Hydrometer recommendations please

Well, I'm returning the Coralife Deep Six to the LFS and they're giving me a credit for it. In the meantime I picked up the Instant Ocean (Marineland) and it worked like a charm on the first shot. No need for acclimation 24 hrs like the Coralife. Just rinse and use!

Cool.

 

yeah sss, i use the red sea, with thermo. make sure you let the water slowly fill the hydrometer, make sure you don't submerge it, let it fill and then read.

 

Actually paid 49 bucks for my refractometer....paid 20 for a hydrometer that I used once and couldn't get an accurate or consistent reading on. It was measuring sg at 1.023 and when tested on refractometer it was 1.028

 

This isn't directed at anyone directily but what make the refractometer more accurate. I've heard "I got X.XX with my hydrometer and then I Y.YY with my refractometer. Man the Hydrometer is a piece of crap." What is the logic in that. I payed more of the refactometer so it must be right. Is there anything in the design that makes them better?

 

One big issue I had with the Instant Ocean hydrometer is that air bubbles get caught under the floating boom...or attached to the top of it. No matter how small the bubbles are, they can really throw off the reading. If you get a decent refractometer, it is much easier to use, and I think you will get a more consistent reading. Also, if you read some experts, Like Anthony Calfo "Book of Coral Propogation" they recommend using refractometers. for what that is worth.

Finally, having said all of that, I used a hydrometer for years with much success. I really just got tired of jerking around with the bubbles, sticking booms, etc. The refractometer...all you do is wipe it clean, drop a little water on it and look through the scope.

 

I use the Deep Six and it works great! You have to rinse it before and after use. How old is your Deep Six? The hydrometer from coralife has a calibrated needle and far supercedes the instant ocean one. I had used that one before, gave me horrible readings.

Another thing to point out, have you checked the needle for bubbles when you fil it up? If so shake them loose when you do a reading as the bubbles will make the needle go high or low depending on the amount of bubbles stuck on the needle. :-X

 

Either one is going to do fine as long as you use them correctly. I agree though that the Plastic ones with the boom arm are not as reliable. I use the glass floatable kind because if used correctly will be more accurate than most low end refractometers. The refractometers can be extremely sensitive...which is a good thing and a bad thing. Theoretically the refractometer should be more accurate if calibrated and used correctly without worrying as much about mechanical interference of a hydrometer. To get the level of accuracy from a refractometer that you can from a properly used thermo calibrated hydrometer will set you back a good bit of coin. Probably impracticle and unnecessary for reef keeping as a hobby.

http://www.nationalmicroscope.com/faq.html#refractometers
http://www.nationalmicroscope.com/faq.html#howitworks

Still I did find this one and it is on sale!

http://www.nationalmicroscope.com/microscopecatalog/product_info.php/cPath/29_46/products_id/52

 

i say go with the refractometer. depending on model, easy to calibrate and you'll never know why you were using a hydrometer in the first place. i've had mine for quite some time (a little steep but $70 at marine depot) and it has always accurately measured my s.g. and salinity.

 

So far so good with the Instant Ocean hydrometer. I suppose ultimately a refractometer is the way to go.

Cheers..

 

i'm sure this is already been said, but just make sure you rinse out the hyrometer with distilled/freshwater after every use...and don't forget to "tap" off those pesky micro bubbles. good luck.