What is your preferred way of checking salinity?

[Pntbll687]

How do you know that?

I should have worded that differently, and not made such a blanket statement.

The swing arm and glass hydrometer read exactly the same when I test my salinity. The hanna tester I have would read up to 1.028 even after calibration when the other two were at 1.025.

I do realize that hanna has a deviation of .002, so that 1.028 might be 1.026, and factoring in the deviation of .001 of the glass hydrometer the reading of 1.025 might be 1.026.

I just didn't want to be checking and guessing 3 different ways with testers. So now I stick with the two that read the same consistently, so if I see a reading that is off I know to check with the other.

 

[PeterEde]

How do you know that?

Calibrated eyeballs?

 

[FishTruck]

I bought a refractometer 12 years ago, great investment. I calibrate it about once every two years.

I am also using a conductivity probe. Once calibrated, the probe and refractometer give synchronized salinity results (I can't say matching because they are measuring different things).

I think the cheapest thing is to get a swing arm, and calibrate it with a magic marker and some test fluid.

 

[Rich Klein]

Hanna HI98319 by a mile. I've tried them all and it's by far the best.

 

[Camaronero]

Hanna HI98319 by a mile. I've tried them all and it's by far the best.

That was a top pick of mine, BUT the calibration fluid reviews sent me running away. Where do you purchase them and how often do you calibrate¿

 

[PeterEde]

That was a top pick of mine, BUT the calibration fluid reviews sent me running away. Where do you purchase them and how often do you calibrate¿

Randy has a recipe for making cal fluid. Otherwise I would expect you can buy the cal fluid where you buy the instrument

 

[Obsessed with fish]

I use an aqua one hydrometer.

 

[PeterEde]

I use an aqua one hydrometer.

I bought one of these cheap ones and the scale moved

 

[Obsessed with fish]

I bought one of these cheap ones and the scale moved

Lol wgat one did you use

 

[Salty Jays Reef]

I started with a refractometer, then went to a Hanna salinity pen and I have finally settled on the Tropic Marin High precision hydrometer. I ordered a 1L plastic graduated cylinder from amazon and for less than 50 bucks in total, I get the exact salinity every time no calibration is required!

 

[PeterEde]

Lol wgat one did you use

Had choice of cheap Aqua One or another brand that was a tad more expensive because expensive is better quality right.
WE don't have much in the way of quality hydrometers in Australia. Sera is probably the best.
I'll look see how much the Tropic Marin is to buy OS

 

[Obsessed with fish]

Had choice of cheap Aqua One or another brand that was a tad more expensive because expensive is better quality right.
WE don't have much in the way of quality hydrometers in Australia. Sera is probably the best.
I'll look see how much the Tropic Marin is to buy OS

When your fish keeping you get what you pay for, I have never seen a sera one, I might get it if its better!

 

[PeterEde]

When your fish keeping you get what you pay for, I have never seen a sera one, I might get it if its better!

I have the Hanna and Aquaone refractometer for back up. A trust worthy hydrometer would be good too.

 

[Obsessed with fish]

I have the Hanna and Aquaone refractometer for back up. A trust worthy hydrometer would be good too.

Hydrometers are great, cheap, easy and reliable, but they can be innaccurate. I am looking into a refractometer.

 

[Jedi1199]

A bit late on this but I keep a 32g brute filled with SW on hand at all times. I generally use 20g of it on WC day, top it off, add in new salt and let it sit till the next week.

 

[doubleshot00]

Im only a few month’s in this hobby and have already learned my lesson. My new Milwaukee will be there Thursday. LFS confirmed today my Refractometer is trash.

 

[PeterEde]

Hydrometers are great, cheap, easy and reliable, but they can be innaccurate. I am looking into a refractometer.

buy reputable is all I'll say. I bought Dymax as it was the dearest in the store at $10 over the "cheap" one.
The scale shifted and was way out.

 

[Obsessed with fish]

buy reputable is all I'll say. I bought Dymax as it was the dearest in the store at $10 over the "cheap" one.
The scale shifted and was way out.

Thats no good! I'll make sure not to buy Dymax!

 

[PeterEde]

Thats no good! I'll make sure not to buy Dymax!

Or the AquaOne which looked exactly the same.
If I could I would buy the Tropic Marin one but cant find it in Australia.

 

[Obsessed with fish]

Or the AquaOne which looked exactly the same.
If I could I would buy the Tropic Marin one but cant find it in Australia.

Yes, i think a refractometer is the way to go!