Should I trust hanna salinity checker

[mrpontiac80]

So the hydrometer arrived today, it also read 1.023 so I guess either my refractometer is in need of replacing or I’ve had 2 bad batches of calibration fluid on it. It is 3 years old and only cost £15 so I guess it won’t be the best.

Well now you know. You did use the temperature correction I assume?

 

[xabo]

As above, like @mrpontiac80 says.
My experience with the Hanna salinity meter is that it accurately reads 0.002 low!
This isn't an issue as I just use to to ensure new water and my DT read the same prior to water changes. The built in temperature gauge comes in handy too.

If I remember correctly Hanna states an accuracy of +/- 0.001

 

[reacclimating 2 the hobby]

I calibrate mine every time I use it. Once I'm out of fluid I will probably stick to my refractometer.

 

[LxHowler]

Well now you know. You did use the temperature correction I assume?

Yeah when I found the product online I also found a guide on the proper way to use it.
thanks for all the help

 

[Salty_Northerner]

TL;DR

I own most of the Hana Checkers out there, well the basic ones like calcium, nitrate, dkh and phosphorus. As for testing salinity with Hannah, I passed on that one and just bought myself a decent refractometer.. I can't go wrong using a refractometer since you can calibrate them with ease.

 

[beesnreefs]

I’ve learned to never trust a refractometer unless you calibrate with your own solution. None of the calibration fluids sold are consistently accurate enough. I’ve tried lab grade hydrometers as well but they were even less accurate. I used to believe that being off 1 or 2 points in salinity was not a big deal. However, once I stabilized at the proper salinity, my tank has never looked better. I confirm my salinity is correct through ATI regularly as well.

I’d also add that I sold my Alkatronic, Mastertronic and Dosetronicz. Now I only run a calcium reactor and dose amino acids occasionally. I’ve gone as far as throwing out all of my test kits. Instead I send in a sample to ATI every month or two to make sure nothing is out of range. This ensures that the measured parameters are very accurate as well as keeping several weeks between testing to make sure any changes have leveled out.

What did you stabilize your salinity at for things to look good?

 

[Akersta]

1.026….also, here is the link for the calibration solution: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.htm

 

[Rjmul]

Absolutely not.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well now you know. You did use the temperature correction I assume?

I'm curious about that table and what exactly are the units along the top. It does not appear to be correct specific gravity corrections for a hydrometer calibrated at 77 deg F.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I'm curious about that table and what exactly are the units along the top. It does not appear to be correct specific gravity corrections for a hydrometer calibrated at 77 deg F.

Well I just screenshot that chart off of a BRS spotlight video with Jen talking about the hydrometer for reference when I bought mine about a year ago.

 

[mrpontiac80]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I did notice that a newer BRS video shows a different chart with many more temps and numbers just now however.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

One can always check where 35 ppt lines up on a chart for any hydrometer.

If the hydrometer is calibrated at 77 deg F (as the Tropic Marin is), then 35 ppt at 77 deg F should read a specific gravity of about 1.0264.

The table you posted above shows 35 ppt at 77 deg F to have a value of a bit under 1.025. Thus, it either is not specific gravity or it is for a different calibration temperature (or it is just wrong).

Tropic Marin also notes that:

Messzylinder und Präzisions-Aräometer/hy | Produktinformationen

www.tropic-marin-smartinfo.com

"The specific gravity of natural seawater of 35 ‰ (psu*) is 1.026 – compared to water measured at 25 °C / 77 °F."

"DO NOT CONFUSE: The “Tropic Marin® Aräometer”, which is used in German speaking countries, has a scale with a green printing and the indication ‘Dichte/density’."

 

[Enderg60]

Trust only what you can verify.

I love my Hanna checker, its also great for verifying temp probes. BUT I calibrate it often and compare it to other measuring devices to insure accuracy.

Same thing with test kits. Every so often its good to check it against something else.