refractometer recommendations

reefchiquita · 05/26/2006, 03:52 PM

i have a 180g tank, only 2 months old. i've been using a swing arm hydrometer, and been satisfied with its reading, but i heard these things go bad real fast. any recommendations on which refractometer to get and how much i should be paying? thanks!

tanku · 05/26/2006, 04:03 PM

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...er.asp?CartId=

i have the first one on this link, it works great.

Capt_Cully · 05/26/2006, 04:05 PM

2nd that

joe 09 · 05/27/2006, 06:06 AM

one of the best and cheapest is the, rhs-10 atc.you can buy it on line .the 2 drs.had it for 43 $.

reefer Rob · 05/27/2006, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tanku
http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...er.asp?CartId=

i have the first one on this link, it works great.

Why is there a price on all but thefirst on? things that make ya go ... hmmm

a4twenty · 05/27/2006, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefer Rob
Why is there a price on all but thefirst on? things that make ya go ... hmmm

it say's $49.99, was $59.99 ??

reefchiquita · 05/27/2006, 11:39 AM

thanks! gonna go with that!

Recife · 05/27/2006, 11:59 AM

The marine depot refractometer is good value for money, but a word of caution. It WILL need to be calibrated when you get it and just using tap or distilled water won't be enough, despite the instructions.
I got mine last week and it read 1.031 and I went crazy. Luckily I did some research before lowering my salinity and after proper calibration it read 1.025.
There's a link with a homemade solution for calibration and I can't find it now, but I will try and post it later. Basically you will need a 2l bottle coke, ionized salt and measuring cups and spoons. Alternatively, you can use the water from a fellow reefer.

Amphiprion · 05/27/2006, 02:22 PM

I second Recife's recommendation.
This is the link: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20....php--however, I recommend that you find a measuring cup with metric gradations (i.e. liters), since the coke bottles tend to vary a bit in their overall volume. The rest of the recipe should be fine.

Amphiprion · 05/27/2006, 03:59 PM

sorry about that link. Here is a good one:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

thorsen · 05/27/2006, 04:44 PM

Before you order from Marinedepot, I just got the same refractory meter they sell from an Ebay store for 40.00 including shipping and handling. That'll save you about ten dollars.

05/26/2006, 03:52 PM	#1
reefchiquita Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 114	refractometer recommendations i have a 180g tank, only 2 months old. i've been using a swing arm hydrometer, and been satisfied with its reading, but i heard these things go bad real fast. any recommendations on which refractometer to get and how much i should be paying? thanks!

05/26/2006, 04:03 PM	#2
tanku Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: santa maria, ca Posts: 378	http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...er.asp?CartId= i have the first one on this link, it works great. __________________ 90 gal glass 70 lbs lr 5" dsb AQUA C URCHIN SKIMMER MONTIPORAS ZOOS SHROOMS

05/26/2006, 04:05 PM	#3
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	2nd that __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

05/27/2006, 02:22 PM	#9
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	I second Recife's recommendation. This is the link: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20....php--however, I recommend that you find a measuring cup with metric gradations (i.e. liters), since the coke bottles tend to vary a bit in their overall volume. The rest of the recipe should be fine. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

05/27/2006, 03:59 PM	#10
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	sorry about that link. Here is a good one: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

05/27/2006, 06:06 AM	#4
joe 09 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: holbrook li Posts: 126	one of the best and cheapest is the, rhs-10 atc.you can buy it on line .the 2 drs.had it for 43 $.

05/27/2006, 11:39 AM	#7
reefchiquita Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 114	thanks! gonna go with that!

05/27/2006, 11:59 AM	#8
Recife Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bellevue - WA Posts: 282	The marine depot refractometer is good value for money, but a word of caution. It WILL need to be calibrated when you get it and just using tap or distilled water won't be enough, despite the instructions. I got mine last week and it read 1.031 and I went crazy. Luckily I did some research before lowering my salinity and after proper calibration it read 1.025. There's a link with a homemade solution for calibration and I can't find it now, but I will try and post it later. Basically you will need a 2l bottle coke, ionized salt and measuring cups and spoons. Alternatively, you can use the water from a fellow reefer.

05/27/2006, 04:44 PM	#11
thorsen Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Danville, PA Posts: 204	Before you order from Marinedepot, I just got the same refractory meter they sell from an Ebay store for 40.00 including shipping and handling. That'll save you about ten dollars. __________________ And God said, let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life... Genesis 1:20 Current Tank Info: 180 gallon