is a refractometer worth buying?

snaza · 06/15/2006, 04:25 AM

hi, setting up my first tank and want to know if they are really needed or i can just buy a normal salinity tester with a needle. much cheaper.

kau_cinta_ku · 06/15/2006, 04:42 AM

much better. they are alot more accurate than the swing arms. as the swing arms in time can start to give false reading in terms having to buy new ones. so in the long run the refractometer will be cheaper also

redox · 06/15/2006, 04:53 AM

hypo salinity is what you will end up with if you keep on using a swing arm ,got a refractometer and am very happy with it, just make sure to get one with temp compensation

dous · 06/15/2006, 05:17 AM

yes. It's worth it. I just wasted money on my hydrometer. Takes no time to use a refractometer and it's accurate.

diverdan814 · 06/15/2006, 05:22 AM

one of the best items you can get for yourself...

grips · 06/15/2006, 06:23 AM

Yes, they are very much worth the money. I went without one for quite a while. When i finally did buy one, I found out that my salinity was 1.032. I thought i had a good salt mix, but i was way off. Needless to say, now that i have a refractometer, my salinity is at a steady 1.025.

Reefski's · 06/15/2006, 06:35 AM

yes, cheap investment in your hobby.

whiteshark · 06/15/2006, 06:55 AM

Yes

Bambalamb · 06/15/2006, 07:04 AM

I had 3 swing-arm hydrometers (all different) in the past, and all 3 gave a different reading on the same water. Bought a refractometer online and took the guesswork out of it. I feel that high-quality testing equipment is a must.

Fizz71 · 06/15/2006, 07:37 AM

I wouldn't bother with it....hydrometers are fine.

...oh who am I fooling..I have several hydrometers (some not even used) sitting in a box...they are such a pain...although I will admit the newer ones with the auto-leveling are pretty nice. It still doesn't compare to a refractometer...I'll never use a hydrometer again.

--Fizz

Emmelemmo · 06/15/2006, 07:58 AM

One of the best investments after an RO/DI

hanas · 06/15/2006, 08:02 AM

I've used a hydrometer for several years and now have been using a refractometer.
While I like the highlty recommend a refractometer, I did have comparative numbers when I compared my hydrometer to the refractometer. Just my 2 cents.

gabegmonkey · 06/15/2006, 08:12 AM

Yes, get a refractometer. It's easier, more accurate, less need to get wet and I have to say that I test salinity way more often at my work (with a refractometer) than I do at home (hydrometer) because I really am that lazy... seriously tho get one!!

Indermark · 06/15/2006, 08:52 AM

Oh god yes is it worth it. I got mine from www.PremiumAquatics.com I got the black refractometer which is a little more expensive than the blue one. It is a very nice and feels well made. All my hydrometers are now collecting dust.

Ryan

dj synystr · 06/15/2006, 08:56 AM

no. i have never owned one and have used a salinity meter for as long as i can remember and i have never had any issues. people make it seem like you will wipe out yoru intire tank if your salinity goes up or down .01 HOGWASH! wouldnt it be nicer to add a new coral instead of the refractometer?

fingersdlp · 06/15/2006, 09:18 AM

Yes it is worth it. I agree it is not really needed for a normal fish keeping range of salinity but it is nice to have. It is needed if you have to use hyposalinity to treat ich or other disease - unless you like to roll the dice and hope your hydrometer is accurate at a low salinity range.

Brian

tedmc2 · 06/15/2006, 09:35 AM

Yes, it's worth it. If you're starting off and want to get off on the right foot, spend a couple extra bucks and get a reliable piece of equipment.

MarkD40 · 06/15/2006, 09:46 AM

I used a swing arm for years. My tangs developed HLLE and I was going crazy trying to figure out what was wrong. Bought a new swing arm and found that my salinity was 1.062! My old hydrometer was reading 1.026. I got a refractometer and found that the new swing arm was accurate.

You do not need to buy a refractometer. You can have your LFS check the salinity of your water and compare it to your swing arm. If the swing arm reads differently just mark where the needle points on the swing arm. As long as the swing arm is consistently inaccurate you can use it. Just check it periodically to make sure it is still reading the same. I find the swing arm to be more convenient for regular readings.

It is like setting your watch 10 minutes too fast. The watch is telling you the wrong time but if you know it is 10 minutes fast it is still accurate.

theop · 06/15/2006, 09:56 AM

One good use of a refractometer is that you can test the water in the bag when you buy livestock. It would be hard to do this with a swing-arm because of the volume needed for the hydrometer.

By this method I found out that one of my LFS keeps all there livestock at 1.020. This would good to know when I bought a fire shrimp and snails as I knew to acclimate them longer to my tank at 1.024.

06/15/2006, 04:25 AM	#1
snaza Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 1,393	is a refractometer worth buying? hi, setting up my first tank and want to know if they are really needed or i can just buy a normal salinity tester with a needle. much cheaper.

