Hydrometer queston???

[patriot54]

I have the instant ocean hydrometer. On the back of the package it came in it says to rinse before and after each use, do I rinse it out in RO water or do I even need to rinse it out at all after I use it?

 

[alix2.0]

you should rinse it. hydrometers are so inaccurate, they need all the help they can get. look into refractometers.

 

[bang guy]

Rinse out the salt, it can be tap water.
Remember to compare your hydrometer against a refractometer or a conductivity meter to make sure it's accurate.

 

[patriot54]

Thanks for the help guys, is there any other little tricks I can do to get the most out of my hydrometer?

 

[alix2.0]

make sure theres no bubbles or debris in the water youre testing, that can cause a false reading. and i believe they are calibrated to measure water at 78 degrees, so try to get it as close to that as possible.

 

[tdog7879]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2877605
Rinse out the salt, it can be tap water.
Remember to compare your hydrometer against a refractometer or a conductivity meter to make sure it's accurate.
+ 1 on that....I take mine up to the LFS once a month and check it . all though the instant seem to be always right it is the corallife that i have to add 4 to the reading! But make sure the is no air bubbles on the neddle or that will throw it off!

 

[camfish]

refractometers are so cheap and accurate, why not get one?

 

[patriot54]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2877605
Rinse out the salt, it can be tap water.
Remember to compare your hydrometer against a refractometer or a conductivity meter to make sure it's accurate.
Wont the tap water be bad if it gets into the tank?

 

[alix2.0]

thats why you dump it out after rinsing it.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Patriot54
http:///forum/post/2877675
Wont the tap water be bad if it gets into the tank?
A couple drops of tap isn't going to hurt anything.

 

[patriot54]

I know, but I can't get all of it out. There is always a couple of drops left

 

[keith burn]

Just get a refractometers.
I got one for like $25 and thay work the best.
No big clean up you just wipe it off.

 

[camfish]

Originally Posted by keith burn
http:///forum/post/2877694
Just get a refractometers.
I got one for like $25 and thay work the best.
No big clean up you just wipe it off.
But if it has metal parts, rinse it with freshwater

 

[robertmathern]

I have an instant ocean hydrometer and so far it has been good but check a couple time to make sure it repeats. I always get the same reading. And temp make a big difference 78 is a good temp. If you leave the salt water in it with out rinsing it the needle will stick trust me on that. I would get a refractor meter but swf dont sell them and eveyone else wants so much for shipping. I wish the lfs had them but it is what it is. The instant ocean hydrometer is pretty good though

 

[keith burn]

Originally Posted by camfish
http:///forum/post/2877704
But if it has metal parts, rinse it with freshwater
no you only put 1 or 2 drops on it wipeing is all you need to do.

 

[mboswell1982]

hey robert, swf.com does sell refractometers
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=6
right here

 

[sepulatian]

I HAD a Deep Six hydrometer back in the day. I kept the SG on my two tanks at 1.025 and 1.026. I bought a refractometer and found out the readings were actually 1.030 and 1.031 respectively. I was SO careful about the SG too. Buy a refractometer! Swing arms can read high or low. There isn't much predictability on each one.

 

[culp]

Originally Posted by mboswell1982
http:///forum/post/2877883
hey robert, swf.com does sell refractometers
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=6
right here
yea at $70. even my LFS sells ones for a lower price.