Salt Water Tester
- Thread starter reeftankdude
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You should be able to pick up a refractometer from your LFS, local major pet store (PetSmart/Petco, etc.), Or Amazon.
You should be able to get one for $20-30, pickup a bottle of calibration solution as well to know your getting an accurate reading. They aren't typically spot on out of the box.
You should be able to get one for $20-30, pickup a bottle of calibration solution as well to know your getting an accurate reading. They aren't typically spot on out of the box.
Salinity Refractometer for Seawater and Marine Fishkeeping Aquarium 0-100 PPT with Automatic Temperature Compensation
Brightwell Aquatics Refractometer Calibration Standard, Accurate Reference for The Calibration of Seawater Refractometers, Hydrometers & Other Density Measuring Equipment, RES60
Brightwell Aquatics Refractometer Calibration Standard, Accurate Reference for The Calibration of Seawater Refractometers, Hydrometers & Other Density Measuring Equipment, RES60
Pistondog
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High Precision Hydrometer
Ensure that your equipment is reading correctly and your aquarium is at the right salinity with Tropic Marin's High Precision Hydrometer. Many tank inhabitants are sensitive even to minor changes of the water conditions. Unfortunately as we've all experienced, salinity reading equipment as...
www.bulkreefsupply.com
Little higher than your budget, but great for the price.
Just remember if your salinity is off or your tester is inaccurate and inconsistent, almost everything in your reef will be off. This is not the place to start pinching pennies.
I don't use this item, but I believe in the theory here.
I don't use this item, but I believe in the theory here.
Clown2020
Active Member
While I believe a refractometer is the best choice for most, I have started my reef using a swing arm hydrometer and a floating hydrometer and look at both and take the middle value of the two to be accurate. With plans to get a Hannah salinity tester in the future. In my case I believe consistency is key, even if your salinity is slightly off it wont be as bad as constant swings this means reading the hydrometer from the same height angle etc every time. being a little ocd about is a good thing and will help. If you have the same to spend almost obsessing over the little details then a hydrometer could work just fine in the short to medium term. If you want something that’s gonna be a quick and easy read then that hydrometer or probe is well worth the extra $$$
OP
OP
reeftankdude
Well-Known Member
How risky would it be to use Instant Ocean Sea Salt instructions. The instructins are a half a cup of salt per gallon of water. This is a new tank that needs to cycle. Was about to get started , but the hydrometer issue stopped me in my tracks.
I've had this for 5 years, flawless and still on the original 9 volt battery if that matters.. 
I would buy the new version from BRS
www.bulkreefsupply.com
I would buy the new version from BRS
MA887 Digital Seawater Refractometer - Milwaukee
The new Milwaukee MA887 Seawater Digital Refractometer encompasses 3 different types of user selected scales for the measurement of seawater providing for a much more precise evaluation. Each scale is temperature compensated. PSU - The newest type scale standard – Letters stand for Practical...
www.bulkreefsupply.com
What is your cycling method? I wouldn't worrt too much at cycle, but starting off wrong then changing may be a small set back, very very small.
Clown2020
Active Member
Extremely risky.
I use instant ocean reef crystals and 2kg makes 60 litres at 1.026 but there is sometimes a variance of 0.02 plus or minus absolute need atleast a hydrometer to ensure consistency.
1 thing I have learnt with my reef tank is slightly off is that consistency is key and in Most cases we need something to measure that consistency.
I use instant ocean reef crystals and 2kg makes 60 litres at 1.026 but there is sometimes a variance of 0.02 plus or minus absolute need atleast a hydrometer to ensure consistency.
1 thing I have learnt with my reef tank is slightly off is that consistency is key and in Most cases we need something to measure that consistency.
take your hydrometer to your LFS have them measure their water with your swing gauge and compensate for the true reading. we would write on the swing meter in a sharpie the # it was off. Its how we did it for many many years in the 80's and early 90's
I'm a 40 year reefer.
I'm a 40 year reefer.
Soren
Valuable Member
The half-cup per gallon estimation for Instant Ocean should be close enough to start your cycle. You should be able to just add higher-salinity water after a water change later once cycling is complete.
Note that this is based on my experience of Instant Ocean consistently mixing to a specific gravity of 1.022-1.023 with the 1/2-cup salt mix per gallon of RO water. This would be close enough for initial cycling, though it would be better to have a better method of actually testing salinity. I have refractometers and a Tropic Marin floating precision hydrometer to double-check salinity beyond the quick-check of a floating arm hydrometer.