06/15/2006, 04:53 AM	#3
redox Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SOBX Posts: 2,091	yes worth it hypo salinity is what you will end up with if you keep on using a swing arm ,got a refractometer and am very happy with it, just make sure to get one with temp compensation

06/15/2006, 05:17 AM	#4
dous Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Newmarket, Canada Posts: 352	yes. It's worth it. I just wasted money on my hydrometer. Takes no time to use a refractometer and it's accurate. __________________ -------------------- dous Current Tank Info: 55g reef, custom 300g in planning stages

06/15/2006, 06:23 AM	#6
grips Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Galesburg, IL Posts: 61	Yes, they are very much worth the money. I went without one for quite a while. When i finally did buy one, I found out that my salinity was 1.032. I thought i had a good salt mix, but i was way off. Needless to say, now that i have a refractometer, my salinity is at a steady 1.025. __________________ I use a powerhead to mix kool-aid. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Reef, 20 gal. sump, 10 gal. fuge, ASM G3, 110 lbs. LR., Tunze Stream TS12 kit

06/15/2006, 06:55 AM	#8
whiteshark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 3,024	Yes __________________ Deep Blue 60 gallon cube: Setup in progress.

06/15/2006, 04:42 AM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	much better. they are alot more accurate than the swing arms. as the swing arms in time can start to give false reading in terms having to buy new ones. so in the long run the refractometer will be cheaper also

06/15/2006, 05:22 AM	#5
diverdan814 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bergen County NJ Posts: 394	one of the best items you can get for yourself...

06/15/2006, 06:35 AM	#7
Reefski's Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Topanga Posts: 3,016	yes, cheap investment in your hobby.

06/15/2006, 07:04 AM	#9
Bambalamb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 102	I had 3 swing-arm hydrometers (all different) in the past, and all 3 gave a different reading on the same water. Bought a refractometer online and took the guesswork out of it. I feel that high-quality testing equipment is a must.

06/15/2006, 07:37 AM	#10
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	I wouldn't bother with it....hydrometers are fine. ...oh who am I fooling..I have several hydrometers (some not even used) sitting in a box...they are such a pain...although I will admit the newer ones with the auto-leveling are pretty nice. It still doesn't compare to a refractometer...I'll never use a hydrometer again. --Fizz __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

06/15/2006, 07:58 AM	#11
Emmelemmo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grove City, OH Posts: 71	One of the best investments after an RO/DI

06/15/2006, 08:02 AM	#12
hanas Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 795	I've used a hydrometer for several years and now have been using a refractometer. While I like the highlty recommend a refractometer, I did have comparative numbers when I compared my hydrometer to the refractometer. Just my 2 cents.

06/15/2006, 08:12 AM	#13
gabegmonkey Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 413	Yes, get a refractometer. It's easier, more accurate, less need to get wet and I have to say that I test salinity way more often at my work (with a refractometer) than I do at home (hydrometer) because I really am that lazy... seriously tho get one!!

06/15/2006, 08:52 AM	#14
Indermark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Troy, Illinois Posts: 670	Oh god yes is it worth it. I got mine from www.PremiumAquatics.com I got the black refractometer which is a little more expensive than the blue one. It is a very nice and feels well made. All my hydrometers are now collecting dust. Ryan

06/15/2006, 08:56 AM	#15
dj synystr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PA Posts: 843	no. i have never owned one and have used a salinity meter for as long as i can remember and i have never had any issues. people make it seem like you will wipe out yoru intire tank if your salinity goes up or down .01 HOGWASH! wouldnt it be nicer to add a new coral instead of the refractometer? __________________ Dj Synystr Battlefield/WLVR/AOL Mixtape Radio Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon Room Divider Mixed Reef

06/15/2006, 09:18 AM	#16
fingersdlp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 218	Yes it is worth it. I agree it is not really needed for a normal fish keeping range of salinity but it is nice to have. It is needed if you have to use hyposalinity to treat ich or other disease - unless you like to roll the dice and hope your hydrometer is accurate at a low salinity range. Brian

06/15/2006, 09:35 AM	#17
tedmc2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 384	Yes, it's worth it. If you're starting off and want to get off on the right foot, spend a couple extra bucks and get a reliable piece of equipment. __________________ In a world gone mad, only a lunatic’s truly insane - Homer Simpson Current Tank Info: 18" cube, 12" cube, ADA MINI-S

06/15/2006, 09:46 AM	#18
MarkD40 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 647	I used a swing arm for years. My tangs developed HLLE and I was going crazy trying to figure out what was wrong. Bought a new swing arm and found that my salinity was 1.062! My old hydrometer was reading 1.026. I got a refractometer and found that the new swing arm was accurate. You do not need to buy a refractometer. You can have your LFS check the salinity of your water and compare it to your swing arm. If the swing arm reads differently just mark where the needle points on the swing arm. As long as the swing arm is consistently inaccurate you can use it. Just check it periodically to make sure it is still reading the same. I find the swing arm to be more convenient for regular readings. It is like setting your watch 10 minutes too fast. The watch is telling you the wrong time but if you know it is 10 minutes fast it is still accurate. __________________ My ship came in. Unfortunately it hit a reef. Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef display tank, fish, LPS, SPS and mushrooms. A 75 gallon sump in basement with protein skimmer, 40watt UV sterilizer, RO/DI, refugium with chaeto, phosban reactor. 40 gallon frag tank.

06/15/2006, 09:56 AM	#19
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	One good use of a refractometer is that you can test the water in the bag when you buy livestock. It would be hard to do this with a swing-arm because of the volume needed for the hydrometer. By this method I found out that one of my LFS keeps all there livestock at 1.020. This would good to know when I bought a fire shrimp and snails as I knew to acclimate them longer to my tank at 1.024.