Portable Refractometer from Drsfostersmith.com

zmazza · 04/10/2006, 11:58 AM

I just ordered one. It seems pretty easy to use. It's manual, as in has no batteries, and I was told that was why it was cheaper. Has anyone used this particular one? Is it a good one?

dominick33 · 04/10/2006, 12:08 PM

Yes I have...I saw no need to spend the exra money for the battery lit model/ Once you calibrate it with RO or distilled water it is a great instrument that is expremely easy to use

HowardW · 04/10/2006, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dominick33
Yes I have...I saw no need to spend the exra money for the battery lit model/ Once you calibrate it with RO or distilled water it is a great instrument that is expremely easy to use

....ditto

zmazza · 04/10/2006, 01:16 PM

That's extremely comforting to know. Half the time when I buy something I later find out that it was the worst product ever made. Can't go by reviews written by the company.... lol.

Good to know I picked a good refractometer.

You only have to calibrate it once with the distilled water? It's good to go forever after that? What's the best way to store and take care of a refractometer?

cstamper65605 · 04/10/2006, 01:21 PM

I store mine in the box it came in. Be sure and wipe it clean with a soft cloth each time you use it, and try not to get SW on the screws where the clear plate latches up--you will see what I mean. If you do, you can rinse it off.

Mine is indispensable--in fact, I have two--one by my salt water make-up set up and one by my tanks. I calibrated mine once and have not had to again--have had them for about a year now.

zmazza · 04/10/2006, 02:33 PM

Wow! Seems like the best piece of equipment that I have ever bought! How do you know you are buying distilled or RO water? I don't have a RO unit yet.

cstamper65605 · 04/10/2006, 03:14 PM

We just used RO water--the known Sp. Gravity is 0. Seems like you could use tap water....

zmazza · 04/10/2006, 03:24 PM

I want it to be as accurate as possible, so I'd hate to use tap water. I'm having to get by with it right now on my tank. I won't be able to get an RO unit until December.

Can you purchase it from stores? I may take it to The Aquarium in knoxville, the best LFS around the area, and see if they can calibrate it for me.

cstamper65605 · 04/10/2006, 06:31 PM

Well, remember you are just looking for it to read "zero" so RO should suffice. Mine reads zero on RO water.

Newreeflady · 04/10/2006, 06:48 PM

I didn't like the product, it was too hard to read for me. The graduations are very small and the white/blue line isn't very definite unless you have the perfect light.

I had another refractometer I liked better but sold it and don't remember what the brand was, I think I bought it at Marine Depot.

I decided to go with the digital Pinpoint salinity monitor instead, it should be here tomorrow... hopefully it works well, i'm sure it will.

jme, lots of people like them.

-A

cstamper65605 · 04/11/2006, 05:10 AM

I don't see too well

but i can read mine just fine. You can adjust the focus with the eyepiece. You have to hold it up to a bright light to read it but that is not a problem.

I am doing hyposalinity on several hosp. tanks and use mine several times a day.

zmazza · 04/11/2006, 06:44 AM

Awesome. Difficult to clean? Anything I should be aware of or look out for?

Spuds725 · 04/11/2006, 06:55 AM

Nope... very simple piece of equipment-- just follow the calibration instructions (not really a calibration but setting/verifying the 0 reference)-- there is a temperature requirement if I remember correctly... bought mine last summer-- it is a little hard to read but not too bad when pointed at a bright light---

Newreeflady · 04/12/2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cstamper65605
I don't see too well but i can read mine just fine. You can adjust the focus with the eyepiece. You have to hold it up to a bright light to read it but that is not a problem.

I am doing hyposalinity on several hosp. tanks and use mine several times a day.

I don't see too well, either... but my boyfriend does and he even had problems reading it. If I got the perfect lighting, I could see a definite line, but since the graduations are so close it isn't very accurate, imo.

I just got the Pinpoint salinity monitor which works on conductivity. It is very nice and simple and gives digital readings... dip, wait 2-3 minutes for temperature equilization, come back and read a nice, stable, digital read out

... it is more expensive, though, but Marine Depot has a decent deal.

Best,
-A

Paulairduck · 04/12/2006, 11:12 AM

I really like the refractometer, but it is much easier to read in the natural sunlight. I usually tesy my salinity in the morning and just point it out the window or my slider and you can see the blue line much easier. it still works under lights in the house it is just not as crystal clear..

04/10/2006, 11:58 AM	#1
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	Portable Refractometer from Drsfostersmith.com I just ordered one. It seems pretty easy to use. It's manual, as in has no batteries, and I was told that was why it was cheaper. Has anyone used this particular one? Is it a good one?

