Vee gee refractometer

Reef. · May 1, 2023

Anyone have a Vee gee refractometer? Is the viewing plate meant to be stiff or loose? Mine is stiff so I have to adjust it so it lays flat, which is affecting the results I get.

Waters · May 1, 2023

Reef. said:
Anyone have a Vee gee refractometer? Is the viewing plate meant to be stiff or loose? Mine is stiff so I have to adjust it so it lays flat, which is affecting the results I get.

I have one and have the same issue. I think it is supposed to be loose.....I use silicon and lubricate the pin all the time.

dadnjesse · May 1, 2023

I find if I don't rinse the salt water off after I use mine it gets stiff. If I rinse it after every use I don't have that problem.

Coolcasino · May 1, 2023

Yeah. I also need to rinse with water after use or the plastic plate does become stiff. Also dropped a drop of silicone spray and haven't had a problem since.

Now keeping it calibrated is another story. Always have to calibrated mine atleast weekly. Will always be off by a hair when I need to test my tank.

A little off topic but what are you guys using to calibrated your Vee Gees. Read somewhere you can use RO/DI or calibration solution. It is said that it will measure RO/DI at 0 after calibrating with calibration solution. I mix up RHF solution and calibrate but when I measure RO/DI its not measuring zero. More like +2.

dadnjesse · May 2, 2023

VeeGee instructions says to use Distilled water
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0050/6907/8621/files/VEE_GEE_Model_STX-3_Manual.pdf?v=1583444019

Reef. · May 2, 2023

Coolcasino said:
Yeah. I also need to rinse with water after use or the plastic plate does become stiff. Also dropped a drop of silicone spray and haven't had a problem since.

Now keeping it calibrated is another story. Always have to calibrated mine atleast weekly. Will always be off by a hair when I need to test my tank.

A little off topic but what are you guys using to calibrated your Vee Gees. Read somewhere you can use RO/DI or calibration solution. It is said that it will measure RO/DI at 0 after calibrating with calibration solution. I mix up RHF solution and calibrate but when I measure RO/DI it’s not measuring zero. More like +2.

how accurate do you think you were when making the diy solution? You need to be extremely accurate and have accurate scales, you could try making a larger amount, this would reduce any errors in your scales etc

I use a Tropic marine hydrometer to check calibration, I then store some of the checked water in an airtight bottle to calibrate the refractometer.

Coolcasino · May 2, 2023

dadnjesse said:
VeeGee instructions says to use Distilled water
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0050/6907/8621/files/VEE_GEE_Model_STX-3_Manual.pdf?v=1583444019

Wow. You know, I never really looked at the directions. I just went with a thread on here where everyone was recommending this brand and saying they calibrate with solutions instead of water. Thank you for that.

Coolcasino · May 2, 2023

Reef. said:
how accurate do you think you were when making the diy solution? You need to be extremely accurate and have accurate scales, you could try making a larger amount, this would reduce any errors in your scales etc

I use a Tropic marine hydrometer to check calibration, I then store some of the checked water in an airtight bottle to calibrate the refractometer.

Im fairly confident. Cant really say that I have lab grade equipment. My scale does measure 0.00 and it does come with the little weights to calibrate it. I do make 5 batches at the same time and all 5 come out measuring the same. Funny thin I have ordered 2 hydrometers and they have both come in broken. Luckily I did get the first one exchanged and then gave up when the second one came in broken. Just used the credit on fish foods and stuff. Been meaning to have my LFS order me one and see if they have more luck.

Pistondog · May 2, 2023

Reef. said:
Anyone have a Vee gee refractometer? Is the viewing plate meant to be stiff or loose? Mine is stiff so I have to adjust it so it lays flat, which is affecting the results I get.

The hinge, the stiff part, can be replaced on the veegee.
https://www.veegee.com/products/ref...ZXTAtOPW1ZZw9aOngk655lKVCiKH5UtcaAt0wEALw_wcB

Reef. · May 2, 2023

Coolcasino said:
Im fairly confident. Cant really say that I have lab grade equipment. My scale does measure 0.00 and it does come with the little weights to calibrate it. I do make 5 batches at the same time and all 5 come out measuring the same. Funny thin I have ordered 2 hydrometers and they have both come in broken. Luckily I did get the first one exchanged and then gave up when the second one came in broken. Just used the credit on fish foods and stuff. Been meaning to have my LFS order me one and see if they have more luck.

if you mean 0.01g then you are good, if not then buy from amazon, around $30 or less.