Just got my Refractormeter from MD

Like the title states, I just received it and calibrated it. Turns out that my hydrometer isnt off by much. My HM read 1.024 and the new RM read 1.025. Where talking about a HM that I bought in 1988 and still running good. They dont make them like they used to. Luna

 

Cool! Lucky you to get one...I am still brewing over the though of purchasing one of these for my tank!
Let me know how you enjoy it!

 

Tom, you could always drive on over with a water sample and a 12pk of Coronas and use our refractometer.

 

It was only $39.99 on sale. Luna

 

Same here. My refractometer when purchased didn't reflect a big variance from my floating arm hydrometer.

I'd say the refractometer is most useful to me for matching the salinity of water-change water almost exactly to that of the tank water.

The floating type can't really tell you a difference between .025 and .026. The refractometer allows you that resolution. I love it.

CoralReefer, you should get one! ;D

 

I just bought one and am waiting to get it, hopefully my hydrometer isn't too far off. The main reason I got it was to match my water change water to my tank water as ReefSparky said

 

I ordered mine today
Ships tomorrow

 

I got mine refract. today and it was off by .007. yap you got it, .007. both of my tanks were at 1.019. Even though I have good growth and all of my corals look happy. I don't get it.

 

I just tracked mine it's in Jacksonville. Hopefully it gets here before the weekend.

 

Get a gallon of distilled water from the pharmacy. Pour some into a clean cup, and rinse the eye-dropper out.
Dump that rinse water, and get some of the fresh distilled water from the dropper onto the clean refractometer (3 drops). Check to see if the scale reads 0.000 ppt salinity. If it doesn't it definitely needs calibration.

Most calibration techniques require (use) a minimum 2 point cal., meaning that you check the salinity at two known levels - 1) 0.000 ppt for distilled water, and 2) some other known/measured salinity level - for example a 1.025 water sample measured with a calibrated refractometer from a nearby 3reefer or a lfs. If both points are dead-on, then the scale should be accurate.

Was your refractometer 0.007 ppt off at the distilled water reading, or is it 0.007 off compared to your hydrometer or a lfs known calibrated refractometer?