04/10/2006, 01:16 PM	#4
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	That's extremely comforting to know. Half the time when I buy something I later find out that it was the worst product ever made. Can't go by reviews written by the company.... lol. Good to know I picked a good refractometer. You only have to calibrate it once with the distilled water? It's good to go forever after that? What's the best way to store and take care of a refractometer? __________________ 29G FO 30G Reef Stand and Canopy Design by kelley_mc®! REEF - n. A peculiar glass box which is also a vacuum for time and money. "That reef just stole my wallet!" Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon Reef - Gold Stripe Maroon Clown Pair

04/10/2006, 01:21 PM	#5
cstamper65605 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Aurora, Missouri Posts: 215	I store mine in the box it came in. Be sure and wipe it clean with a soft cloth each time you use it, and try not to get SW on the screws where the clear plate latches up--you will see what I mean. If you do, you can rinse it off. Mine is indispensable--in fact, I have two--one by my salt water make-up set up and one by my tanks. I calibrated mine once and have not had to again--have had them for about a year now. __________________ Cathy Current Tank Info: 120 g. reef, 45 tall seahorse tank, 135 g reef, 7 gal MB Nano, 240 gal. FOWLR. Inverts and fish and corals.

04/10/2006, 02:33 PM	#6
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	Wow! Seems like the best piece of equipment that I have ever bought! How do you know you are buying distilled or RO water? I don't have a RO unit yet. __________________ 29G FO 30G Reef Stand and Canopy Design by kelley_mc®! REEF - n. A peculiar glass box which is also a vacuum for time and money. "That reef just stole my wallet!" Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon Reef - Gold Stripe Maroon Clown Pair

04/10/2006, 03:14 PM	#7
cstamper65605 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Aurora, Missouri Posts: 215	We just used RO water--the known Sp. Gravity is 0. Seems like you could use tap water.... __________________ Cathy Current Tank Info: 120 g. reef, 45 tall seahorse tank, 135 g reef, 7 gal MB Nano, 240 gal. FOWLR. Inverts and fish and corals.

04/10/2006, 12:08 PM	#2
dominick33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 68	Yes I have...I saw no need to spend the exra money for the battery lit model/ Once you calibrate it with RO or distilled water it is a great instrument that is expremely easy to use

04/10/2006, 03:24 PM	#8
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	I want it to be as accurate as possible, so I'd hate to use tap water. I'm having to get by with it right now on my tank. I won't be able to get an RO unit until December. Can you purchase it from stores? I may take it to The Aquarium in knoxville, the best LFS around the area, and see if they can calibrate it for me.

04/10/2006, 06:31 PM	#9
cstamper65605 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Aurora, Missouri Posts: 215	Well, remember you are just looking for it to read "zero" so RO should suffice. Mine reads zero on RO water. __________________ Cathy Current Tank Info: 120 g. reef, 45 tall seahorse tank, 135 g reef, 7 gal MB Nano, 240 gal. FOWLR. Inverts and fish and corals.

04/10/2006, 06:48 PM	#10
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	I didn't like the product, it was too hard to read for me. The graduations are very small and the white/blue line isn't very definite unless you have the perfect light. I had another refractometer I liked better but sold it and don't remember what the brand was, I think I bought it at Marine Depot. I decided to go with the digital Pinpoint salinity monitor instead, it should be here tomorrow... hopefully it works well, i'm sure it will. jme, lots of people like them. -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

04/11/2006, 05:10 AM	#11
cstamper65605 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Aurora, Missouri Posts: 215	I don't see too well but i can read mine just fine. You can adjust the focus with the eyepiece. You have to hold it up to a bright light to read it but that is not a problem. I am doing hyposalinity on several hosp. tanks and use mine several times a day. __________________ Cathy Current Tank Info: 120 g. reef, 45 tall seahorse tank, 135 g reef, 7 gal MB Nano, 240 gal. FOWLR. Inverts and fish and corals.

04/11/2006, 06:44 AM	#12
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	Awesome. Difficult to clean? Anything I should be aware of or look out for? __________________ 29G FO 30G Reef Stand and Canopy Design by kelley_mc®! REEF - n. A peculiar glass box which is also a vacuum for time and money. "That reef just stole my wallet!" Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon Reef - Gold Stripe Maroon Clown Pair

04/11/2006, 06:55 AM	#13
Spuds725 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toledo, Ohio USA Posts: 2,051	Nope... very simple piece of equipment-- just follow the calibration instructions (not really a calibration but setting/verifying the 0 reference)-- there is a temperature requirement if I remember correctly... bought mine last summer-- it is a little hard to read but not too bad when pointed at a bright light--- __________________ "I only have time to neglect one tank"-- Me "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work, I want to achieve immortality by not dying"-- Woody Allen Current Tank Info: 125G mixed reef with 135G Sump

04/12/2006, 11:12 AM	#15
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	they key I really like the refractometer, but it is much easier to read in the natural sunlight. I usually tesy my salinity in the morning and just point it out the window or my slider and you can see the blue line much easier. it still works under lights in the house it is just not as crystal clear..