how do you check your salinity

fridaibarria · 07/15/2015, 02:46 PM

i have googled it and i get several results but i went to one of the shops i go to buy coral at and had them tested for me. The owner told me to buy this green tool that's like 150...

jminick2 · 07/15/2015, 02:48 PM

Milwaukee refractometer it's great.

GilliganReef · 07/15/2015, 02:57 PM

I'd recommend a refractometer.
Marine Depot Aquarium Pro Refractometer

James77 · 07/15/2015, 03:04 PM

Any of the refractometers sold by any of the major online retailers is fine. They run about $50 bucks.

The most important part is to consistently calibrate it with a 35ppt solution, also sold for a couple bucks.

http://premiumaquatics.com/products/...meter-atc.html

and
http://premiumaquatics.com/products/...scm77f25c.html

fridaibarria · 07/15/2015, 03:12 PM

thank you !!!

cloak · 07/15/2015, 03:24 PM

I just use a cheap floating glass hydrometer to test my salinity. I think I payed $7.99 or so at the LFS. No problem.

fridaibarria · 07/15/2015, 03:32 PM

i got one of those when i first got my tank... i couldn't figure out how to use it properly... the guy who sold it to me told me to leave it in the fish tank and just check on it. i returned it and got test strips and thats what i've been using so far, but not the api!!! i think its terra or something like that

lpsouth1978 · 07/15/2015, 03:36 PM

Glass hydrometers and even the plastic ones you find at some retailers will give you a result, but they can be difficult to read and the accuracy is simply not present. The only way to guarantee accuracy is to use a refractometer that is regularly calibrated. This is a must have if you plan on keeping most corals, especially SPS.

CStrickland · 07/15/2015, 04:19 PM

I use a plastic swing arm. I think a lot of people have trouble because they don't prime the needle. Every now and then I double check it against our fancy glass floater that is for brewing beer (when husband isn't looking). It hasn't been wrong yet, or if it is the glass one is too

but I've only been doing it a few months so yknow

texdoc77 · 07/15/2015, 05:01 PM

I initially used a hydrometer, however, this led to some "issues" with some fishes and now I am a little more zealous in my methods and have started using a refractometer. I did quite a bit of research, and for me is chose the vee gee scientific st3. I use it often and love its accuracy and easy readability.

Hope this helps.

Marchillo · 07/15/2015, 06:22 PM

I spent like $35 on a refractometer online. The 35 ppt solution is key. I calibrate every time. Sometimes it doesn't need calibration for weeks and other times I need to adjust a few times over a couple weeks. Works fine and didn't break the bank.

cloak · 07/15/2015, 07:34 PM

FWIW my parents used to use a floating glass hydrometer back in the late 70's early 80's on their tank as well. Here it is 2015 and I can find the exact same thing at the exact same store from back in the day. (Randy's Fish Palace) This just goes to show that these things do in fact work, quite well actually. I don't know how good your vision is, but that sure as hell looks like 1.026 to me. Perfect!

Good luck, one way or the other.

Reeferz412 · 07/15/2015, 08:01 PM

Refractometer is a good and reliable way to test. I also have the float arm hydrometer and the glass floater as back ups. They all work well.

Genera · 07/16/2015, 01:12 AM

Taste the water. If you cringe, it's salty enough.

aclinville · 07/16/2015, 05:25 AM

Refractometer

fridaibarria · 07/16/2015, 02:19 PM

any specific brands i should look into with a refractometer? I'm sure they all work the same, but any favorites?

LOL at tasting the water, im sure any water with salt will make me cringe so any results would be very inaccurate(;

KingTriton1 · 07/16/2015, 03:17 PM

Milwaukee MA887 is my preferred choice

Isaacs55 · 07/16/2015, 04:01 PM

+1 for Refractometer! Any brand from any of the notable online stores are great. Bulkreefsupply.com, marinedepot.com, drsfoster, and even amazon. I got mine from amazon for 25 dollars and works amazing. Ditched my old hydrometer and only use my refractometer now. Super easy...if you buy one from amazon make sure to buy an ATC refractometer that's in our salinity range, because they sell refractometers that are for beer and foods and stuff. The range should be from like 1.010-1.040 give or take...which we want it to be at 1.023-1.026. I keep my salinity at 1.025-1.026
Anyways hope that helps

nuxx · 07/16/2015, 04:47 PM

+1 Refractometer

Reeferz412 · 07/19/2015, 11:13 AM

My refractometer brand is Sybon. I've had it for 4 years and I wipe it off every use, it has never failed me. I have no complaints.

clittrell · 01/08/2016, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingTriton1

Milwaukee MA887 is my preferred choice

Quick question... I think it might be time to look at a new Refractometer. My milwaukee mr100atc does not see to adjust as well as it used to and it seems to get out of adjustment more than I would like. Do you still like the MA887? Some complain it is a pain to use but it looks simple enough. I just put a apex PM2 on the tank but I want another way to check and the Apex is about 3ppm off from the Refractometer even when I calibrate.

Thanks for any info.

07/15/2015, 02:46 PM	#1
fridaibarria Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 19	how do you check your salinity i have googled it and i get several results but i went to one of the shops i go to buy coral at and had them tested for me. The owner told me to buy this green tool that's like 150...

