Refratometer - My 2 cents worth

Fragzilla · #1 02-07-2010, 03:22 AM

I have been using one of those plastic rectangle testors for years and relying on it.

The other day I broke down and bought a proper refractometer.

To my amazment my old testor was reading very low LOTS

When I tested it with my old my reading was 1.0025

New meter 1.0030

I suggest to anyone useing one of the cheep testors go out and get a good one.

BlueTang<3 · #2 02-07-2010, 03:28 AM

yeah very good idea to start with one the hydrometers are very unreliable i also found they read 4 points low but if you allow for that your good lol

Fragzilla · #3 02-07-2010, 03:48 AM

I was shocked at my reading.

banditpowdercoat · #4 02-07-2010, 04:02 AM

Remember to change your salinity level slowly now too

whatcaneyedo · #5 02-07-2010, 04:03 AM

Did you type that right? 1.0030 is actually really low. Most people target 1.025.

But if that was a typo then yeah I'm not surprised. I've heard this story a lot... hydrometers being out by .005 seems to be pretty common.

lastlight · #6 02-07-2010, 04:32 AM

And you certainly can't assume they are always out in the same direction or even always out the same amount each and every time. Heck a few micro bubbles on that arm and it can act up.

Refractometer is king!

Chase31 · #7 02-07-2010, 04:51 AM

i never have even tryed the plastic toys. just refract-o for me

ALBERTA REEF · #8 02-07-2010, 04:56 AM

What is a good refractometer to get?

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/t-...actometer.html
or
http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/vt...actometer.html

Chase31 · #9 02-07-2010, 05:10 AM

i see no real dif in those besides the fact that the vertex is way cheaper.

ALBERTA REEF · #10 02-07-2010, 05:15 AM

Thats what I thought. I was leaning more to the vertex side and the info sells it better.