Hydrometers

[motorcity]

I am just in the process of buying everything I need to set up up my first salt water tank (29g biocube - its going to be a reef tank) and was wondering about the accuracy of hydrometers. Are they accurate enough to get started with or do I need ro get a refracrometer right off the bat? Will a hydrometer at least be good enough to get me through the cycle? Can I just get a hydrometer and then also have the LFS test a sample to compare the difference in readings? Quit trying to be cheap and go get a refractometer? How did you all start off?

 

[earlybird]

Can't cut corners especially if you want inverts. Refracto my friend is what you need.

 

[sk8shorty01]

I agree. I have a hydrometer and it causes nothing but problems.

 

[lexluethar]

A hydrometer is very innacurate. When i tested my water with both the hydrometer (which never showed the same reading) was around 1.026 and when tested w/ a Refrac it was 1.019. That is an error ratio of 31%.

 

[dawman]

You can find refractometers on that auction site for a better price than most LFS or web stores sell them for .

 

[motorcity]

Thanks for all of the advise folks, looks like i'll be getting a refractometer

 

[brandan]

PM me if you want to know where I got mine. I got a really good deal.