Best salinity tester???

[Sleeping Giant]

I'm curious about which salinity tester is best and used by people here, and why.

Right now I have a issue with my Hanna salinity tester not working properly, so I got a hydrometer for the time ( nothing else available in my city) but would like to get something soon, as I don't fully trust the hydrometer.

 

[Ricksreeefs]

I use Hanna and it’s worked great for me so far. What issues did you have with it?

 

[Hydrored]

I use the Misco Aquar-H2O Palm Abbe for seawater. You asked for the best not sure on your budget as it's expensive. Hanna always tested low for me and was confirmed via ICP so I replaced it with the Misco and haven't looked back

Amazon product​

 

[Ryan3313]

The one thats calibrated often and correctly. I personally use a refractometer.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I use Hanna and it’s worked great for me so far. What issues did you have with it?

It won't maintain calibration, hard to get to calibrate (error message after error message) brand new lithium energizer battery

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I use the Misco Aquar-H2O Palm Abbe for seawater. You asked for the best not sure on your budget as it's expensive. Hanna always tested low for me and was confirmed via ICP so I replaced it with the Misco and haven't looked back

Amazon product​

Looks similar to a Milwaukee MA887

 

[Gtinnel]

I have the Hanna, Milwaukee digital refractometer, and an old optical refractometer. I mostly just use my Milwukee M877, and really like and trust it.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I have the Hanna, Milwaukee digital refractometer, and an old optical refractometer. I mostly just use my Milwukee M877, and really like and trust it.

I'm leaning towards the Milwaukee MA887. Seems the most reliable, trustworthy and cost efficient.

 

[Hydrored]

Looks similar to a Milwaukee MA887

It does look that way but the Misco Resolution: 0.0001; Precision: +/-0.0005


MA887 ACCURACY: ±2 PSU | ±2 ppt | ±0.002 S.G. (20/20) | ±0.3°C / ±0.5°F

 

[Sean Clark]

I like the Hanna digital refractometer, not the hand held stick.

Digital Refractometer for Seawater Analysis

HI96822 is a digital refractometer to measure salinity of seawater with an accuracy of +/- 2 PSU, 2 ppt and 0.002 specific gravity.

www.hannainst.com

 

[Dbichler]

Tropic Marin high precision hydrometer big but extremely accurate and cheaper than most other options. I also use Hannah it always reads .02 lower than my tropic but that makes it easy for quick tests.

 

[Saltyreef]

High Precision Hydrometer

Ensure that your equipment is reading correctly and your aquarium is at the right salinity with Tropic Marin's High Precision Hydrometer. Many tank inhabitants are sensitive even to minor changes of the water conditions. Unfortunately as we've all experienced, salinity reading equipment as...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

The best....
And cheap :)

Fwiw my miluakee is close enough not to care.

 

[BVF]

I have been happy with this IceCap:

Salinity/Temperature Digital Pocket Tester

Digital testers are steadily paving their way into the hobby. The IceCap SPT03 Digital Pocket Tester helps eliminate the uncertainty when it comes to mechanical refractometers. The SPT03 is a portable, rugged, water resistant device that utilizes electric conductivity to determine the specific...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Pistondog]

Refractometers need to be ambient temperature compensated. This means the water temp must come to equilibrium with the refractor. The ones that use a couple of milliliters (Milwaukee etc) take a couple of minutes to get to instrument temp.
This one takes a drop, and is instantly at temp.
Amazon product

 

[Sean Clark]

Temperature is important. I always warm up mine to 78 degrees for calibrating and testing. If I calibrate at 78 degrees, then I test at 78 degrees.

 

[Saltyreef]

Refractometers need to be ambient temperature compensated. This means the water temp must come to equilibrium with the refractor. The ones that use a couple of milliliters (Milwaukee etc) take a couple of minutes to get to instrument temp.
This one takes a drop, and is instantly at temp.
Amazon product

My dish in the milwaukee is always 60 something degrees when i first turn it on.
I hold the thick part of my palm over the dish for 20-30 seconds until it warms to 76, wipe with microfiber before testing the sample.

Ive also noticed shading the cup a bit with my hand in the presence of my LEDs works best to obtain the closest reading to my tropic marin hydrometer.

 

[Pistondog]

My dish in the milwaukee is always 60 something degrees when i first turn it on.
I hold the thick part of my palm over the dish for 20-30 seconds until it warms to 76, wipe with microfiber before testing the sample.

Ive also noticed shading the cup a bit with my hand in the presence of my LEDs works best to obtain the closest reading to my tropic marin hydrometer.

Yes, sunlight also screws up the reading. The first TV remotes had this same problem with sunlight, which is why remotes now use modulated/pulsing light.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

High Precision Hydrometer

Ensure that your equipment is reading correctly and your aquarium is at the right salinity with Tropic Marin's High Precision Hydrometer. Many tank inhabitants are sensitive even to minor changes of the water conditions. Unfortunately as we've all experienced, salinity reading equipment as...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

The best....
And cheap :)

Fwiw my miluakee is close enough not to care.

I like this, I've never seen one before. Do you use the plastic tube storing package for testing the water?

 

[KK's Reef]

I'm curious about which salinity tester is best and used by people here, and why.

Right now I have a issue with my Hanna salinity tester not working properly, so I got a hydrometer for the time ( nothing else available in my city) but would like to get something soon, as I don't fully trust the hydrometer.

Hanah checker. Easy to use, accurate, small form factor. Get it.

 

[burningmime]

You can save money and not have to worry about temperature compensation by taste-testing to the correct salinity. Calibrate with RODI for zero and a cup of noodles for high salinity.