mos :/

jimk60 · Dec 22, 2021

I had problems with the accuracy of my Hanna also. I'm now using the floating hydrometer from BRS. Everyone agrees it's always accurate and no calibration needed!

Uncle99 · Dec 22, 2021

Calibrated Refractometer….nothing else for me.

iamahab · Jan 10, 2022

I'm still having this issue. I've talked to hanna and they suggested that I ship the tester to them to have them check and see what the issue is. I could do this but I would still need to test my water in the meantime. I would love to just get a decent refractometer so if you guys have any suggestions I would appreciate it. thank you. also, this is the results I got after calibrating it on Saturday. I'm almost through my second batch of tester solution.

X-37B · Jan 10, 2022

TM floater has worked well for me. I have the other types but the TM is the one I use.

iamahab · Jan 10, 2022

90's reefer said:
TM floater has worked well for me. I have the other types but the TM is the one I use.

This one?

ssdawood · Jan 10, 2022

North Mountain Supply - NMSTS-H Glass Triple Scale Hydrometer - Specific Gravity 0.760-1.150 - Potential ABV 0-16% - Sugar Per Liter 0-341 Clear
I use this from Amazon. It's for Beer, wine etc.
It's a little hard to read as 1.026 is not clearer but for price as backup I love it.

Opus · Jan 10, 2022

I have the Hanna and also the Milwaukee digital refractometer and they always have read the same. I calibrated the Hanna when I got it a couple of years ago and haven't needed to do it since. I guess I got lucky with my Hanna.

Gtinnel · Jan 10, 2022

I have the Hanna and it reads low, although it is consistently low for me. My go to when I manually check salinity is the Milwaukee digital refractometer.

LeftyReefer · Jan 10, 2022

I recently got the Hanna Salinity pen as a backup to my trusty refractometer.
I run my tank a 1.026. when I got the pen and used it for the first time, it read 1.026 and the temp was spot on with my heater settings. I was happy. figured it was good out of the box. Used it for a couple weeks and then decided to check it with some 35pt fluid. Measured spot on. super happy now.

I now use it for 90% of my readings and only pull out the refractometer on occasion to confirm it hasn't drifted off. So far it seams to be holding calibration fine.

So far my pen seems to be spot on... loving this thing. So quick and easy and the temperature feature is a nice bonus too. Wish I had have gotten one much sooner.

If only my pH probe would stay calibrated as well. grrr...