Refractometer vs. hydrometer

[rgun2515]

the problem in this hobby is once a trend starts everone tends to follow and it makes the newbies get more mislead information some hobbiest are making things more and more complicated all this unessecery equipment controllers probes ect.and other gadgets.they should concentrate on maintaining good water quality keep things as simple as possible.

I COMPLETELY agree. I really believe that some people would love to be the only ones in this hobby, and like to scare others out of the hobby.

If you have the money to buy a Refractometer, get one. It's a great tool. and 50.00 is more than enough to spend.

If not, start with a hydrometer. It will work and as you get involved in more delicate creatures, you may want to move to a Refractometer. Even if moving to one is for peace of mind.

 

[tosiek]

Cali and Kathy - My reasoning behind this thread was not about penny pinching. It was to ask if there is any rational or evidence behind the dogma ' refractometers only. ' Way too often people repeat things that they have heard as though its fact, without having actually done any research into it. Happens with everything, not just this hobby.

But for anyone that has done research on swing arms vs refractometers and every thread on anything between items of different values, the main point is people want to hear from at least one person its ok to go with the cheaper item. The links to the swing arm tests are nice but the rest of the thread is pretty much people wanting to hear its ok to go cheap and get the swing arm.

Do a search, anyone that created a swing arm post for the most part is a cheap reefer that wants to feel assured by at least 1 post saying swing arms are ok. And they are for the most part if you take care of them. But you will never know when its off untill its too late =0)

There's nothing wrong with using a swing arm, but if you have hundreds of dollars of coral/fish in your tank im sure your not gonna base the outcome on an item that in the long run loses accuracy. Thus it all runs down to what the application is and what you want out of the hobby.

And if it bothers you the way cali stated his opinion or some people about swing arm/refracto methodology, do a search here and tell me how many posts about this topic going the same way.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

If you needed to test something and you had 2 choices as far as the equipment went. One item was reliant on consistant samples of the same temperature at which the item was first calibrated and had to be cleaned very well each time to insure an accurate reading. This item also had to be clear of any bubbles or debris on the devices meter itself. The second only relied on your ability to calibrate it properly with a screw driver and your hand eye coordination allowing you to put 2 drops of water on a glass slide. Which would you use?

The fact is that, and any scientist will tell you, consistancy and accuracy in testing is most desirable and the swing arms just can't produce the same consistancy with ease of use as the refractometers. Swing arms are usually calibrated at 75 degrees. If your water isn't 75 degrees you need to do a short equation to bring your readings in line with the actual number. By that time I would have already finished my water change at the SG I wanted the first time.

 

[jejton]

But for anyone that has done research on swing arms vs refractometers and every thread on anything between items of different values, the main point is people want to hear from at least one person its ok to go with the cheaper item. The links to the swing arm tests are nice but the rest of the thread is pretty much people wanting to hear its ok to go cheap and get the swing arm.

Do a search, anyone that created a swing arm post for the most part is a cheap reefer that wants to feel assured by at least 1 post saying swing arms are ok. And they are for the most part if you take care of them. But you will never know when its off untill its too late =0)

There's nothing wrong with using a swing arm, but if you have hundreds of dollars of coral/fish in your tank im sure your not gonna base the outcome on an item that in the long run loses accuracy. Thus it all runs down to what the application is and what you want out of the hobby.

And if it bothers you the way cali stated his opinion or some people about swing arm/refracto methodology, do a search here and tell me how many posts about this topic going the same way.

Toseik - Being that this is an online discussion, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you dont mean to be rude. I dont think people wanting to save money is being cheap. If you can afford to spend without a care, I'm happy for you. Many people cannot and would still like to enjoy this hobby. As for Cali's way of stating his opinion - I wasn't bothered by it at all. Its his opinion and I'm glad he shared it. I'm not here on a soapbox, but rather trying to initate an open discussion. Gotta love democracy.

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

IMO it comes down o this. We are entrusted with these animals. I think it is every reefer's responsibility to give the animals in our care the best.

