How do you test salinity?

[ahiggins]

Not sure what you mean by "interference", but I use it for new and current tanks. I do flush out the testing cavity with RODI water and dry with a microfiber cloth between test samples. I don't calibrate between every test. I do it before the first test of the day.

I’ve just read that the hanna meters aren’t accurate in aquarium water, only fresh new saltwater. Something about the dissolved organics interferes?

 

[bar|none]

Does there seem to be an interference testing current tank water instead of fresh saltwater? Some of the Hanna and heldheld ones were saying that.

no the wilwaulkie will not have that issue. The hanna does IMO.

 

[ahiggins]

no the wilwaulkie will not have that issue. The hanna does IMO.

Thanks! I’ve been thinking about getting one but the price tag is...a little high for not being a coral
Every time I do a water change I curse myself and vow to get one next week lol

 

[nezw0001]

Love my Milwaukee digital. Was having problems seeing the graduations in my refractometer. The Milwaukee is very repeatable and accurate. My apex prob, not so much.

 

[phatduckk]

For daily stuff I use the salinity probe on the apex. I also have a Milwaukee that I use when making new water.

 

[phatduckk]

Love my Milwaukee digital. Was having problems seeing the graduations in my refractometer.

Same. My eye sight isn’t the best plus it just got annoying. Having a digital display beats guessing where the blurry line is & that alone is worth the cost to me

 

[ahiggins]

Thank you everyone for your opinions and help!

 

[Amado]

I put my finger in the tank and taste it 1.26

 

[ahiggins]

I put my finger in the tank and taste it 1.26

Hahahaha I used to have an old professor that joked about doing that to identify chemicals.

 

[mike550]

Hanna Instruments HI98319 salinity checker. Easy to use and calibrate.

 

[don_chuwish]

Refractometer needs to be on the poll if you want reliable poll results. That's what I use but put 'Digitally' as my answer.

 

[Thales]

Amazon product

Me too. The Milwaukee has a +/- of 2. The misco has a +/- of 1 or .5. I got so tired of messing around.

 

[Thales]

I use a swing arm. It’s all I have and quite accurate even though I know people don’t usually like them. I’m happy with it.

How are you determining it is accurate?

 

[Quietman]

Refractometer...although to be honest, I wish I'd skipped the LED lighted one as that feature is pretty useless. And it's a rare day when I don't check the calibration with cal fluid before use. I would probably do that even if I had a digital one. Plus I like the mad scientist-y feel of finding the best light and peering into some dark eyepiece to unravel the mysteries of the universe. More likely it's to find out how much I gacked up the salinity by guessing on salt amounts by filling a half empty storage tank, which is the same thing right?

 

[Billldg]

I started with a refractometer, bought a digital meter and shortly there after I lost faith in it as I couldn't keep it calibrated for more than 2 weeks, went back to the tried and true refractometer and just bought another refractometer.

 

[DSEKULA]

Milwaukee digital, Apex for stability but as others stated Apex isn't quite accurate.

 

[homer1475]

Started with a swing arm, moved on to a refractometer for a really long time. Then I found the Milwaukee, and used that for a while. When the Hanna was released I've been using that ever since. I do check on the hanna once in a while with a properly calibrated refractometer.

 

[ahiggins]

Refractometer needs to be on the poll if you want reliable poll results. That's what I use but put 'Digitally' as my answer.

I had a brain fart and put hydrometer instead of refractometer lol then I couldn’t edit it :( maybe @revhtree can fix? Or a mod?