07/15/2015, 02:48 PM	#2
jminick2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,226	Milwaukee refractometer it's great. __________________ “Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” Current Tank Info: 300g sps tank

07/15/2015, 02:57 PM	#3
GilliganReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 379	I'd recommend a refractometer. Marine Depot Aquarium Pro Refractometer __________________ 65G mixed reef tank, 20L sump & 29g refugium sump. Tank build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2511413 Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef

07/15/2015, 03:04 PM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Any of the refractometers sold by any of the major online retailers is fine. They run about $50 bucks. The most important part is to consistently calibrate it with a 35ppt solution, also sold for a couple bucks. http://premiumaquatics.com/products/...meter-atc.html and http://premiumaquatics.com/products/...scm77f25c.html __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

07/15/2015, 03:24 PM	#6
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I just use a cheap floating glass hydrometer to test my salinity. I think I payed $7.99 or so at the LFS. No problem. Last edited by cloak; 07/15/2015 at 03:33 PM.

07/15/2015, 03:12 PM	#5
fridaibarria Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 19	thank you !!!

07/15/2015, 03:32 PM	#7
fridaibarria Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 19	i got one of those when i first got my tank... i couldn't figure out how to use it properly... the guy who sold it to me told me to leave it in the fish tank and just check on it. i returned it and got test strips and thats what i've been using so far, but not the api!!! i think its terra or something like that

07/15/2015, 03:36 PM	#8
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	Glass hydrometers and even the plastic ones you find at some retailers will give you a result, but they can be difficult to read and the accuracy is simply not present. The only way to guarantee accuracy is to use a refractometer that is regularly calibrated. This is a must have if you plan on keeping most corals, especially SPS.

07/15/2015, 04:19 PM	#9
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	I use a plastic swing arm. I think a lot of people have trouble because they don't prime the needle. Every now and then I double check it against our fancy glass floater that is for brewing beer (when husband isn't looking). It hasn't been wrong yet, or if it is the glass one is too but I've only been doing it a few months so yknow __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

07/15/2015, 05:01 PM	#10
texdoc77 Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 417	I initially used a hydrometer, however, this led to some "issues" with some fishes and now I am a little more zealous in my methods and have started using a refractometer. I did quite a bit of research, and for me is chose the vee gee scientific st3. I use it often and love its accuracy and easy readability. Hope this helps.

07/15/2015, 06:22 PM	#11
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	I spent like $35 on a refractometer online. The 35 ppt solution is key. I calibrate every time. Sometimes it doesn't need calibration for weeks and other times I need to adjust a few times over a couple weeks. Works fine and didn't break the bank.

07/15/2015, 07:34 PM	#12
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	FWIW my parents used to use a floating glass hydrometer back in the late 70's early 80's on their tank as well. Here it is 2015 and I can find the exact same thing at the exact same store from back in the day. (Randy's Fish Palace) This just goes to show that these things do in fact work, quite well actually. I don't know how good your vision is, but that sure as hell looks like 1.026 to me. Perfect! Good luck, one way or the other.

07/15/2015, 08:01 PM	#13
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	Refractometer is a good and reliable way to test. I also have the float arm hydrometer and the glass floater as back ups. They all work well. __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

07/16/2015, 01:12 AM	#14
Genera Blink and you're dead. Join Date: May 2015 Location: MN Posts: 531	Taste the water. If you cringe, it's salty enough. __________________ Ah, Minnesota, The Land of 10,000 Lakes (Actually, there are 11,842 that are 10+ acres) Current Tank Info: n/a

07/16/2015, 05:25 AM	#15
aclinville Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 85	Refractometer

07/16/2015, 02:19 PM	#16
fridaibarria Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 19	any specific brands i should look into with a refractometer? I'm sure they all work the same, but any favorites? LOL at tasting the water, im sure any water with salt will make me cringe so any results would be very inaccurate(;

07/16/2015, 03:17 PM	#17
KingTriton1 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 642	Milwaukee MA887 is my preferred choice

07/16/2015, 04:01 PM	#18
Isaacs55 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Riverbank CA Posts: 906	+1 for Refractometer! Any brand from any of the notable online stores are great. Bulkreefsupply.com, marinedepot.com, drsfoster, and even amazon. I got mine from amazon for 25 dollars and works amazing. Ditched my old hydrometer and only use my refractometer now. Super easy...if you buy one from amazon make sure to buy an ATC refractometer that's in our salinity range, because they sell refractometers that are for beer and foods and stuff. The range should be from like 1.010-1.040 give or take...which we want it to be at 1.023-1.026. I keep my salinity at 1.025-1.026 Anyways hope that helps

07/16/2015, 04:47 PM	#19
nuxx RC Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 3,990	+1 Refractometer __________________ Peter TankStop - Fish and Coral 470G Display - Build Thread Current Tank Info: Retired - 470 Gallon Mixed Reef (120x29x31")

07/19/2015, 11:13 AM	#20
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	My refractometer brand is Sybon. I've had it for 4 years and I wipe it off every use, it has never failed me. I have no complaints. __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL