What Brand on refractometer?

fishkeeprian · 11/02/2016, 09:49 AM

Hi Just wondered what is a decent brand out there which high in accuracy?

Bluefish9 · 11/02/2016, 09:50 AM

Believe it or not, the $20 Amazon unit has been great!

Salinity Refractometer, Aquarium & Seawater - Dual Scale (1.0 to 1.070 S.G.) by Agriculture Solutions https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ES6MOQ..._eUGgyb2HS6XM2

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Potatohead · 11/02/2016, 09:50 AM

https://www.amazon.com/Salinity-Refr...=refractometer

Until you get into professional equipment, they're all very similar

BlueWorldJeff · 11/02/2016, 09:52 AM

I use the Milwaukee Digital Refractometer. I use the calibration solution first, then the tank water. Works well, no guessing on if I see a line or not

scooter31707 · 11/02/2016, 11:07 AM

I am pretty happy with my Red Sea one. I also have a ATC one that is pretty good.

devimik · 11/02/2016, 11:34 AM

I love my Milwaukee MA887 digital refractometer.

D-Nak · 11/02/2016, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devimik

I love my Milwaukee MA887 digital refractometer.

THIS.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/milwau...actometer.html

Wait for Black Friday and pick one up. I did last year and never looked back. Even got a nice plastic case for it.

If you have multiple tanks or test your water frequently it's worth the extra money. Simple to use and easy to calibrate.

GimpyFin · 11/02/2016, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devimik

I love my Milwaukee MA887 digital refractometer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Nak

THIS.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/milwau...actometer.html

Wait for Black Friday and pick one up. I did last year and never looked back. Even got a nice plastic case for it.

If you have multiple tanks or test your water frequently it's worth the extra money. Simple to use and easy to calibrate.

+1. The Milwaukee digital is excellent and is well worth the extra $$.

ThRoewer · 11/02/2016, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Potatohead

https://www.amazon.com/Salinity-Refr...=refractometer

Until you get into professional equipment, they're all very similar

No, pretty much all are literally the same down to the case and adjustment screwdriver. I'm sure they all come from the same OEM. All the "manufacturer" does is to slap his logo on it and maybe put it in a branded paper box.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Ou8me2 · 11/02/2016, 04:09 PM

Nothing wrong with buying an ATC refractometer off Amazon or Ebay for around $20.00. My friend just picked one up off Ebay for $17.90 Shipped and it works great, case and everything.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161751384226?

I actually bought mine from another site. You can buy just the unit for $85.00, but no case. If you want the case it's $100.00 with free shipping. Still cheaper than BRS and most other places. So if the case isn't of importance you can save even more money.

http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/mi...ters/ma887.htm

ThaBeast · 11/02/2016, 05:19 PM

Another vote for the Milwaukee digital refractometer. I like mine so much I bought a second for the QT room

Buzz1329 · 11/02/2016, 08:10 PM

DFS and BRS house brands have worked well for me.

I tried Red Sea and found that it needed to be recalibrated after each test with 35 ppt solution. Could just be me. But when I check whether I need to recalibrate the DFS and BRS brands, I never have a problem.

FWIW. If you have calibration solution, you can check for yourself rather than listening to klutz like me.

MIke

Ilovethehobby · 11/04/2016, 06:42 AM

Agree on the $20 point, very happy with mine also from Amazon. My LFS sells RO Salt water, claims it's 1.025. Calibrated this checked his water, 1.025 right on.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

reefteaser · 11/04/2016, 09:02 AM

I can't remember where I bought it, but my H2Ocean brand is similar to the others on EBay and Amazon, except the scale is much finer (1.015-1.030, or 20-40ppt) and a little easier to read. It makes more sense for aquarium use. I calibrated it first using RODI when I got it, then with calibration fluid much later, and it was still spot on. I've periodically checked since and not needed to adjust.

