Refractometer vs Hannah Salinity Checker

[Flyangler33]

Hey All,

Well the tank is cycled and we have our first victims in the tank, they survived the night so I guess that is a start ><. Had a question on salinity, I have been using the hannah checker, I have been testing throughout the week and its always been 1.025-1.026. I took some water with me to have it tested at my LFS just for peace of mind that my test readings were accurate, they used a refractometer and got a 1.029 reading on my water. Anyone have any experience with this big of a difference in check systems? Could it be that the water was such a small quantity or had been sitting in my truck for a few hours before making it to the LFS to test?

I took their reading and did a water change with replacing the water with a portion of RO to bring it down.

Any input is always appreciated!

 

[scrappy35]

Yes, my Hannah checker is consistently off. Once I figured out how far off it was, I just now mix accordingly.

 

[Flyangler33]

Yes, my Hannah checker is consistently off. Once I figured out how far off it was, I just now mix accordingly.

Awesome good to know thank you!

 

[X-37B]

Get a TM floating hydrometer. I have used it for years and its always accurate.
I now have a Hanna monitor.
Ph, sg, and temp. It's quite accurate and reads the same as the TM, aqualogic temp controller, and my hand held ph meter.

 

[inahrtbeat]

I use both..also if you calibrate the hanna at 77 deg tank temp then that's the temp you need for a good read.

 

[Hallowhead]

I use my refractometer frequently to confirm my Hanna is remaining in balance. I calibrate my refractometer every use and my hanna checker maybe once every 2 months.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I have 1000% faith in my Hanna. I have 3 tanks, 2 are at 1.025 and the other at 1.024, and it always reads correctly. When I get fish or corals I always ask the salinity level and my Hanna always reads perfectly. I only calibrate it every 6 months or so.

I’m so surprised that it has such a bad rep on this forum.

 

[Hallowhead]

I have 1000% faith in my Hanna. I have 3 tanks, 2 are at 1.025 and the other at 1.024, and it always reads correctly. When I get fish or corals I always ask the salinity level and my Hanna always reads perfectly. I only calibrate it every 6 months or so.

I’m so surprised that it has such a bad rep on this forum.

do you take it for what it reads or adjust for the known variance?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

do you take it for what it reads or adjust for the known variance?

Whatever it says that’s what it is. Like I said I ask the LFS the salinity and it tests the same with my Hanna. So my Hanna is 100% accurate as far as I’m concerned.

 

[Patx]

3 words.
Tropic Marin hydrometer.

 

[FernBluffReef]

My Hanna salinity checker consistently reads about 1pt low on tank water as compared to both a hydrometer and refractometer. I complained to Hanna their reply is that is within spec.

With freshly mixed water the delta is even more 2-3 points. So I see the Hanna salinity checker as a guideline for a quick check but if I want to know for sure I rely on the hydrometer as I hate the refractometer and both the hydrometer and refractometer read the same should the refractometer be constantly calibrated

 

[homer1475]

Was your LFS refractometer calibrated?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey All,

Well the tank is cycled and we have our first victims in the tank, they survived the night so I guess that is a start ><. Had a question on salinity, I have been using the hannah checker, I have been testing throughout the week and its always been 1.025-1.026. I took some water with me to have it tested at my LFS just for peace of mind that my test readings were accurate, they used a refractometer and got a 1.029 reading on my water. Anyone have any experience with this big of a difference in check systems? Could it be that the water was such a small quantity or had been sitting in my truck for a few hours before making it to the LFS to test?

I took their reading and did a water change with replacing the water with a portion of RO to bring it down.

Any input is always appreciated!

You can make standards to check both devices if you have a scale. You can, of course, also buy them.

Reef Aquarium Salinity: Homemade Calibration Standards by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Flyangler33]

3 words.
Tropic Marin hydrometer.

I picked one up, it aligned with what my hannah was reading. Took some water to a different LFS they said my equipment was right on the money...
so now that I have been running my system light on the salinity side should I just bring it up slowly with water changes?