Salinity Hydrometer screwups

[kwiknezy1]

Ok, i have a question. I have 2 different hydrometers.. i get different reading from both.. Whats up with this...i get 1.026 with one and the other one goes to 1.045.. i make sure all bubbles are out and everything...Any ideas..

 

[reefreak29]

yes these plastic type swing arm hydrometers are crap . u need to invest in a refractometer to get accurate results

 

[kwiknezy1]

WOW. 40.00 plus shipping.. well i guess i already have the 2 hydrometers which already cost me that.. ill look into getting one ASAP.. Thanks for the reply

 

[ophiura]

What does the real high one read when you put freshwater in it?

 

[kwiknezy1]

with freshwater it reads 0.000 And so does the other one..Weird

 

[murph]

For the short term and if you can find an LFS or hobbyist with a refractometer you can recalibrate the hydrometer by compareing the results between the two. I used a recalibrated hydrometer for months prior to purchaseing a refractometer. I checked with LFS results from refractometer every few weeks to make sure the hydrometer was not loseing calibration.
My hydrometer for example was reading low. A 1.025 was actually a 1.030. After doing the math (recalibrate) I used the hydrometer for months and it never changed calibration.