What is your preferred way of checking salinity?

[Wasabiroot]

@zoa what "taste"

That would be a very on brand answer, lol. I'm glad we have a few people here to remind us not to take everything too seriously, haha.

 

[Camaronero]

If Randy chooses conductivity, then this is the right answer lol.

I personally use my Milwaukee salinity tester. It’s accurate, fast, and provides a digital readout.

Thank you ALL for the replies and input it is very appreciated¡ I’m in better hands just getting this:

OR are these better long term options??

 

[Miami Reef]

Thank you ALL for the replies and input it is very appreciated¡ I’m in better hands just getting this:

OR are these better long term options??

The first option is just a calibration fluid.

Hannah salinity checks are wildly inaccurate. I actually purchased that one before I listened to the people here who highly recommended the Milwaukee.

I would 100% choose the Milwaukee. And you only need pure RO water to calibrate it!

 

[Miami Reef]

This is where I bought mine (I’ve had it since October 2021) buy it from either BRS or Amazon. Whatever is cheaper. It’s the same thing.

 

[ZoWhat]

@zoa what "taste"

....about .002 too low

 

[Wasabiroot]

....about .002 too low

I can hear this gif

 

[ZoWhat]

Think if I ever attended a National coral show...they'd give me a microphone and stage time?

Rev just poked fun with/at me on this salinity thread

 

[vetteguy53081]

I do a 3 way test:
Conductivity meter
Apex
Refractometer

 

[cloak]

The floating glass hydrometer I got at the LFS has never steered me wrong. I think I paid like $7.99 a few years ago. Probably more expensive now.

 

[forestsofkelp]

I use a glass hydrometer and then calibrate my refractometer off that reading, or use an offset for my digital meter.
I was burned by bad calibration fluid so I dont trust them anymore. Also, one less thing to buy

 

[DeniseAndy]

The floating glass hydrometer I got at the LFS has never steered me wrong. I think I paid like $7.99 a few years ago. Probably more expensive now.

I had one of these for my FO system way back in the 90's. Worked for what I needed.

 

[jsker]

I use my Apex conductivity for a general reading that I can check quickly, but when I need a solid reading I have been using the Hanna HI96822 Digital refractometer. A little distilled water to calibrate at the start and boom I have my readings.

 

[Wasabiroot]

There's a glass one Tropic Marin makes that I want simply because it's a beautiful design.

 

[Camaronero]

The floating glass hydrometer I got at the LFS has never steered me wrong. I think I paid like $7.99 a few years ago. Probably more expensive now.

My first choice is the glass hydrometer from tropic Marin but shipping from Germany with the beaker included is too expensive and will arrive in 3-4 weeks I’m gonna end up ordering @Miamireef’s solid suggestion.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hanna.

Only downside is the calibration solution must have gold in it for how much it cost

My Hanna calibration solution costs pennies. DIY is the go.

 

[Sean Clark]

I personally use the Hanna HI96822 digital refractometer.

It is simple and easy to calibrate and has been very consistent. I do warm it up with my hand to 78 degrees prior to calibrating or measuring to ensure that the sample is as accurate as possible.

There is deviation if there is a large temperature difference. This is true with all salinity measuring tools. They all claim to have temperature compensation built in, but beyond a few degrees they start to lose accuracy.

I would not recommend the hand held pen style Hanna salinity tester.
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/hanna-98319-waterproof-salinity-tester.html
It drifts a lot and requires constant recalibration. You also have to use their 35ppt solution to calibrate it which is a consumable item (I have tried to use others and it never "recognizes" them). People seem to love them, but I question how they feel about them after long term use. Works great as a thermometer though.

The "Gold Standard" for me is the Tropic Marin High Precision Hydrometer. Noting to calibrate and it just works every time; just at the cost of ease of use.

High Precision Hydrometer - Tropic Marin​

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

And the "I'm not just sharing bogus information just to hear myself talk" photo... One is far better than the other.

 

[Camaronero]

I personally use the Hanna HI96822 digital refractometer.

It is simple and easy to calibrate and has been very consistent. I do warm it up with my hand to 78 degrees prior to calibrating or measuring to ensure that the sample is as accurate as possible.

There is deviation if there is a large temperature difference. This is true with all salinity measuring tools. They all claim to have temperature compensation built in, but beyond a few degrees they start to lose accuracy.

I would not recommend the hand held pen style Hanna salinity tester.
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/hanna-98319-waterproof-salinity-tester.html
It drifts a lot and requires constant recalibration. You also have to use their 35ppt solution to calibrate it which is a consumable item (I have tried to use others and it never "recognizes" them). People seem to love them, but I question how they feel about them after long term use. Works great as a thermometer though.

The "Gold Standard" for me is the Tropic Marin High Precision Hydrometer. Noting to calibrate and it just works every time; just at the cost of ease of use.

High Precision Hydrometer - Tropic Marin​

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

And the "I'm not just sharing bogus information just to hear myself talk" photo... One is far better than the other.

The tropic Marin hydrometer is and has been my first choice, since I’ve been searching for a US vendor to have that in stock even before purchased everything for my build... Impossible.

 

[Sean Clark]

The tropic Marin hydrometer is and has been my first choice, since I’ve been searching for a US vendor to have that in stock even before purchased everything for my build... Impossible.

That is fair, when something is not available it stops being a reasonable option. Other Hydrometers will provide the same consistency and would still be my gold standard.

 

[CoralB]

Hanna is the best, just stick it in the water and get immediate result, along with temp too, perfect for mixing new water.

Can’t complain with this statement and if I remember it was only around fifty bucks

 

[Atrumblood]

Who is the one reefer here that weighs his salt water? You know who you are