Type of Hydrometer poll

[pclown]

Deep Six Hydrometers poll and use.

[hr]
I want to start off and say that I am a Refractometer fan and I know if you want to have a sure and accurate SG test you need to use one and I have thought about buying one myself but I believe that you can have a succesful tank without one.
With that said I want to say something about the Hydro Six that I have been using. I bought one and I have been using it knowing that it was just a good estimate. Well I have learned that it was futher off than I thought and I found this out today by testing it with a Refractometer from my LFS. He asked which Hydrometer that I use and he told me he had alot of complaints with those and had people bring them back. He sold two different ones so we did a test. I tested his water using a refractometer and the test was right on 1.016 and I tested using the Hydro Six and it was 1.013, I then tested with the other one that he sold and I got a reading between 1.015 and 1.016
I asked what his reading should be and he said 1.016
I want to know who uses what hydrometer and how accurate is yours?
I am thinking about buying a refractometer but he told my that for my nano a GOOD hydrometer should be fine. I am still debating this in my head. Should I get a Coral for Easter or a Refractometer. A refractometer from what I understand does have to be calibrated every so often, or it too can become inaccurate.
To show I am not pushing any certain brand or product I have not mentioned the other Hydrometer.
I am just asking what do you use and do you know how accurate it is?

 

[jacklax]

Go with the refractometer. I had a Hydro Six...only to deep six it in the garbage. It was way off...especially as I was dropping into hypo. I had gradually lowered the salinity using the hydrometer until the refractometer arrived figuring it would get me in the ball park. I got down to 1.009 according to the hydrometer...the refracometer arrived, and I was still at 1.015...not even close!

 

[pallan]

with a nano expecially i would worry about it and use a refractometer. you dont have alot of room for error with a nano and a little to much either way could really throw things out of wack.
for the price of a decent one 40 bucks you will never get me to test water with anything else. if you save just couple of fish or corals due to a salt problem it will have payed for itself IMO

 

[tampausmc]

hmmmmmmmmmm............................this is interesting.....i'm guessing my little plastic one with the floating needle is insufficient? I may consider an upgrade this weekend before i start dropping in my corals.......

 

[volcom69]

i hate hydrometers with a passion i had two of them and both gave me different readings so i said screw went out bought a refractometer and never looked back. I suggest if u have the money to buy one to buy one i love mine.

 

[misfit]

Originally Posted by Pallan
with a nano expecially i would worry about it and use a refractometer. you dont have alot of room for error with a nano and a little to much either way could really throw things out of wack.
for the price of a decent one 40 bucks you will never get me to test water with anything else. if you save just couple of fish or corals due to a salt problem it will have payed for itself IMO
This is some good advice

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by PClown
I am thinking about buying a refractometer but he told my that for my nano a GOOD hydrometer should be fine.
I totall disagree. A refractometer is always accurate, hydrometers are not.
A refractometer is essential for every tank in my opinion. No hydrometer should be trusted to test something as essential and vital as salinity.

 

[winstew]

If you pay more than 50 for the refractometer then keep looking they are all over the place.

 

[winstew]

This site actually sells one for under 50.....

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by Winstew
This site actually sells one for under 50.....
yep, the one on this site is great.

 

[drew2005]

When i got my refractometer i ran over the deep six hydrometer with my car.

 

[mikeyjer]

I use a hydrometer before I ever upgraded to refractometer. However, it was very accurate for a hydrometer. I'll have to dig it up somewhere....You just have to be sure to bump off all those excess bubbles on the pointer thing. I used it for a long time and quit using it for over 6 months. NEVER tested my salinity during that whole period. I've done the water change and replacing freshwater for top offs for sooo many times to the point I know exactly where I was at each time without even test the salinity. I dunno if this makes any sense to you guys or not, but a few reefer said the samething to me. After I bought my refractometer, I thought I'll give it a try, it was at 1.025 where I always keep it at when I used a hydrometer 6 months before. I always use the same water mix everytime during water change and fill up with freshwater during evaporation. So my levels stays the same. Now for my reef tank, I tested it more because of my corals and inverts, but it's where I always keep it at everytime, 1.026-1.027(depending on evaporation from the time I test it). So I say once your on a regular routine, you'll become accustom to it and the levels usually stays pretty much the same. :happyfish

 

[pclown]

I just ordered my refractometer and it is now on its way. I am very excited!! After thinking about it I decided that I wanted to do it right and so I spent the money on the Refractometer. I have been reading where people have lost things because of hydrometer being so far off and I am not wanting to worry about that anymore and to be sure my salinity is right.
Why take a chance and for little more money you know you got it right.

 

[shrimpdady]

I have a floating hydrometer that works just fine.
When I have my water tested at the LFS they test salinity with a refractometer and they always get the same result as I do at home.
I have never used the hydrometers with the needle, just the floating one that looks kind of like a thermometer.

 

[winstew]

Ny no means is anyone saying that EVERY hyrdometer is junk. Its hit or miss and really no way to ensure your is on unless you compare it to a known value....

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by PClown
I just ordered my refractometer and it is now on its way. I am very excited!! After thinking about it I decided that I wanted to do it right and so I spent the money on the Refractometer. I have been reading where people have lost things because of hydrometer being so far off and I am not wanting to worry about that anymore and to be sure my salinity is right.
Why take a chance and for little more money you know you got it right.
That's great to hear you made the switch. You will not regret it.

 

[milwaukeem]

From my short personal experience hydrometers are garbage!!!

I can do several readings in a row and they will all be different!!!??? Even after letting all the little bubbles settle and everything... It was not surprising to me to see Deep Six mentioned time after time in this thread considering that is what I have.... I will be purchasing a refractometer in the very near future!!

 

[jsgreer1]

im gonna have to say i disagree with everyone i have a hydrometer that i hung in my tank and also had a thermometer on it and heard everything on this site about them not being accurate and bought a refractometer and my hydrometer was the same as my refractometer. so i guess i got lucky. but i trashed it anyway because it cost 12 dollars and the refractometer cost 50 so i agree that not ALL hydrometers are crap but i do now own a refractometer.

 

[tampausmc]

i bought a refractometer today.......big pimpin......i think my hydrometer was accurate for the most part but since i'm mixing my own water i thought i'd better do it right

 

[milwaukeem]

Well maybe "Hydrometers" as a whole can be decent.... Maybe it is the brand "Deep Six" that is not accurate... When testing something as important as salt levels I don't want to wonder if I got a luckly hydrometer that is accurate... Everyone that has dabbled in the saltwater hobby knows how important accuracy is....