IMO being a responsible reefer means providing proper living conditions, for our animals, that means accurate and reliable salinity readings.

I extremely doubt that large farming centers like ORA, Drs foster & smith, or even TCN use hydrometers, but I am sure they use refractometers.

Saying that, I think before buying any animals, one should gather all the right equipment to sustain these animals properly.

Since a refractometer is accurate and reliable, my vote will always be Refractometer.

 

[prattreef]

I would and do choose a refractometer over a hydrometer any day largely because of the ability to easily calibrate it. That said, you do need to calibrate it regularly against a known standard. I suspect many people don't.

 

[jejton]

In which case its just as bad as a bad swing arm.

 

[prattreef]

yes except user error would be the culprit, not the instrument itself.

 

[Sean]

I extremely doubt that large farming centers like ORA, Drs foster & smith, or even TCN use hydrometers, but I am sure they use refractometers.
.

I would assume they use digital equipment.

When I used to intern at the aquarium they used the floating specific gravity meters, they always insisted they were the most accurate.

 

[jhart]

refratometer vs. Hydrometer. Hmmmm are you kidding?

 

[tosiek]

Sorry i wasn't trying to be mean or rude. Sorry if it came out that way.

 

[wxl14]

Refractometer hands down. An that is not from me but from my friend who is a chemist. He also said the only true way to measure dissolved salt. Is to boil off all the water in a known quantity of water and measure the salt left behind. At least thats how a chemist do it. He also says most scientist use refractometers and for extreme accuracy depending on equipment a Salinometer.

 

[jejton]

I would assume they use digital equipment.

When I used to intern at the aquarium they used the floating specific gravity meters, they always insisted they were the most accurate.

That makes sense. Its like an old fashioned mercury thermometer. Barring circumstances such as breaking or extreme temperatures warping the glass, there really is no way for it go wrong. A floating hydrometer is the same way. The problem I found with them, though, is that the meniscus formed often makes it hard to read it exactly if the markings are too close together but that shouldnt really matter as long as there arent large swings.

 

[meschaefer]

I have four methods to measure salinity:

1 Refractometer
2 Swing Arm Hydrometer
3 Pinpoint Digital Salinity Meter
4 Glass floating hydrometer

After having used all four for extensive periods of time, over the course of my involvement in this hobby, which is my "go to" every time... a refractometer. And I guarantee if you had all of the above available to you too, you would make the same choice. It is the easiest to consistently use.

Use what you want.

 

[jejton]

So I took the plunge and bought a refractometer with my test kits ( thanks Russ ) and tested it out today. After calibration, my SG was 1.025 on the refractometer. Tested it on the IO swing arm and.....drum roll....it was 1.025. Well now I have more assurance that my readings are correct.

 

[rgun2515]

So I took the plunge and bought a refractometer with my test kits ( thanks Russ ) and tested it out today. After calibration, my SG was 1.025 on the refractometer. Tested it on the IO swing arm and.....drum roll....it was 1.025. Well now I have more assurance that my readings are correct.

IMO... This is the best way to do it...

 

[clownlover]

when i first started in this hobby i used a swing arm, didnt know at the time to check for bubbles and crud and my readings were off when i tested with a floating hydro. so i bought a floating hydrometer for a bit. then one day i didnt realized salt had built up on the unit and my readings were way off when i used my friends reftractometer. so i got a cheapy refrac. and didnt think i needed to calibrate it everytime. did a water change and turned out to be .03 off. now i have to make sure its calibrated everytime. theres a moral in here somewhere.

 

[Sean]

yes except user error would be the culprit, not the instrument itself.

I think this is the lesson

 

[wxl14]

What a good refractometer that people like?

 

[masterswimmer]

So I took the plunge and bought a refractometer with my test kits ( thanks Russ ) and tested it out today. After calibration, my SG was 1.025 on the refractometer. Tested it on the IO swing arm and.....drum roll....it was 1.025. Well now I have more assurance that my readings are correct.

At least this will allay any questionable swing arm readings. You should be good to go for a long time with the refractometer now.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted.

swimmer