Water change confusion

I think your so very right when you mention little room for error when it comes to nanos.
To be honest i was busy researching the whole concept of a marine tank and frankly wanted to wait a little while before i actually plunged in and bought one.
Some kind hearted soul though decided to buy it for me lol, whilst i can\t complain knowing what i know now i would certainly not have gone the nano route.
Anyway this sounds cool now! I can start understanding the whole process a little better and then in a few months time when im happy with the whole system i can think about livestock

cheers all

EDIT: PS reef_guru thanks for the link, i read it top to bottom and it was certainly a wealth of knowledge

 

I think really really important to get one of these. Regular hydrometers just too inaccurate for safe use.

Well worth the cost in the long run.

Again, as you agree, not much room for a slip up with a nano...

Keep us posted.

Rgds,

Scott

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Marine Depot Refractometer

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lol dont worry onthat score.
I was sold a red sea hydrometer with the tank, the very next day i bought a refractometer purely because i couldn't believe how innacurate the hydrometer was.

I have to say i very much enjoy calibrating my refractometer before every use pmsl

 

Great!

Ha, Ha....don't trust my own "calibration" so take once a year to Seattle Aquarium and they gladly do for me...

That is how freaky I am about water exchanges due to losing a few fish when first starting out because of a bad salt mixing job using a crappy hydrometer. :-/

Importance of Water Changes/Exchanges, By Anthony Calfo

 

a floating hydrometer is easier

Hagen Living Sea Floating Hydrometer with Thermometer, C & F, large, 12 inch (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Testing Equipment > Optical > Hydrometers )

 

i love my refractometer! I enjoy using it, sounds kinda sad i know.
The only problem is it looks, well frankly incredibly like a sex toy, i can;t sugar coat that unfortunately, it really is a strange looking widget lol.

But it does give me great readings, arguably i should say consistent as i have not tried it against another, but it always reads pure deionized water as it should.
I do find it hard to sometimes make out the reading, especially on an overcast day, typically i use the lights from the aquarium but the scale is so darn small!

Perhaps i actually need glasses.

 

thats my point, borrow someones floating hydrometer and see if there is a difference

 

lol the only problem is if they differ in their measurement, which do i then trust.

 

refractometers are more precise, i wont argue that. but a floating hydrometer is easier to use and is already calibrated @ 77 degrees. the difference is so minute that it is irrelevant. but a swing arm is out of the question.

 

I think the refractometer is more convenient than using a floating or swingtype hydrometer. Just put some drops,close the lid, and youre done. Also the floating hydro. is more delicate.Im was always afraid of breaking it.