I keep going back to it.

[atoll]

I have had all manner of salinity/SG measuring devices and still have a salinity meter and a couple of refractometers. However, I keep going back to the old school hydrometer.

I have a Tropic marin large hydrometer which requires no calibration, is consistent in its results is dependable needs no batteries and ever lasting. A little fragile it has to be said and not inexpensive ( there are smaller cheaper ones).

However, being old school the Tropic Marin is my SG measuring tool of choice. I have sold my Hanna salinity meter and put my other battery meter and 2 refractometers in the cupboard of no return, probably. Sometimes old school is still the best, well in this case it is for me.

 

[Dburr1014]

I have had all manner of salinity/SG measuring devices and still have a salinity meter and a couple of refractometers. However, I keep going back to the old school hydrometer.

I have a Tropic marin large hydrometer which requires no calibration, is consistent in its results is dependable needs no batteries and ever lasting. A little fragile it has to be said and not inexpensive ( there are smaller cheaper ones).

However, being old school the Tropic Marin is my SG measuring tool of choice. I have sold my Hanna salinity meter and put my other battery meter and 2 refractometers in the cupboard of no return, probably. Sometimes old school is still the best, well in this case it is for me.

I have never owned one but it's always in the back of my mind to get one.
Being so fragile, I need a good place to store it.

 

[TokenReefer]

Been tossing around getting one. Refractometer is getting to be a bit of a pain with how easy it loses calibration

Curious. How close to your (calibrated) refractometer is it?

 

[atoll]

I have never owned one but it's always in the back of my mind to get one.
Being so fragile, I need a good place to store it.

Comes with a decent protective case and unlikely to get damaged when in it. After use I rinse it and put it straight back into the case until next time. You shouldn't real6brake it in use providing you give it a little care.

 

[Dburr1014]

Been tossing around getting one. Refractometer is getting to be a bit of a pain with how easy it loses calibration

Curious. How close to your (calibrated) refractometer is it?

You calibrate your refractometer to it, not the other way around.

 

[TokenReefer]

You calibrate your refractometer to it, not the other way around.

Haha that's perfect and says it all I guess

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Floating glass hydrometers can work great, but can have drawbacks.

Drawbacks to a properly manufactured floating glass hydrometer relative to a good conductivity meter are that there are scenarios where conductivity works great and not so easily the hydrometer, such as during salinity acclimation of new creatures in bags, monitoring limewater (kalkwasser), and the need to look up tables for adjustments for water that is not at the standard temp for the hydrometer.

 

[atoll]

Floating glass hydrometers can work great, but can have drawbacks.

Drawbacks to a properly manufactured floating glass hydrometer relative to a good conductivity meter are that there are scenarios where conductivity works great and not so easily the hydrometer, such as during salinity acclimation of new creatures in bags, monitoring limewater (kalkwasser), and the need to look up tables for adjustments for water that is not at the standard temp for the hydrometer.

I find the hydrometer good enough for me and pretty accurate for testing my tank water esp for consistency. I never really trusted my Hanna and have heard a few horror stories. Some people say you need to recalibrate them everytime you use it, that's not for me. Similar for refractometers. The good old hydrometer has stood the test of time and does the job for me.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I find the hydrometer good enough for me and pretty accurate for testing my tank water esp for consistency. I never really trusted my Hanna and have heard a few horror stories. Some people say you need to recalibrate them everytime you use it, that's not for me. Similar for refractometers. The good old hydrometer has stood the test of time and does the job for me.

It does seem a lot of folks have issues with the Hanna. It may just be too cheap of a device.

 

[atoll]

It does seem a lot of folks have issues with the Hanna. It may just be too cheap of a device.

I never felt comfortable with it, never felt confident like I do with the Tropic marin. There was always that doubt on my mind and you should have complete confidence in your device of choice.

 

[Huey_Gnr]

Out of pure curiosity, if I consistently use the same salt mix, weigh out the salt with my kitchen scale, and use the same amount of water each time, then shouldn't it always be the same and not require verification. I would think that the minor differences would be so negligible that it would almost be undetectable?

Side note: I use the Milwaukee Refractometer with a calibration solution that I check every month.

 

[Gadbery]

I just use my Refractometer. Though i do put cal solution on it at least every 2 weeks to verify. Havent noticed it really coming out of calibration unless i am a bit rough with it or drop it a few inches. Holds fairly steady. My issue is i have astigmatism so can be hard to see exactly where the blue tinge ends on the ppt side of the scale (which is why i keep my reef at 1.025 cause its has a bigger line i can see easier (or i take a pic inside the tube)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Out of pure curiosity, if I consistently use the same salt mix, weigh out the salt with my kitchen scale, and use the same amount of water each time, then shouldn't it always be the same and not require verification. I would think that the minor differences would be so negligible that it would almost be undetectable?

For new salt water, I agree.

For the tank, however, salinity can drift up or down for a lot of reasons.

 

[Gadbery]

Out of pure curiosity, if I consistently use the same salt mix, weigh out the salt with my kitchen scale, and use the same amount of water each time, then shouldn't it always be the same and not require verification. I would think that the minor differences would be so negligible that it would almost be undetectable?

in a perfect world yes it should be the same if not off just negligible difference

 

[Huey_Gnr]

For new salt water, I agree.

For the tank, however, salinity can drift up or down for a lot of reasons.

1000% agreed, my mind immediately drifted to water change when I first read the post.

 

[atoll]

For new salt water, I agree.

For the tank, however, salinity can drift up or down for a lot of reasons.

^^^THIS^^^

 

[atoll]

1000% agreed, my mind immediately drifted to water change when I first read the post.

The other issue is your salt might not be as well mixed as it might settle out in the bucket. larger particles maybe found at the top. Must admit am not sure how much of a problem this is for most salts Randy might know.

 

[exnisstech]

Refractometer here and a Hanna tester for quick checks. The Hanna is consistently low by 0.002 but since it's consistent I use it but mostly for mixing salt as it allows me to check temp also. Refractometer is easy to check with fluid and the one I have doesn't drift much. I looked into the TM hydrometer but I know I would break it. I'm a clutz and I've been known to break Hanna cuvettes. I had a cheap hydrometer years ago and yep I broke it.

 

[PigDaddyF15E]

I use a refractometer...but the issue is always calibrating. Commercial solution never worked. DIY worked like a champ. Eventually I wanted something to check against so I broke out the Hydrometer (bulb that floats type). Make use I correct for temp and it's given me a good feeling that when I use the refractometer that I'm getting a "valid" reading.

I'm not a scientist...IMO...the floating bulb (when properly corrected for temp) is the "gold standard". Everything else is subject to other "user induced" errors. I guess the digital checkers...but once again it comes down to the calibration fluid....if it's good so are you but I'm lazy...so I broke out the floating hydrometer which only takes a couple of minutes and doesn't involve scales and measuring volumes to make your own calibration fluid (I'll admit...I'm lazy).

 

[stoney7713]

The other issue is your salt might not be as well mixed as it might settle out in the bucket. larger particles maybe found at the top. Must admit am not sure how much of a problem this is for most salts Randy might know.

And we must not forget, salt will suck moisture out of the air.

Everyone has seen rice or toothpicks in salt shakers. It clumps because of moisture.

That will effect the weight.