Refractometer accuracy, VeeGee, Milwaukee MA887 ?

427HISS · Feb 8, 2015

I have a BRS Refractometer that was with a package seal from a local aquarist. I bought a few
corals from a LFS that I trust, and checked his salinity in the bag when we got home and it
seemed high, so I called him. he said all their tanks are kept at .025, but my meter read .29-.030.

My type of meter is hard for me to read with my poor eyesight, so I told him that I may buy the
Milwaukee MA887, and he said their not a good product, that most high experienced reefers use
the VEEGEE Refractometer. It is certified calibration/ and the only Refractometer for seawater that is accurate.

He doesn't know about the RedSea meter ?

He also said,,..... "Wait, and come check out my VEEGEE. It has a easy to read display/ you can actually see the lines!"

I would prefer the digital readout and the fact of not having to point the meter to bright light, of the Milwaukee, unless it's NOT accurate.

I'm very tired of buying crappy products and having to replace it ! :squigglemouth:

427HISS · Feb 9, 2015

From more reading, put Red Sea in here also.

Jake Adams has a post on Reef Builders, May 14th 2014, and he only recommends Red Sea's.

So now, it's even more confusing.

Jake's post-
We can only recommend Red Sea?s Refractometer for measuring aquarium salinity

reefwiser · Feb 9, 2015

Milwaukee MA887 is dead on easy to use. Love mine I have had all the brands over the last 30 odd years.

ksed · Feb 9, 2015

Vee Gee is the best

evolved · Feb 9, 2015

reefwiser said:
Milwaukee MA887 is dead on easy to use.

+1

Most useful piece of equipment I own, and accuracy is also dead on.

427HISS · Feb 9, 2015

I might buy the Milwaukie, because the digital readout will be much easier for me to read. My eyesight sucks !
But, I'll wait for a few days until I know for sure.

Like anything else, people have their own idea on what works and does not, and their preference.
Either they hate or love it.....

I know the MA887 model is made,....for seawater.

427HISS · Mar 4, 2015

I used both the distilled water they sent in a bottle and my own RO/DI water to calibrate the unit.
According to the instructions, it should display "0", but both times it reads "1.0"

Is there an issue here ?

427HISS · Mar 4, 2015

Anyone ?

redfishbluefish · Mar 4, 2015

Suggest not using RO/DI to calibrate a refractometer.....will not result in accurate readings. What you need to use is refractometer calibration solution at 35 ppt (53.0 mS).

3Twinklets · Mar 4, 2015

I just replaced my old Milwaukee because the Twinklet broke it but it was dead on.

Tapio · Mar 4, 2015

With the competitive pricing on the Milwaukee digital I see no reaoson to mess around with refractometers. If calibration is wrong with them they are worse than a swing arm.

427HISS · Mar 4, 2015

They included a bottle of distilled water and calibration fluid.
There is no information in the instructions on how to use the calibration fluid, just the distilled water.

The bottle reads, Seawater Calibration Solution.
1.025 S.G. 20/20

"Fill the sample well, making sure the prism if filled, press Zero. If no error message, the unit is calibrated".

I just used it like we need to do like using the water, and it read, "HI" which is an error code, "Sample exceeds maximum measurement range"

So, what is wrong ?

LukeV · Mar 4, 2015

I have the Milwaukee
It comes with 2 bottles correct?
The distilled water is to zero and the calibration is to make sure you have proper readings

427HISS · Mar 4, 2015

Yes. When I used the supplied distilled water, I got a reading of 1.00 not "0" ?

LukeV · Mar 4, 2015

I think that is correct

berbotty · Mar 4, 2015

LukeV said:
I have the Milwaukee
It comes with 2 bottles correct?
The distilled water is to zero and the calibration is to make sure you have proper readings

What he said - use the distilled to calibrate at zero and then use the solution to make sure you get the same reading as the packet says. I use my RODI water to zero In every time.