Your best experience with a refractometer?

[JollyGreen]

I know several people use refractometers, anyone like any brand or style more than the others? Are any considerably more accurate than the standard ones?

Any good examples of how much better refractometers are than the swing arm or float methods of measuring salinity or specific gravity?

Let me know
JG

[samc99us]

I don't have a personal example, because when I bought a refractometer, I just tossed the swing arm in the garbage. Many people report differences of up to like .10 sg (thats the extreme delta) between a swing arm and a refractometer.

This is the refrac I use and most everyone seems to like: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=Hydrometer

[scottfarcuz]

Great article on this topic just came out a few days ago

Refractometers and Salinity Measurement
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-12/rhf/index.php

Randy covers a few topics including slecting a refractometer, and most importantly calibrating one

Also a lengthy thread in the reef chemistry forum about ppl finding their refractometers are off when calibrating with RO or distilled water

[supertech3]

i had done a refractometer test against a couple of swing arm's and saw a difference of .03-.06 on the three i checked

[JollyGreen]

What are some of the better refractometers?

JG

[BigJPDC]

Originally posted by supertech3
i had done a refractometer test against a couple of swing arm's and saw a difference of .03-.06 on the three i checked

Uh, so the swingarm said 1.027, but it was really 1.087? Wouldn't your fish be dead?

jp

[dippin61]

a lot also has to do with the calibration solution you use. apparently a lot of people are calibrating their refractometers wrong.

[BigJPDC]

exactly dipping - after reading that article, it made me want to just keep using the swingarm.

[Joshua1023]

I recently purchased a new refractometer from sybon. Apparently, it was made as a "scientific" instrument as opposed to being designed specifically for aquarium use. That being said, I love it! It's super easy to use and self adjusts to correct for temperature variations. The manufactorer suggests calibration once every six months and they included there own calibration fluid ( which is labeled as super purified water). Detailed calibration instructions were included, but I havn't had it long enough to mess w/ it. Oh, one more tidbit on my Sybon. That Fish Place sells them for $60, but I got mine brand new from a guy who bought one just before his tank sprung a leak. He sold it to me for half the cost so he didn't take a total loss on it. $30 bucks tax free. Oh yeah, baby!!
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