Good/accurate refractometer

ravedood · 03/23/2016, 02:49 PM

Hi Guys,

What is a good refractometer?

Thanks

CritterHeaven · 03/23/2016, 02:57 PM

I expect everyone has their favorite but I have had a Sybon for ages. I recalibrate it every 6 months or so and it is entirely reliable.

ravedood · 03/23/2016, 03:15 PM

Pardon my ignorance but how do you calibrate them?

Germanwerks · 03/23/2016, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravedood

Pardon my ignorance but how do you calibrate them?

either with a calibration solution or distilled/rodi water. Calibration fluid being the best option.

CritterHeaven · 03/23/2016, 03:38 PM

I use "ultrapure water" and adjust the line on the refractometer with my little tool that comes with it to read 0. I have heard that it is better to use a salinity fluid and calibrate to 1.0259 but haven't gotten around to ordering any!

azjohnny · 03/23/2016, 03:45 PM

I use calibration fluid

nuttyd · 03/23/2016, 03:56 PM

plus one on calibration fluid. turns out the distilled water i bought gave me a bad reading way too high. Tank was actually at 1.023 and it was reading 1.030.

azjohnny · 03/23/2016, 04:02 PM

I have a refractometer I bought off Amazon last year for $30 and still going strong. I calibrated when I 1st bought it and has held its calibration ( I recheck once per month)

CritterHeaven · 03/23/2016, 04:04 PM

I think there is a difference between distilled water you buy at the store and ultra pure water but agreed that calibration fluid is a better result.

solitude127 · 03/23/2016, 04:27 PM

VeeGee/VitalSine is the refractometer I've used

Ou8me2 · 03/23/2016, 04:52 PM

I love my Milwaukee Digital Seawater Refractometer. Picked one up for $ 85.00 brand new.

Couple drops of water, press button.. Boom done!

sleepydoc · 03/23/2016, 05:13 PM

I think a lot of the optical refractometers are from the same factory - they all look identical, at least.

As far as calibration, you should invest in a bottle of calibration fluid. It's best to calibrate with a solution as close to your expected measurement as possible. RO/DI will give you accurate readings at 0, but may be off significantly at 1.026

03/23/2016, 02:49 PM	#1
ravedood Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pembroke Pines, FL Posts: 1,540	Good/accurate refractometer Hi Guys, What is a good refractometer? Thanks __________________ Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member --Ben

03/23/2016, 02:57 PM	#2
CritterHeaven Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 83	I expect everyone has their favorite but I have had a Sybon for ages. I recalibrate it every 6 months or so and it is entirely reliable. __________________ Kim at CritterHeaven "Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace." -Dr. Albert Schweitzer

03/23/2016, 03:15 PM	#3
ravedood Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pembroke Pines, FL Posts: 1,540	Pardon my ignorance but how do you calibrate them? __________________ Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member --Ben

03/23/2016, 03:38 PM	#5
CritterHeaven Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 83	I use "ultrapure water" and adjust the line on the refractometer with my little tool that comes with it to read 0. I have heard that it is better to use a salinity fluid and calibrate to 1.0259 but haven't gotten around to ordering any! __________________ Kim at CritterHeaven "Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace." -Dr. Albert Schweitzer

03/23/2016, 04:04 PM	#9
CritterHeaven Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 83	I think there is a difference between distilled water you buy at the store and ultra pure water but agreed that calibration fluid is a better result. __________________ Kim at CritterHeaven "Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace." -Dr. Albert Schweitzer

03/23/2016, 03:45 PM	#6
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	I use calibration fluid

03/23/2016, 03:56 PM	#7
nuttyd Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Coral Gables Posts: 520	plus one on calibration fluid. turns out the distilled water i bought gave me a bad reading way too high. Tank was actually at 1.023 and it was reading 1.030.

03/23/2016, 04:02 PM	#8
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	I have a refractometer I bought off Amazon last year for $30 and still going strong. I calibrated when I 1st bought it and has held its calibration ( I recheck once per month)

03/23/2016, 04:27 PM	#10
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	VeeGee/VitalSine is the refractometer I've used __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

03/23/2016, 04:52 PM	#11
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	I love my Milwaukee Digital Seawater Refractometer. Picked one up for $ 85.00 brand new. Couple drops of water, press button.. Boom done!

03/23/2016, 05:13 PM	#12
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	I think a lot of the optical refractometers are from the same factory - they all look identical, at least. As far as calibration, you should invest in a bottle of calibration fluid. It's best to calibrate with a solution as close to your expected measurement as possible. RO/DI will give you accurate readings at 0, but may be off significantly at 1.026 __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting