Anyone using a Coralife Hydrometer?

GoFish · #1 01-15-2014, 01:47 AM

I bought the one on the right a year ago, the one on the left 3 weeks ago.
I always rinsed it out with freshwater multiple times after use, and generally take good care of things

just a reminder to those using them to get them checked out more often than i did (or better yet if you can afford it, spend the extra $35 and get a refractometer), was referenced with 2 salinity refractometers and both showed it was out by .0025. Instead of 1.025 my tank was was at 1.0275 for who knows how long

Happy reefing

gregzz4 · #2 01-15-2014, 02:52 AM

I'd be inclined to 'deep 6' those hydrometers

Good of you to point it out for others, but they should stop selling those useless things

Hope your tank enjoys you buying a refractometer

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #3 01-15-2014, 04:00 AM

Toss both and get a refractometer. I know someone who used several hydrometers and they were all off. Unfortunately, she didn't figure it out till she wiped out her tank at 1.012 ppm (not the recommended 1.024-26 ppm) salinity. 3 diff. hydrometers gave false readings.

SteveCGY · #4 01-15-2014, 04:43 AM

Agreed I had one and my tank always read 1.025 then I got a refractometer and it read 1.028. Luckily nothing died

tang daddy · #5 01-15-2014, 06:55 AM

I feel sorry for saying this but other than the coralife t5ho fixtures which ballast burn out after 14months all their products are junk, chucked the skimmer 10 years ago after it flooded my room twice and this proves even more so how much garbage they are able to sell. Donate it to someone!

FishyFishy! · #6 01-15-2014, 02:52 PM

I have 5 older coralife hydrometers lying around. Two deep six as pictured, and 3 older models. One day I decided to test them all along with my vertex refractometer... Every single one was at least .002 difference! Not any one of them was at the same specific gravity.

They are truely inferior products. I would never buy one after using a refractometer. I can only imagine my salinity swings in some of my older tanks during water changes. Must have been terrible.

Magickiwi · #7 01-15-2014, 03:54 PM

Personally I think anything with the Coralife brand on it is most likely junk and isn't worth the $ you spend on it. They've weaseled their way into box pet stores that don't want or care about quality equipment and I deliberately avoid the brand.

FishyFishy! · #8 01-15-2014, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

Personally I think anything with the Coralife brand on it is most likely junk and isn't worth the $ you spend on it. They've weaseled their way into box pet stores that don't want or care about quality equipment and I deliberately avoid the brand.

Agreed with you there. I have only really used their MH lights. I have personally had good luck with them, but I have heard bad stories way too often to buy them again. Theres just so many other good choices out there to stick with these guys.