Refactometer vs hydrometer

[Jlobes]

what?? make your own...how?

:gogogooglearm:

hhmmm, not sure i can link this, but here it is:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

 

[vetteguy53081]

I still use conventional hydrometer but hear positive about refractometers. I think cost is the deciding factor.

 

[atlorange]

whats the advantage over an analog version? aside from reading a digital number and needing batteries.

Very accurate. You calibrate/zero it with distilled water w every use. Battery lasts for years. If you have ever used there just isnt any going back to analog. Quite popular in our reef club.

 

[EW_Fish]

You guys are going to laugh but I have had my hydrometer for almost 2 years(EVEN with a crack) and still gets the same reading as my refractometer. I thought it was odd but I took it to my lfs and was dead on with theirs also.. Did I just get a good one?

 

[Mike J.]

Well, I must have got luck and gotten a freak of nature(one that's accurate), too.

 

[ritter6788]

I'm one that swears by the hydrometer. I have an Instant Ocean one that's about 10 years old and some of the numbers are rubbed off. It's dead on with my calibrated refractometer. I actually checked my refractometer with the hydrometer once. The instructions with a refractometer say to calibrate it every time you use it.

Same here. My hydrometer is almost 5 years old and it's spot on with my calibrated refractometer and my Tunze conductivity meter. My refractometer is actually inaccurate if I don't calibrate it every time I use it.

 

[glb]

I love my refractometer. Got it on amazon and it's spot on. So much easier and quicker than the hydrometer.

 

[EW_Fish]

Nah I like my hydrometer better. much faster

 

[laga77]

My current hydrometer is about a year old. I have taken water samples into 3 different LFS to compare with their refractometers and mine is dead on.

 

[Sacohen]

Hydrometers CAN be just as accurate as refractometers, but like any equipment it has to be maintained.
Clean it out with tap or RO water after every use to make sure no salt crude accumulates around the swing arm.
Also make sure there are no bubbles around the arm when you are taking a reading, if you need to tape the base of the hydrometer on the table or something to force all bubbles to the surface.

 

[Weaver6116]

I've been looking at refractometers and trying to decide which one to go with. Is there a certain one that's better than another? Or anything in particular indeed to look for? I saw several of the Milwaukee ones but they vary in price. Which is the best for salt water?

 

[3Twinklets]

I have seen to many hydrometers that were way off. A friend of mine and I once lined 4 of them up and tested. All 4 had different readings. I have a Milwaukee refractometer.

 

[saltyhog]

My Sybon refractometer was only about $50. Well worth the peace of mind. I don't understand the time thing. You drop some water on the lens, close the lid and look through it. How much time does that take?

 

[Kgedelian]

I'm the 2ed 1 that swears by the hydrometer made for saltwater, A refractometer is made for sugarwater . You can kind of calibrate it for salt but you have to do that every time. Salt is more dense than sugar that's why EVERY one gets two differen readings,..

 

[EW_Fish]

I have never cleaned my hydrometer. In this hobby people will use what they "think" is the best. Which there is nothing wrong with that because what works for you may not work for someone else.

 

[Kgedelian]

I'm the 2ed 1 that swears by the hydrometer made for saltwater, A refractometer is made for sugarwater . You can kind of calibrate it for salt but you have to do that every time. Salt is more dense than sugar that's why EVERY one gets two differen readings,..

 

[Liratram76]

I'm new to the hobby. About one year. FWIW... I found a floating hydrometer to be easy, but use requires depth of water and in situ observation. I never used other hydrometers. For months I have used an analog refractometer that is finicky to calibrate and read, but I was happy enough. Then I got a digital Milwaukee refractometer for Xmas. I won't look back. Easy to calibrate, read, and maintain. It means I don't hesitate to use it; perhaps its greatest contribution to my hobby experience and water quality. I'll continue to pull out the analog refractometer from time to time for the same reason I check my floating thermometer at the same moment I regard my controller display.
That's my take on it.

 

[HoaglandDiver]

Digital? I've looked at numerous reasonably priced ones (under $300).. they all have accuracy of +/- 2ppt (or .002).. I'm sorry, but 2 ppt is way too big of a difference for me.. I could be reading 35ppt (which I can see w/ my analog refractometer) and i could actually be at 37ppt. I'll stick w/ analog.