How do you test salinity?

[ahiggins]

Y’all I can’t believe I got my hydrometer and refractometer mixed up hahaha
I’ve been using refractometer! Jeeze, took me looking it up to figure out why it didn’t sound right! I’ve had a day...had to clean flatworms off mushroom frags I bought today and the shrooms are still irritated.

 

[ahiggins]

MA887 single best purchase! And go for PPT not specific gravity!

Why is that?

 

[ahiggins]

I love my refractometer, it only needs calibrated twice a year usually.

Lucky!! Ugh I’ve been having to adjust after every dang reading.

 

[ahiggins]

I’ve been using the digital Hanna Salinity/temp checker and really like it. It’s really simple to use, and easy to read. With the time it takes to peek through a refractometer, I could check mine, yours, and the neighbors water, and even get you a temp as well! Highly recommended!

Is that the handheld that you just dip into the water?

 

[lapin]

2 refractometers plus calibration fluid.

 

[ahiggins]

I used to use a refractometer. Learned the hard way that I needed to check the calibration before each use.

I got a hanna salinity tester several months ago and now use it exclusively - it's quick, easy and accurate. I've never had it be more than 0.001 off of my refractometer.

Thanks for the link. What do you think about the “can’t check tank water, only fresh made”?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Compare to my Apex using both. . Hanna salinity digital and IceCap digital units

 

[Daniel92481]

Is that the handheld that you just dip into the water?

Yea, that’s it. Great price right now too!

HI98319 Marine Salinity Tester

Designed for Simple Aquarium Salinity Testing Hanna Instruments HI98319 Marine Salinity Tester measures electrical conductivity (EC) to determine the salinity of natural and artificial seawater. Within seconds, the salinity and temperature are measured, and then using the temperature reading...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[ahiggins]

Those with Milwaukee brand. Have you noticed any drawbacks? Can I check tank and new?

 

[TheOne]

A refractometer when mixing salt and my apex probe in the tank. Also have a milwaukee mc-122 that I plan on adding to a Cx reactor someday.

 

[bar|none]

Milwaukie digital refractometer - accurate for me but only reads within 1 ppm
Neptune probe - accurate for me if calibrated with temp (matches milwaukie)
Hanna salinity checker - not accurate for me but indispensable for speed and portability

 

[ahiggins]

Milwaukie digital refractometer - accurate for me but only reads within 1 ppm
Neptune probe - accurate for me if calibrated with temp (matches milwaukie)
Hanna salinity checker - not accurate for me but indispensable for speed and portability

So you’re saying none are accurate....?

 

[bar|none]

So you’re saying none are accurate....?

i just learned early on to not trust a single source. i trust the milwaukie the most because you calibrate every reading, the neptune is invaluable because it is real time, always looking at it in apex fusion. The hanna is really useful for mobile fast readings, ie match salinity in display to fresh mix or measure salinity during coral acclimation. milwaukie can replace the hanna though. Not as instant, but pretty fast.

 

[NanoDJS]

Analog Refractometer calibrated every time with tap and ro

 

[ahiggins]

Analog Refractometer calibrated every time with tap and ro

That’s currently what I use but I’m having to adjust each time I check salinity. Which on water change days is about 15 calibration adjustments. In my mind it’s not reliable anymore. This is my third in a month now. Don’t know why all of a sudden, after years and years, I can’t find a good one

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Tropic Marin High Precision Hydrometer. It costs about the same as a decent refractometer, but never needs calibration and is always dead accurate.

 

[rob taft]

Milwaukee MA887

 

[ahiggins]

Milwaukee MA887

Does there seem to be an interference testing current tank water instead of fresh saltwater? Some of the Hanna and heldheld ones were saying that.

 

[jj9611]

Hanna Salinity Tester HI9831

Easy, and no mess....

 

[rob taft]

Does there seem to be an interference testing current tank water instead of fresh saltwater? Some of the Hanna and heldheld ones were saying that.

Not sure what you mean by "interference", but I use it for new and current tanks. I do flush out the testing cavity with RODI water and dry with a microfiber cloth between test samples. I don't calibrate between every test. I do it before the first test of the day.