royal gang
Active Member
i saw alot of plastic hydrometers, and so far i haven't seen good comments about them on these forums, are the glass ones good? or just the plastic ones that suck up?
HYDROMETER? piece of crap or best there is?
- Thread starter royal gang
- Start date
royal gang
Active Member
oh and also, what should i do to be able to grab anemones without getting stung? :notsure:
and are these veneous?
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
and are these veneous?
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4
renogaw
Active Member
swing arms are EHH for starting out, but eventually you'll want a refractometer. (i'm hoping my wife gets me a good one for xmas 
i must be lucky with anenomes since i didnt get stung moving my bta around, and i've not gotten stung by my rock anenomes (i even bumped into one last night) but do be careful. boy i'll be surprised by my first sting i guess hehe.
i must be lucky with anenomes since i didnt get stung moving my bta around, and i've not gotten stung by my rock anenomes (i even bumped into one last night) but do be careful. boy i'll be surprised by my first sting i guess hehe.
tx reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by boozzbro
a floating glass hydrometer is very acurate if you would want to get one of those and there is no calibration necessary.
I totally agree. Just buy a floating glass hydrometer. Just remember that temperature affects the reading you get so read up a little before you use it.
a floating glass hydrometer is very acurate if you would want to get one of those and there is no calibration necessary.
I totally agree. Just buy a floating glass hydrometer. Just remember that temperature affects the reading you get so read up a little before you use it.
jacksonpt
Active Member
I think hydrometers are much like tap water conditioners. If you want a healthy, thriving, successful tank, tap water conditioners are ok to get started, but at some point you'll want to make the jump to RO/DI. Hydrometers are similar... ok to get you started, but at some point you'll want a refractometer.
tx reef
Active Member
Whatever.
I keep a very successful SPS/LPS/Soft coral mixed reef tank. Everything in my tank grows like crazy and I have never had any swings in specific gravity. I have had my water tested with a refractometer and the reading was dead on with the hydrometer.
You do not have to buy a refractometer to keep a successul tank. All it takes is about 5 minutes of reading and a little sense to learn to use a glass floating hydrometer.
I would not however recommend the swing arm type hydrometers. There are too many potential problems with them.
I keep a very successful SPS/LPS/Soft coral mixed reef tank. Everything in my tank grows like crazy and I have never had any swings in specific gravity. I have had my water tested with a refractometer and the reading was dead on with the hydrometer.
You do not have to buy a refractometer to keep a successul tank. All it takes is about 5 minutes of reading and a little sense to learn to use a glass floating hydrometer.
I would not however recommend the swing arm type hydrometers. There are too many potential problems with them.
maelv
Active Member
TX Reef, I just found a Hagen Living Sea Floating Hydrometer with Thermometer. They are rather cheap...is this a good one...which would you recommend, and where could I find one? I also have the swinging arm hydrometer and they are garbage, but don't I am just starting out....Thanks
xdave
Active Member
They may get a bad rap but plastic swing arm hydros are accurate. The scale may have an offset, but the scale itself will be accurate. Ask the lfs what they use. If they use a refractometer, ask them what it reads on their water. Measure their water with the plastic hydro and mark the spot with their reading. the difference, if any, will be the same increment across the scale.
boozzbro
Member
The only problem i have with the swing arem hydrometers is that its not too easy to see where it is between the numbers.
For example if your salinity is betweer 1.023 and 1.024 it is very difficult to see where exactly you are between the numbers becasue the arm has such a big tip. Thats why i prefer teh floating hydrometer its easier to see where you are between the incriments.
For example if your salinity is betweer 1.023 and 1.024 it is very difficult to see where exactly you are between the numbers becasue the arm has such a big tip. Thats why i prefer teh floating hydrometer its easier to see where you are between the incriments.
royal gang
Active Member
you just saved me a bundle by switching me to geico, j/k LOL
but thanks for the info, especially the enemone.
but thanks for the info, especially the enemone.
fbm
Active Member
How many times have you seen, HELP I BROKE MY HYDROMETER--will this hurt my aquarium? They are very fragile and I broke one just from it floating in the water and hitting the side of the aquarium. This is one area where you get what you pay for. Sure you don't need one, you also don't need to to do water changes, you also don't need to use ro/di water, you also don't need a skimmer and on and on and on....
tx reef
Active Member
Originally Posted by fbm
How many times have you seen, HELP I BROKE MY HYDROMETER--will this hurt my aquarium? They are very fragile and I broke one just from it floating in the water and hitting the side of the aquarium. This is one area where you get what you pay for. Sure you don't need one, you also don't need to to do water changes, you also don't need to use ro/di water, you also don't need a skimmer and on and on and on....
You are blowing this way out of proportion. A crappy skimmer will never pull out as much as a good skimmer, not doing water changes can hurt your water quality, and tap water should never be used. A floating glass hydrometer will measure specific gravity correctly if used properly.
If you are stupid enough to float a hydrometer in your tank, then it can get broken. A person with common sense or a little experience would fill up a tall, slim container with tank water (a slender flower vase works very well) and then test the water. Why would you ever measure the specific gravity in the tank? You should check the water you are using for a water change before it goes in your tank, not after. If the water going into the tank is at the correct specific gravity and the water in the tank is at the correct specific gravity then you will never have a problem (unless you have an auto top off unit).
If you do happen to break it, you can simply use your mag float or any magnet to pick up the pellets. No harm will come to your aquarium.
How many times have you seen, HELP I BROKE MY HYDROMETER--will this hurt my aquarium? They are very fragile and I broke one just from it floating in the water and hitting the side of the aquarium. This is one area where you get what you pay for. Sure you don't need one, you also don't need to to do water changes, you also don't need to use ro/di water, you also don't need a skimmer and on and on and on....
You are blowing this way out of proportion. A crappy skimmer will never pull out as much as a good skimmer, not doing water changes can hurt your water quality, and tap water should never be used. A floating glass hydrometer will measure specific gravity correctly if used properly.
If you are stupid enough to float a hydrometer in your tank, then it can get broken. A person with common sense or a little experience would fill up a tall, slim container with tank water (a slender flower vase works very well) and then test the water. Why would you ever measure the specific gravity in the tank? You should check the water you are using for a water change before it goes in your tank, not after. If the water going into the tank is at the correct specific gravity and the water in the tank is at the correct specific gravity then you will never have a problem (unless you have an auto top off unit).
If you do happen to break it, you can simply use your mag float or any magnet to pick up the pellets. No harm will come to your aquarium.
boozzbro
Member
they arent really any more fragile than your typical thermometer. Yes if you drop it it will break. But i wouldnt expect anyone to leave it floating around in their water to get bumped around by the fish either. Some common sense is required when handling any piece of equipment and the floating hydrometer is no exception.