I had to get one to be able to have my brackish tank since it was only 1.004 and thats really what got my started into all this. Am I ever happy about that.

1.030 lol

Vertex is the one I bought

there all the same as long as u calibrate check out ebay a place there sells the for like 20 bucks shipped

I bought the vertex 4 months ago...had to calibrate it once, other then that it's been working good

same experience here
Bought the cheapest refractometer I could find on Ebay and then took it into the lab at school and tested it against the"high end" one thier and they consistantly made identical measurments. I think this is one case where you don't have to spend a bunch to get a good product.....nice in this hobby

Rare in this hobby haha

I just got 1 off of ebay for $38 shipped from Quebec , Aquakits was the seller. I have to calibrate it yet but it looks good , the guy was really slow to ship though. I think it took about 4 weeks to get it here. I have been using the cheap plastic hydrometer up till now & I have 2 identical ones & they read about 4 points different on the same water sample so I split the difference. It will be interesting to see what the refractometer reads.

I have been using one of those cheap plastic ones for over a year. It came with the first tank I bought off of a friend. the numders are almost rubbed off and now the needle is sticking. I fine desided to get a refractometer. Hopeful it will arrive on weds day.:biggrin:

Refactometers are for wimps. Use your finger and taste the water like a real reefer!! :lol: