Hydrometer got me pissed

i use the plastic swingarm hydrometer that i bought from my lfs. i think they did a great job handling the transaction for me since i couldnt afford a refractometer. they took it and checked the reading with their refractometer, wrote +3 on the front of it and thats how i take my readings now. about once a month ive taken it back to them to recalibrate, but its always been right on....+3. i would have bought a refract, but i dont feel the need as of yet. the guys down there are very informative though, so that makes a big difference i assume.

 

Don't take this in offense, but I dont understand why people say I can't afford a refractometer, they are too expensive. They will go spend 15.00 on a POS hydrometer, when they can get a refractometer for 7.00 more.
NEW! Salinity Refractometer 4 Aquarium Reef Hydrometer - eBay (item 370221711444 end time Jul-05-09 18:00:00 PDT)

 

Please by all means don't take offense to this I don't understand how we all have seen people in our LFS willing to pay hundreds for livestock but want the cheapest equipment they can get and then mad as all hell when livestock is sick or dead I dont mind spending a little extra to keep my personal ocean in my living room to be healthy I paid 80 bucks for my refractometer and bought my friend one along with 100 dollar gift certificate to LFS to restock his tank felt bad about his fish dying from the bad advice I passed onto him wish i could give myself karma lol

 

Don't take this in offense, LOL, but I dont see the point in buying somthing that does the same as a pos plastic one. Plastic doesnt need calibrated at all. Its fine that you want the cool toy, me too. But not if its more of a headache to maintain. I dont even check it enough to worry. I take out 5 gal and put in 5 gal and top off fresh and dont really get any salt creep. Keep it simple. Maybe I am wrong!! :-/

 

Not a Toy issue, but there are alot of variables with a swing arm hydrometer. A good example is an air bubble on the swing arm while testing will make it read higher. I just figured 7.00 more is alot more accurate.

 

Your lucky if your hydrometer reads the same every time. Both of my hydrometers suck. If I test the water twice within seconds of each other I will get different values. Air bubbles can get stuck to the needle and give you a false reading. Not really that big of a deal for the way you do it, but it would be a bigger deal if you were mixing your own saltwater.