Swingarm killed fish - looking for refractometer

eshook · 10/02/2007, 04:19 PM

Well my swingarm killed my first fish (bangaii cardinal) The s.g. was 1.030 (after LFS testing) and my swing arm read 1.023.

My wife tells me to get a good one ($100+) Preferably electronic.

Does anyone have any recommendations on a user friendly and *reliable* refractometer or device for measuring salinity?

chrisjet · 10/03/2007, 12:14 AM

i got mine off ebay for $30 plus $8 shipping. works fine

McCrary · 10/03/2007, 12:51 AM

I bought a $90 Captive Purity refractometer from marinedepot.com. Its been one of the best purchases that I have made for the aquarium. I was hesitant to buy such an expensive one, but I'm glad I did, I don't question the accuracy like I always did for my hydrometer. I feel that if I had purchased a less expensive off brand one that I would constantly be wondering if it was accurate.

hahnmeister · 10/03/2007, 01:42 AM

A floating hydrometer... one that looks like this...
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~HG19206.html
is the most reliable. I have a refractometer too, but this thing will never go out of whack.

McCrary · 10/03/2007, 01:48 AM

Wow, I never knew that those were good, I could have saved some cash with one of those.

burris · 10/03/2007, 02:02 AM

A floating hydrometer is potentially reliable (who knows how good a hagen one is?) but its a lot less convenient than a refractometer or conductivity monitor. If you want accurate readings have to worry about water droplets on the exposed surface, temperature, let the sample rest, etc... A refractometer is quick and easy.

If you want an expensive electronic thingy, get the pinpoint conductivity meter. It can also measure the saturation of limewater and be plugged into a computer for logging and making graphs. Everybody loves a good graph.

Wrench · 10/03/2007, 06:41 AM

I calibrated my swing arm with a friends Refractometer. He's had more issues with his tank because of salinity creep than anyone I know. His refractometer loses it's calibration and is deadly inaccurate. Mine works good though

Even though it was off by about .003 out of the package. Once they're calibrated they're more accurate.

bstreep · 10/03/2007, 08:10 AM

One of the well known locals here just lost a bunch of NICE corals - trusting his refractometer. It lost it's calibration gradually over a fairly short period of time.

I keep TWO floating hydrometers of known accuracy. What's funny is that I hadn't broken one in like 20 years, and about a year ago, broke 2 in one day! Good news is they are around $10-15!

10/02/2007, 04:19 PM	#1
eshook Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kent OH Posts: 823	Swingarm killed fish - looking for refractometer Well my swingarm killed my first fish (bangaii cardinal) The s.g. was 1.030 (after LFS testing) and my swing arm read 1.023. My wife tells me to get a good one ($100+) Preferably electronic. Does anyone have any recommendations on a user friendly and reliable refractometer or device for measuring salinity?

10/03/2007, 12:51 AM	#3
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	I bought a $90 Captive Purity refractometer from marinedepot.com. Its been one of the best purchases that I have made for the aquarium. I was hesitant to buy such an expensive one, but I'm glad I did, I don't question the accuracy like I always did for my hydrometer. I feel that if I had purchased a less expensive off brand one that I would constantly be wondering if it was accurate. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

10/03/2007, 01:48 AM	#5
McCrary Can't Stop Time Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,079	Wow, I never knew that those were good, I could have saved some cash with one of those. __________________ Matt Patience is the best remedy for every trouble. Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC), Rudens

10/03/2007, 08:10 AM	#8
bstreep Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 115	One of the well known locals here just lost a bunch of NICE corals - trusting his refractometer. It lost it's calibration gradually over a fairly short period of time. I keep TWO floating hydrometers of known accuracy. What's funny is that I hadn't broken one in like 20 years, and about a year ago, broke 2 in one day! Good news is they are around $10-15! __________________ Bill Current Tank Info: 215g Brick Reef, 55g Seahorse, 12nano

10/03/2007, 12:14 AM	#2
chrisjet Moved On Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: marietta ga Posts: 222	i got mine off ebay for $30 plus $8 shipping. works fine

10/03/2007, 01:42 AM	#4
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	A floating hydrometer... one that looks like this... http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~HG19206.html is the most reliable. I have a refractometer too, but this thing will never go out of whack.

10/03/2007, 02:02 AM	#6
burris Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 257	A floating hydrometer is potentially reliable (who knows how good a hagen one is?) but its a lot less convenient than a refractometer or conductivity monitor. If you want accurate readings have to worry about water droplets on the exposed surface, temperature, let the sample rest, etc... A refractometer is quick and easy. If you want an expensive electronic thingy, get the pinpoint conductivity meter. It can also measure the saturation of limewater and be plugged into a computer for logging and making graphs. Everybody loves a good graph.

10/03/2007, 06:41 AM	#7
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	I calibrated my swing arm with a friends Refractometer. He's had more issues with his tank because of salinity creep than anyone I know. His refractometer loses it's calibration and is deadly inaccurate. Mine works good though Even though it was off by about .003 out of the package. Once they're calibrated they're more accurate.