Salinity reader which one to get?

[Notsolostfish]

Im new to the saltwater hobby, and im looking to buy a salinity reader. Budget is 150$ i dont mind paying a bit more for a good one. Any suggestions?

 

[Gtinnel]

My favorite is the Milwaukee MA887 but it seems to be that everyone either loves or hates it. I personally love mine and rarely use anything else.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I’ve been very happy with my Milwaukee. People seem to like the Hanna as well. My suggestion is to always have a back up, manual refractometer and use it occasionally.

 

[shakacuz]

tropic marine hydrometer

 

[Sean Clark]

Whatever you choose, calibrate it often. My personal favorite is the Hanna HI 96822 my least favorite is the Hanna salinity tester.

 

[Gtinnel]

I have the Hanna HI98319 also and absolutely hate it because I can never get a consistent reading. To be fair though I did buy it used so I’m not sure how it was treated before I owned it so it could’ve been abused.

I do agree that having a seconding salinity tester is critical also. I would go with a optical refractometer or a floating hydrometer as a backup.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

$20 ATC refractometer and calibration fluid is all you need. I have tried other options and they are not any more accurate. They are more precise, but not any more accurate.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have high confidence in both the Milwaukee unit and the Hannadigital reader

 

[Miami Reef]

$20 ATC refractometer and calibration fluid is all you need. I have tried other options and they are not any more accurate. They are more precise, but not any more accurate.

+1

The Milwaukee tester is +/- 2PPT.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

$20 ATC refractometer and calibration fluid is all you need. I have tried other options and they are not any more accurate. They are more precise, but not any more accurate.

Agreed. However ease of use is important. Some refractometers, even good ones, are hard to read in certain lighting conditions. Also, some take awhile to compensate for temp. Things to keep in mind.

edit. Also, I have three, all different brands, and although you can calibrate them they easily lose calibration if you’re not extremely gentle. Some are much better at holding calibration than others.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Agreed. However ease of use is important. Some refractometers, even good ones, are hard to read in certain lighting conditions. Also, some take awhile to compensate for temp. Things to keep in mind.

edit. Also, I have three, all different brands, and although you can calibrate them they easily lose calibration if you’re not extremely gentle. Some are much better at holding calibration than others.

I gave up on the digital ones because to actually be accurate I had to calibrate them before use every time unless I did not move them. Returned them all before 30 day return period ended.

Even if you want another style for purpose of easier reading (when you factor in calibration they are not faster to read, just easier to read), I would always keep a ATC refractometer on standby as a backup.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I gave up on the digital ones because to actually be accurate I had to calibrate them before use every time unless I did not move them. Returned them all before 30 day return period ended.

Even if you want another for purpose of easier reading (when you factor in calibration they are not faster to read, just easier to read), I would always keep a ATC refractometer on standby as a backup.

My experience with the Milwaukee has been exceptional. The instructions clearly state to calibrate often, which I did. It was spot on every time. I started going a week between checking with calibration fluid, spot on. A month, still spot on, I only check it occasionally now. I use it in three different rooms and it’s never (three years now) been off from the calibration standards.
Same goes for the free generic manual refractometer that came in a bucket of salt years and years ago. It’s been amazing. The two brand name manual units I purchased are actually horrible. One loses cal between calibrating and checking salt water so it’s useless. The other is fine unless I walk to a different room with it in the protective case, then I have to recalibrate it.

 

[Sean Clark]

Nobody is going to agree on any one measurement tool but I think we can agree on having a secondary measurement tool to help verify or confirm is best.

 

[ying yang]

I've only read positive things on the tropic marin floating hydrometer and a thin plastic container to float it in the tank water,think if remember correctly, tank water needs be 25° and reason for container is so still water as top of dt water very turbulent so hard/ if not impossible get accurate reading unless turn all pumps off.

Other than that an "atc" ( autimatic temperature controlled refractometer and use Randy's diy calibration fluid and calibrate your refractometer when needed

H2O Aquatics are currently not accepting orders.

Thank you for your custom

www.h2oaquatics.co.uk

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

And here Randy's diy calibration,super cheap to use as just uses plain old table salt ( ovbiously copy Randy's Instructions)
And if get a tropic marin floating hydrometer,read Instructions and use as advised by manufacturer and make sure thin tall container long enough to float the hydrometer In it as the link I shared just an example of what kind im talking about and didn't verify high enough ^_^

But tropic marin floating hydrometer I read never needs calibrating and super accurate if used properley ,just be careful doesnt roll off table and smashes lol

Good luck

 

[Spare time]

I just use either a refractometer regularly checked with calibration fluid or an instant ocean hydrometer as those are almost almost spot on if performed correctly

 

[doubleshot00]

Milwaukee ma887 is awesome. One if the best tools I’ve bought so far. Had that cheap $30 Refractometer and calibration fluid and it still was off. Unless you calibrate to the perfect temp it will be off.

 

[Gtinnel]

I just use either a refractometer regularly checked with calibration fluid or an instant ocean hydrometer as those are almost almost spot on if performed correctly

I’m surprised anyone would recommend a swing arm hydrometer. I honestly didn’t even realize they were still available to buy anymore.

 

[Spare time]

I’m surprised anyone would recommend a swing arm hydrometer. I honestly didn’t even realize they were still available to buy anymore.

Yeah I have used probably a dozen of the instant ocean ones. The one I have currently matches my refractometer perfectly (and so did the previous one). I think the issue people have is they don't use them correctly and thus get air bubble inside

 

[Sean Clark]

Yeah I have used probably a dozen of the instant ocean ones. The one I have currently matches my refractometer perfectly (and so did the previous one). I think the issue people have is they don't use them correctly and thus get air bubble inside

Any tool is only as good as its user.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Any tool is only as good as its user.

What if the user is a tool? Asking for a friend