Refractometer?

[lilacamy931]

Which would be better:
1. Hydrometer
2. Refractometer
3. Digital Refractometer?

Im doing a low end brackish tank where the salt can vary but cant decide what would be better.. I think I may have found a digital for £35 if can do deal with seller, but thinking is it necessary as not full marine..

We have the view of going full marine eventually but have been saying this also for a long time! Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[ben1987]

id say number 2 is most accurate and the one id chose. hydrometers tend to start out ok then after time start giving readings that are ways out. i dont think id trust a digital refractometer either as at £35 id say that would be really inaccurate too. hobby grade stuff tends to be way below the lab quality stuff. so old style refractometer wins hands down imo

 

[AdAndrews]

For brackish an hydrometer is fine, the plastic swing arm type or the glass bobbing one. Brackish fish can tollerate swings in Salinity, the equipment neednt be accurate to the pin point.

thanks

 

[ben1987]

thing is though, people on this board have been using hydrometers and its been reading 1.024 or whatever they run their tanks at. then when problems pop up they get their water tested by their LFS and some have been as high as 1.040 so they can be a hell of a long way out after a while.

while they are new they seem to do a job but deteriorate over time. for the £20 extra it would cost i dont think its worth the risk

 

[seffieuk]

Have to agree with Ben, having had both and seen that the hydrometer can vary by vast amounts not just minor I would buy a refractometer every day of the week over a hydrometer! You have to keep replacing the hydrometer as well as they vary even more over time

Seffie x


Sorry guys, had been doing a search and didnt return to the main page didnt realise I was back in June last year

 

[Pearsondesign]

i use a hydrometer to setup tanks, but get it tested with refarctometer at lfs too

ive found that as the (floating) hydrometer gets covered in algae and coraline algae it gets heavier so gives false readings

 

[nick87]

ive found that as the (floating) hydrometer gets covered in algae and coraline algae it gets heavier so gives false readings

Top tip for anyone using the above type, remove it from the tank when not in use and wipe it clean to prevent algae build up

 

[Pearsondesign]

lol, yeah that is an option
but for those lazy or like me have one for each tank then leave it in but clean it lol