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03-05-2008, 08:15 PM
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#11 (permalink)
| | Fire Shrimp
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 335
Karma: 181
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i would spent my money on the refrac, i had one since day one and never had i thought about buying any other thing to test my salinity, you'll save thousand down the road
_________
55g AGA 55lb LR, 55lb sand, CPR skimmer, magnum 350, koralia 1.
in progress:
120g RR, 40 sump/fuge, panworld 50pxx, 2 x 250 Lumen Bright Reeflux 12k coralvue ballst, 2x54 t5 current usa, 24 led moonlight, shallow sand bed, 2x Koralia 4, around 200lbs rock, msx 200, aquac phosphate reactor... If you see something better out there, let me know. most of the parts still being process. | 
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03-05-2008, 08:31 PM
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#12 (permalink)
| | Stylophora
Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Columbus, Indiana Age: 23
Posts: 998
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty  I use the Coralife Deep Six hydrometer
Has anyone had any luck with this? My LFS told me they read about .0015 low so I've been setting my water to 1.0215 to get a "supposed" 1.023.
Is this really a reliable method though? Thanks. | Is it reliable?? You just stated it is not! I wouldn't trust anything that you have to guess at, you have way too much money in a tank to skimp on something that costs 8 bucks compared to 50. Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Are refractometers worth the $40 to $50 bucks? Anybody have one? | I have a great portable refractometer... Premium Blue Refractometer - RHS-10ATC: Premium Aquatics
Hydrometers should be outlawed!!! Think about it... you save say $40 buying a hydrometer... your salinity gets screwed up and you lose 2 $30 fish... you just lost $20 my friend!!! IMO just one of the things you CAN NOT skimp on in SW, do it right the first time... I've heard too many horror stories!!
Also, make sure any hydrometer you buy has automatic temperature compensation  _________ 55 gallon slowly growing reef aquarium, 85 lbs. live rock, 2 1/2" sandbed, 1 False Percula Clown, 1 Sixline Wrasse, 1 Mandarin Goby, Tetratec PF500 filter, 2 110 watt URI Super Actinic VHO actinics, 2 250 watt metal halides with Reef Optix 2 reflectors powered by Blue Wave 3 ballast, born 1/3/08 My Tank Thread My Tank Video  | |
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03-06-2008, 06:22 AM
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#13 (permalink)
| | Peppermint Shrimp
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Seattle area Age: 36
Posts: 448
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Thanks everybody. I am for sure going to buy a refractometer now. The old add .0015 is just too crappy to rely on. Thanks for the help!
I'll let you know which unit I buy and the results when I test!
_________
Marty
72g Bow Front, 2x250w MH (10 hrs), 4x65 Act (14 hrs), 6xDual Moonlights (10 hrs), 300 gph from cannister filter and powerhead, Prizm hang-on protein skimmer, 50 lbs LR, CC Bed
Yellow Tang, 2 Clowns, Bubble Tip Anemone, 2 Yellow Tail, Humbug, White Spot, Ornate Goby, Emerald Crab, Sally Lightfoot Crab, 2 Blue Legged Hermits, 15 Scarlet Hermits, +Snails with no names (margaritas, turbos, astraeas) | |
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03-06-2008, 06:56 AM
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#14 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 4,513
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I have one of those old square, floating arm thingamagigs. For the life of me I cant remember the name of it. To be honest, I dont know if its accurate or not, but I've been guiding myself by it for over 20yrs.  _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | |
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03-06-2008, 07:51 AM
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#15 (permalink)
| | Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Age: 24
Posts: 722
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lunatik_69 I have one of those old square, floating arm thingamagigs. For the life of me I cant remember the name of it. To be honest, I dont know if its accurate or not, but I've been guiding myself by it for over 20yrs. | I've only ever used a hydrometer, also. My fish are happy, my corals are happy, everything is growing. In fact, I pretty much never check my salinity at this point. I don't even test my water regularly. Unless something is amiss, I don't see the need. And I feel like I've been pretty successful during my 6 years in the hobby. *Shrug* but that's just me. IMO some people obsess too much with the testing and the worrying. Less is more in this hobby, my friends, less is definitely MUCH MUCH more. _________ 125 Gal Reef. Born March 2002 FISH: Ocellaris Clown, Yellow Tang, Fairy Wrasse, Sand Star, Fuzzy Dwarf Lion, Mandarin Dragonette, Hippo Tang CORALS: Green Striped/Red/Purple Mushrooms, Green Star Polyps, Yellow Toadstool Leather, Bubble, Frogspawn, 2 Hammers, Yellow Polyps, Open Brain, Ridge Leather, Various Zoas, Button Polyps, Kenya Tree, Colt, Elephant Ear Mushroom, Clove Polyps, Torch, Purple Clam, Rose BTA  | |
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03-06-2008, 08:53 AM
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#16 (permalink)
| | Stylophora
Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Manchester UK Age: 24
Posts: 989
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I use the one of the glass ones that you put in the water and it floats at different levels depending on the sailinty - always worked for me! _________ You will never know whats in my tank as i can only type 15 words  | 
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03-06-2008, 10:16 AM
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#17 (permalink)
| | Peppermint Shrimp
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Seattle area Age: 36
Posts: 448
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clownfish | I just bought this one online. Seems like a good price. I also bought the calibration fluid. I should get it in a week. I'll test using my coralife hydrometer and the new refractometer and post the results I get. | |
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03-06-2008, 11:02 AM
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#18 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 38
Posts: 6,344
 
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I haven't used a hydrometer in years. A refractometer is all I use so in my opinion, it's a necessary investment  | |
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03-06-2008, 12:17 PM
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#19 (permalink)
| | Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Columbus Indiana
Posts: 724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amcarrig I haven't used a hydrometer in years. A refractometer is all I use so in my opinion, it's a necessary investment | Amen. I used a hydrometer when starting out in this hobby and everything seemed fine until one day I started noticing my corals weren't opening like they were before. Water tested fine and I couldn't figure out what the problem was. Tested my salinity with my friends hydrometer and got a totally different reading. Ordered a refractometer that day and when I got it my salinity was at 1.030. I brought it down over the course of two weeks to 1.026 and everything in the tank returned to normal. Also tested my friends water and it was at 1.030 as well.
Those hydrometers jsut leave too much to chance. No temp compensation, bubbles on the swing arm, salt build up, holding it level, etc.  _________ Kris
180 gallon AGA display re-born on 7-1-08. If I listed all of my equipment my wife would know what I've spent on this thing. Don't want to sign divorce papers.  My 180 Tank Thread | |
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03-06-2008, 01:45 PM
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#20 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,788
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Are refractometers worth the $40 to $50 bucks? Anybody have one? |
A MUST have!
Anything else is risky and not nearly as accurate.
* Precision refractometer measures salinity & specific gravity
* Easiest and most accurate way to maintain ideal salt levels
* Professional testing device at an affordable price
Test concentration of salt in several aquariums with this portable, economical, and lightweight refractometer. Featuring the same accuracy as more expensive models, this optical device provides a direct reading of specific gravity and salinity in water. Requires no batteries and automatically compensates for temperature.
Portable Refractometer?
Professional testing device at an affordable price - easiest and most accurate way to measure salinity and specific gravity.
On "Sale" now at DFS. Refractomer on Sale
Get you one...(here or somewhere else!!!) _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott") | |
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