"Do I Really Need A Refractometer" or "My Hydrometer Is Good Enough"
- Thread starter sk8rdn
- Start date
ChrisY
Active Member
automatic temp conversion. So, if you think about it refractomoters measure the water at 1.0 vs the sampled water. depending on temp salinity can change. So a unit that adjusts for temp is a good thing. They can still be calibrated, but when I calibrated mine when I got it, it was already spot on.
TwiceIrish
Member
When I started out about 2 years ago, I used hydrometer for a few weeks. Was having trouble with hydrometer arm "sticking". At their suggestion, took water sample to my reef store. Way different reading from my hydrometer. Purchased refractometer and this was my single best purchase. Love being able to hold it to bright light and see just where I am. Highly accurate and readable. Course it did help that I used to be a nurse in NICU and we used one of these to read the specific gravity on . . . uh . . . well . . . body fluids from the babies!
engineer goby
Has been struck by the ban stick
Refractometer is a must especially when running a nano tank
blackwater
Active Member
this was good. i was just thinking if i need one or not. have just started my first salt tank and have been using a hydrometer but after reading this i'll be getting a refractometer.....thank you.
A refractometer is one of the "must have" items for a saltwater aquarium. When you think about it, you are setting up a "saltwater" aquarium, the first thing you need to get right is the "salt water" and the only way to do that is with a calibrated refractomer.
They should be issued to hobbyist when they buy their first piece of equipment for their setup. "Oh your setting up a saltwater aquarium, here's your refractometer".
Last edited:
blackwater
Active Member
that would have been great or at least if my lfs had said "don't bother with the hydrometer" i would have bought it right away but was told i'd be fine without it.
sk8rdn
Has been struck by the ban stick
Glad we could help! Unfortunately, we hear a lot of bad advice from the LFS. It's great that we have a place like this to share the good ideas and techniques.
Wonderful! You won't be disappointed.
And thanks for the praise. Glad I could help.
....Insert Funny Signoff Here....
i just bought one about 2 months ago ( the kind you have to calibrate with a screwdriver) i also purchaced the calibration fluid with it. i used to use a hydometer and had alot of problems in my tank, could never pinpoint the cause. When my refractometer arrived i calibrated it and checked the water, (the hydometer always read 1.023 - 1.024) with the refractometer my tank was reading 1.028 ( i corrected it that day back to 1.024) sence then my tank is fine now. wish i would have read a topic like this when i first started my tank. Great post by the way