Which refractometer is good and cheap?

[daniel_lee95]

Cheap but that works well

 

[el_ote]

I bought used. what ever you get, get the calibration fluid. I was off by .003 too low for I dont know how long.

 

[Eienna]

I don't think I've heard of a bad refractometer, as long as you keep it calibrated. I'm looking at getting this one.
Automatic Temperature Compensation Sea Water Salinity Refractometer for Aquarium, 0% - 10% & 1.0 to 1.070 S.G. DUAL SCALE Hydrometer By AdeAdvancedOptics: Science Lab Refractometers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[daniel_lee95]

I don't think I've heard of a bad refractometer, as long as you keep it calibrated. I'm looking at getting this one.
Automatic Temperature Compensation Sea Water Salinity Refractometer for Aquarium, 0% - 10% & 1.0 to 1.070 S.G. DUAL SCALE Hydrometer By AdeAdvancedOptics: Science Lab Refractometers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Yeah i was looking at that one as well

 

[daniel_lee95]

I bought used. what ever you get, get the calibration fluid. I was off by .003 too low for I dont know how long.

Its still way better than the hydrometer right?

 

[Eienna]

Yes. Again, the point is to keep it properly calibrated. Some do it after every use...when I finally get one I imagine I'll be doing it once or twice a month.

 

[daniel_lee95]

Yes. Again, the point is to keep it properly calibrated. Some do it after every use...when I finally get one I imagine I'll be doing it once or twice a month.

Yeah ill probably do that too

 

[vic67]

I have that one from Amazon; it works well. I do calibrate it before each use.

 

[racin2438]

You can generally get a good decent one for about $50.00-ish....

As pointed above....keep it calibrated, We check ours every time before using it.......all it takes is 1 time and system is off....which can create a chain reaction .

 

[DerekFF]

Cheap and quality aren't usually used in the same sentence lol. But there's already been some good info provided here. Keep it calibrated and most of the brands are fine.

 

[mgsr]

I got that same one and it works great

 

[mpatz]

Got mine for $27 on amazon. Works like a dream, I spent $10 on calibration fluid but only need to calibrate it very slightlt every 4 or 5 uses. Refractometer came with a hard carrying case too which was nice.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, there are types of refractometer that are totally unsuitable (a clinical refractometer, for example, which reads proteins in urine) and some that may be able to be made to work, but will require substantial extra effort and may or may not cover the right range (a Brix refractometer, for example). These may even appear to read the right units, but will give incorrect information.

Be sure it is intended to read seawater or sodium chloride (brine) solutions, and calibrate it with a 35 ppt standard (not RO/DI unless you are certain it is a seawater refractometer). Q manufacturer claim taht you should calibrate it with RO/DI water should be ignored unless they specifically say it is a seawater refractometer in essentially those exact words. :)

 

[reeftankdude]

I don't think I've heard of a bad refractometer, as long as you keep it calibrated. I'm looking at getting this one.
Automatic Temperature Compensation Sea Water Salinity Refractometer for Aquarium, 0% - 10% & 1.0 to 1.070 S.G. DUAL SCALE Hydrometer By AdeAdvancedOptics: Science Lab Refractometers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Just ordered this one. How it working for you?