refractometer cleaning

I just received my refractometer in the mail and I was just wondering if I should rinse with ro water after every use or just wipe the lens with a paper towel? I have been using a swing arm hydrometer for years now and my hydrometer showed a reading of 1.026 while the refractometer showed a reading of 1.024. I am really glad that I decided to get one.

 

I just wipe mine off, but I use RO water to make several squirts(for cleaning) with the syringe it came with.

 

Ok, thanks. That's all I need to know.

 

You are gonna love having that thing. I clean mine with RODI before and after every use. Cleaning prior to use also allows you to quickly check the calibration every time. generally mine stays calibrated for quite awhile but I still like to check.

 

karma

 

defently wash it with ro H2O after.

but now you will be loving life, those other hydrometers are usless

 

Yea, the hydrometer is going in the trash tonight.

 

wouldnt go that far, thats all ive ever used

 

What do you think I should do with it since it is inaccurate and useless to me? I have used a hydrometer for over 3yrs and it just wasn't cutting it for me. I want to provide the best environment for the animals that I am caring for and I feel better using a refractometer. I don't know what else to do with it. If you want it I will let you have it for free if you pay shipping.

 

Generally they are calibrated to work at a specific temperature (hydrometers). You might want to keep it as a back up. What you can do is check your tank's SG with both. Subtracting the hydrometer's reading from the refracto's reading will give a number. You add or subtract that number to your hydro's reading and voila, you have calibrated your hydro. You must do the readings at same temperature thereafter though. I still have my old hydro even though I use a refracto now, just in case.