Milwaukee Digital Refractometer - Is it Worth Getting?

[that Fish Guy]

Milwaukee Digital Refractometer - Is it Worth Getting?

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-MA88.../dp/B007Z4ITWU

Please take Part in My Poll and Vote if you Would Buy It or Not?

Please Post Why you Would or Would Not Buy this Product.

[Ou8me2]

I think there should be an option for " I Own One" Which I do and I got it even cheaper than Amazons price. I got mine for $85.00

[twon8]

I have one and am pretty happy with it


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[mattgumaer]

Bought one. Bad eyes made it sort of difficult to see normal refractometer.

Matt

[kmbyrnes]

Nothing against them. I am sure they are great.
But IMO, this hobby has plenty of other uses for $100.
Unless you're obsessed with salinity and check 6 or 7 times a day, a refractometer is plenty accurate for daily checks.
My opinion may change as my eyes get worse.

[Bent]

Meh. I may be the minority here, but I just use swing arms daily.

I just make sure on Sunday that they all match a calibrated refract to satisfy my ocd. But funny thing is, the swing arms which are easily 20 years old, have never been incorrect, but my refract has. Multiple times, and needed re-calibrated.

Go figure.

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by Bent

Meh. I may be the minority here, but I just use swing arms daily.

I just make sure on Sunday that they all match a calibrated refract to satisfy my ocd. But funny thing is, the swing arms which are easily 20 years old, have never been incorrect, but my refract has. Multiple times, and needed re-calibrated.

Go figure.

Swing Arms are notoriously incorrect (You must have gotten Lucky and gotten one that isn't off I guess).

My LFS said one time they opened 5 of them up and none of them gave the same result!

Yes, Refractometers need to be Calibrated but they are the Most Accurate way to measure Salinity out there.

I use my Refractometer Every Day and I Calibrate it Every Day Before Each use.

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by Ou8me2

I think there should be an option for " I Own One" Which I do and I got it even cheaper than Amazons price. I got mine for $85.00

How accurate is the Milwaukee Digital Salinity Reader?

Is there a Better More Accurate Digital Reader out there?

I Saw a Video and he Calibrated it with RO Water (I really do not like this and would like to Calibrate it with 1.026 Salinity Solution).

Can you Calibrate it with 1.026 Salinity Solution or Does it Have to Be RO Water?

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by twon8

I have one and am pretty happy with it


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How accurate is the Milwaukee Digital Salinity Reader?

Is there a Better More Accurate Digital Reader out there?

I Saw a Video and he Calibrated it with RO Water (I really do not like this and would like to Calibrate it with 1.026 Salinity Solution).

Can you Calibrate it with 1.026 Salinity Solution or Does it Have to Be RO Water?

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by mattgumaer

Bought one. Bad eyes made it sort of difficult to see normal refractometer.

Matt

How accurate is the Milwaukee Digital Salinity Reader?

Is there a Better More Accurate Digital Reader out there?

I Saw a Video and he Calibrated it with RO Water (I really do not like this and would like to Calibrate it with 1.026 Salinity Solution).

Can you Calibrate it with 1.026 Salinity Solution or Does it Have to Be RO Water?

[that Fish Guy]

How is the Milwaukee Compared to the Hanna?

http://www.marinedepot.com/Hanna_Ins...TEOPRF-vi.html

http://www.marinedepot.com/Milwaukee...TEOPRF-vi.html

They Look Exactly the Same Except one is Green and one is White?

But the Hanna is $55 More.

[drew2007]

I have one and think it's a must have. Running 2 tanks(QT and DT) makes it easier to check salinity for me. Easier to read than a refractometer. I would recommend getting the one with the case and keep it safe in there. It comes with calibration solution which is distilled water. I have checked with my refractometer and it's pretty accurate.

[Bent]

Originally Posted by that Fish Guy

Swing Arms are notoriously incorrect (You must have gotten Lucky and gotten one that isn't off I guess).

My LFS said one time they opened 5 of them up and none of them gave the same result!

Yes, Refractometers need to be Calibrated but they are the Most Accurate way to measure Salinity out there.

I use my Refractometer Every Day and I Calibrate it Every Day Before Each use.

I have four that are all over 20 years old. I honestly have never seen one be vastly incorrect. Not that Im suggesting using that as your primary means of measurement. I always suggest testing with multiple units weekly. I just dont buy the notorously incorrect rep that swing arms get. Like you said though, I just might have gotten lucky.

edit:
I do like the test tube and floating hydrometer most of all. Though they can be a bit difficult to read, they have always been spot on. I never used one before I started using one to brew beer. Now I use one quite a bit.

[drummerboyevil]

I bought one because I hate swing arms and get enough of manual refractometers when I'm brewing.

It was one of those things that I read "once you have one you'll wonder how you ever lived without it)." That advice was 100% accurate for me. Incredibly accurate, calibrates in seconds, requires tiny volt compared to swing arm), and I get a clear number to read. I have a hard time reading manual refractometers.


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[oseymour]

Originally Posted by drummerboyevil

It was one of those things that I read "once you have one you'll wonder how you ever lived without it)." That advice was 100% accurate for me. Incredibly accurate, calibrates in seconds, requires tiny volt compared to swing arm), and I get a clear number to read. I have a hard time reading manual refractometers.


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Spot on, I tried an Apex Salinity probe and couldn't keep it calibrated or give a stable, accurate reading. I bought the Milwaukee and I can trust the readings I get. Even with having to zero it every time before I use it readings still take about a minute.

[Volcmreefer]

Love mine. It came with lab grade DI water for calibration as well as a 1.026 standard.

[papasreef]

Love mine also.

[IronMonkey]

You can definitely get away without it, and there are much more important "first" purchases. That being said, this is an extremely useful piece of equipment. Instant readings, infrequent calibration, and ease of use that pretty much makes you want to test every day. I was "tweaking" the calibration screw on my old refractometer quite often with test solution, that is a thing of the past now. I'm extremely happy with this purchase and highly recommend it. When I think about how it is around double the cost of a good refractometer, it really doesn't seem all that pricey... IMHO that is.

[Andrew D]

One of the best, and most important, things I've bought for my tank. Bad eyes made it a necessity.

[joshbrookkate]

Love mine! Glad I bought it. I keep the old refractometer in the drawer but I don't use it. The Milwaukee is so easy to use.

[AugustWest]

Easy to calibrate, easy to use . Very happy with mine. Keep an eye on Amazon, picked mine up for 90 bucks off there. Worth every penny.

[Hitch08]

I bought one and love it. I've had surgery on both eyes. Not sure if that's why, but I struggled with the refractometer. Seeing the number is a nice thing.

[Dmorty217]

For the ease of use and accuracy, its silly not to have one. Refractometers IMO are difficult at best to read correctly, this takes the guessing out of it

[GimpyFin]

I also have a mikwaukee digital, and agree with the others. They are awesome and well worth the $100. Easy to read and they calibrate very easy as well. You only use ro/di or distilled water, you don't need a calibration solution.

[moatdaddy]

yup. have one love it. just clean reading glass each time after use. If not you will need to clean before next use and re zero. i do have a 18 dollar ebay refractometer as well to ensure im getting accurate readings.