Tropic Marin High Precision Hydrometer- ISSUES!!!!!

[Klyle]

I've been using the TM high precision hydrometer for about a year now. After issues with the refractometer, discrepancies between bottles of calibration fluid, blah blah blah- I bought the TM hydro and fell in love with it! So much so, that when my gf bought me a Milwaukee digital refrac last Christmas, I sent it back. Fast forward to this past month- I've been having "issues". Let me start off by saying I live in Minnesota and keep my hydro in the basement next to a drafty window. When I first noticed the issue, I thought it must be due to it being 40F. I started warming it up and that seemed to help. Which brings us to today. The readings aren't consistent. There are no bubbles attached to it, it isn't getting stuck against the side of the container. I can literally make it stay at 023 OR 028 or just about anything in between. If i "plop" it, it will usually come back to the same reading. It seems to help it resettle if I beat my first on the counter, thus causing an earthquake. In the past, I'm used to it being ultra consistent and never imagined malfunction was a possibility. I figured it would stop working when I broke it into a million pieces. I will admit, it's possible the hydro isn't the exact same temp as the water I'm trying to test, but it's above what it was in my basement- at least 70. My question is, does actual temperature of the hydro (or difference in temp between water and hydro) cause inconsistent readings. Or do they just go bad? I doubt that.

 

[blaxsun]

Does the breaking into a million pieces possibly have something to do with it?

 

[bobssecrtsn]

It’s not possible to break it into a million pieces. Maybe a billion.

 

[Tcook]

Temperature does mater. Why don't you keep it upstairs with the tank. Or let it warm up in the sump for 10 minutes, then take your sample and measure

 

[Klyle]

Does the breaking into a million pieces possibly have something to do with it?

It’s not broken into any pieces. So why doesn’t it read consistently?

 

[Klyle]

It’s not possible to break it into a million pieces. Maybe a billion.

I was thinking a trillion to the power of infinity

 

[Klyle]

Temperature does mater. Why don't you keep it upstairs with the tank. Or let it warm up in the sump for 10 minutes, then take your sample and measure

Because i make the water in the basement. Also I’m using it between medicated qt water, a fallow tank that possibly has velvet, and my original DT…i need to get another one. I suppose i could keep it in heated water overnight and see if the inconsistency continues

 

[blaxsun]

It’s not broken into any pieces. So why doesn’t it read consistently?

"I figured it would stop working when I broke it into a million pieces."

 

[areefer01]

Just follow the instructions and note small diff (not related to temp) between German and US. They specially call out the temperature.

https://www.tropic-marin-smartinfo.com/cylinder?lang=en

 

[Tcook]

Because i make the water in the basement. Also I’m using it between medicated qt water, a fallow tank that possibly has velvet, and my original DT…i need to get another one. I suppose i could keep it in heated water overnight and see if the inconsistency continues

Well whatever way you want to do it. They are calibrated for 77 degrees. There is a temp correction chart available.

 

[Klyle]

"I figured it would stop working when I broke it into a million pieces."

Should have said IF I suppose...

 

[mrpontiac80]

Well whatever way you want to do it. They are calibrated for 77 degrees. There is a temp correction chart available.

Hang on.. I’m confused. I have one of these also but only use it if I question my Hanna salinity checker. I am under the impression that they are calibrated to 77 degrees or whatever, but that is for the water. So if the water is 75 degrees you would then use the temp correction chart for an accurate salinity.
Are you guys saying the glass hydrometer should be 77 degrees?! Because I would think it would only take a few minutes for the glass to acclimate to the water it is placed in whatever the water temp.

 

[Tcook]

Hang on.. I’m confused. I have one of these also but only use it if I question my Hanna salinity checker. I am under the impression that they are calibrated to 77 degrees or whatever, but that is for the water. So if the water is 75 degrees you would then use the temp correction chart for an accurate salinity.
Are you guys saying the glass hydrometer should be 77 degrees?! Because I would think it would only take a few minutes for the glass to acclimate to the water it is placed in whatever the water temp.

You are correct. Water temp

 

[happyhourhero]

I always just use mine to keep my refrac calibrated.

 

[mrpontiac80]

You are correct. Water temp

Ok cool. I got the impression everyone was telling the OP to warm up the TM hydrometer.

 

[Tcook]

Ok cool. I got the impression everyone was telling the OP to warm up the TM hydrometer.

Probably doesn't hurt but the change in temp a cold thermometer would make on your sampl would likely be within the standard error.

 

[mrpontiac80]

Probably doesn't hurt but the change in temp a cold thermometer would make on your sampl would likely be within the standard error.

Well I’m probably too paranoid lol. I bought mine to verify my Hanna because my friends Milwaukee was several points difference. So I used the built in Hanna temp, and two other temp probes to get an average,, then I compared the salinity of the Hanna vs TM hydrometer. For what it’s worth, I feel the hydrometer is my standard and therefore my Hanna was showing low. But now that I know, I just adjust my target when using Hanna. It is after all much easier to use on the fly.

 

[Scorpius]

I only use my TM High Precision Hydrometer, nothing else. I never have had an issue with it, ever. Analog tools ftw.