FirstContact · 11/04/2016, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefteaser

I can't remember where I bought it, but my H2Ocean brand is similar to the others on EBay and Amazon, except the scale is much finer (1.015-1.030, or 20-40ppt) and a little easier to read. It makes more sense for aquarium use. I calibrated it first using RODI when I got it, then with calibration fluid much later, and it was still spot on. I've periodically checked since and not needed to adjust.

+1 The brands with the finer scales are much easier to read.

11/02/2016, 09:49 AM	#1
fishkeeprian Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: England, Earl Shilton Posts: 1,452	What Brand on refractometer? Hi Just wondered what is a decent brand out there which high in accuracy?

11/02/2016, 09:50 AM	#2
Bluefish9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Massapequa, NY Posts: 225	What Brand on refractometer? Believe it or not, the $20 Amazon unit has been great! Salinity Refractometer, Aquarium & Seawater - Dual Scale (1.0 to 1.070 S.G.) by Agriculture Solutions https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ES6MOQ..._eUGgyb2HS6XM2 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11/02/2016, 09:52 AM	#4
BlueWorldJeff Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 107	I use the Milwaukee Digital Refractometer. I use the calibration solution first, then the tank water. Works well, no guessing on if I see a line or not __________________ Blue World Aquatics - specializing in the buying and selling of fresh and saltwater equipment Current Tank Info: 180 gallon Mixed Reef - SPS, LPS, Apex Controller, Aquamaxx AM250 Skimmer, 2 x Tunze 6105, Waveline DC6000 Return Pump

11/02/2016, 11:34 AM	#6
devimik Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: KC, KS Posts: 637	I love my Milwaukee MA887 digital refractometer. __________________ Mike D Coral Beauty, Green Filefish, One Spot Foxface, Springeri Dottyback, 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Watchman Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Spotted Mandarin Current Tank Info: 90g Softie Reef, 150# live rock, 30g sump w/refugium, Tunze Osmolator 3155 ATO, Octopus NWB 150 Skimmer, Mag 950 return, Maxspect 120w Razor 10K LED light X2, BRS Phosphate Reactor; Apex Lite

11/02/2016, 08:10 PM	#12
Buzz1329 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 2,414	DFS and BRS house brands have worked well for me. I tried Red Sea and found that it needed to be recalibrated after each test with 35 ppt solution. Could just be me. But when I check whether I need to recalibrate the DFS and BRS brands, I never have a problem. FWIW. If you have calibration solution, you can check for yourself rather than listening to klutz like me. MIke Last edited by Buzz1329; 11/02/2016 at 08:15 PM.

11/02/2016, 09:50 AM	#3
Potatohead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,596	https://www.amazon.com/Salinity-Refr...=refractometer Until you get into professional equipment, they're all very similar

11/02/2016, 11:07 AM	#5
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I am pretty happy with my Red Sea one. I also have a ATC one that is pretty good.

11/02/2016, 04:09 PM	#10
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	Nothing wrong with buying an ATC refractometer off Amazon or Ebay for around $20.00. My friend just picked one up off Ebay for $17.90 Shipped and it works great, case and everything. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161751384226? I actually bought mine from another site. You can buy just the unit for $85.00, but no case. If you want the case it's $100.00 with free shipping. Still cheaper than BRS and most other places. So if the case isn't of importance you can save even more money. http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/mi...ters/ma887.htm

11/02/2016, 05:19 PM	#11
ThaBeast Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 332	Another vote for the Milwaukee digital refractometer. I like mine so much I bought a second for the QT room

11/04/2016, 06:42 AM	#13
Ilovethehobby Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 8	Agree on the $20 point, very happy with mine also from Amazon. My LFS sells RO Salt water, claims it's 1.025. Calibrated this checked his water, 1.025 right on. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

11/04/2016, 09:02 AM	#14
reefteaser Convince'em or confuse'em Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: S FL Posts: 341	I can't remember where I bought it, but my H2Ocean brand is similar to the others on EBay and Amazon, except the scale is much finer (1.015-1.030, or 20-40ppt) and a little easier to read. It makes more sense for aquarium use. I calibrated it first using RODI when I got it, then with calibration fluid much later, and it was still spot on. I've periodically checked since and not needed to adjust.