Instant Ocean Hydrometer or Refractometer?

LouB · 03/20/2018, 12:46 PM

I currently use the instant Ocean Hydrometer. Should I pay 600 bucks and switch to a refractometer instead?

Thanks in advance!

Tripod1404 · 03/20/2018, 12:52 PM

Switch to refractometer, yes! Switch to a 600 bucks refractometer, no!!!

There are refractometers on amazon for $20

LouB · 03/20/2018, 01:33 PM

Meant to say $60 dollar refractometer..lol

homer1475 · 03/20/2018, 01:50 PM

While hydrometers are typically off a bit, as long as it's calibrated and you know how much it is off by, they are fine to use.

Personally I like a refractometer, and yes 20$ is plenty. There are certainly more expensive ones, but this is the one time where price doesn't always reflect quality in this hobby. I have recently switched to using a milwaukee digital refractometer(100$), and love it!

smatter · 03/20/2018, 02:03 PM

Refractometers are a pain. I like my twenty-year-old swing arm. I keep it clean and test it against a high quality lab-grade glass hydrometer once in a while.

ROB2005 · 03/20/2018, 02:23 PM

Hydrometers if you are just doing a quick check on salinity, if you don't mind that they are not spot on with salinity. Refractometers are a must if you desire to keep strict salinity parameters.

LouB · 03/20/2018, 02:33 PM

If you had to maintain a hypo qt which would you use?

Tripod1404 · 03/20/2018, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouB

If you had to maintain a hypo qt which would you use?

You can only use a refractometer or a digital salinity monitor for that.

Volcmreefer · 03/20/2018, 03:37 PM

The Milwaukee refractometer is about $100 at BRS. The best thing about it is you calibrate with RODI water.

bertoni · 03/20/2018, 10:01 PM

I wouldn't trust a refractometer calibrated with RO/DI, even a digital one. The PinPoint conductivity solution is cheap and reasonably reliable.

theshaman · 03/20/2018, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

I wouldn't trust a refractometer calibrated with RO/DI, even a digital one. The PinPoint conductivity solution is cheap and reasonably reliable.

You calibrate it to zero with rodi water then you test it with their solution of 1.026.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

homer1475 · 03/21/2018, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volcmreefer

The Milwaukee refractometer is about $100 at BRS. The best thing about it is you calibrate with RODI water.

Actually if you read the direction, they specifically tell you NOT to calibrate with RO/DI. Steam distilled water, which if you call milwaukee they will ship you a bottle free of charge, is what is recommended to use to 0 out the machine. Then using any calibration fluid, you would check the calibration. You do not calibrate a milwuakee, you zero out the scale so it can read properly(technically calibrating but not in the same sense as a refractometer).

If you have been using RO/DI to 0 out the scale, its more then likely off. I was using RO/DI to zero out mine too. I was having issues with it, so I called milwaukee(could never get it to read 1.025 even with 1.025 fluid), they shipped me out a bottle of steam distilled after shipping the unit back to them. Haven't had an issue with it since. I was told by the company that using RO/DI actually throws the scale off by a bit.

Volcmreefer · 03/21/2018, 08:33 AM

Wow, always thought you used RODI water. Guess I will be calling Milwaukee today and asking for “steam distilled” water! Thanks!

Volcmreefer · 03/21/2018, 08:37 AM

Guess BRS is wrong then? They are saying distilled or RODI water for calibrations in the video below.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video...-brstv-how-to/

Reefiez · 03/21/2018, 08:54 AM

milwaukee refractometer, it's worth every penny in time saved from calibrating

EMeyer · 03/21/2018, 09:43 AM

Calibrating refractometers with distilled or RODI water is incorrect and like to cause errors. It doesnt matter how often the bad advice is repeated, its still bad advice. This has been explained hundreds of times. At this point, calibrating with RODI is right up there with using tapwater for topoff or never quarantining your new fish: its known to be a bad idea but you just go ahead and do it anyway.

homer1475 · 03/21/2018, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volcmreefer

Guess BRS is wrong then? They are saying distilled or RODI water for calibrations in the video below.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video...-brstv-how-to/

I watched the same video, and had always used RO/DI. it was only after having issues with the unit and calling that they told me that RO/DI can throw it off.

homer1475 · 03/21/2018, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMeyer

Calibrating refractometers with distilled or RODI water is incorrect and like to cause errors. It doesnt matter how often the bad advice is repeated, its still bad advice. This has been explained hundreds of times. At this point, calibrating with RODI is right up there with using tapwater for topoff or never quarantining your new fish: its known to be a bad idea but you just go ahead and do it anyway.

We are talking about the milwaukee digital, and using distilled is the proper way to zero the scale. You do not actually calibrate the machine, you zero it out. Then using a known solution(like the pinpoint calibration fluid) you check to see if the scale was zeroed properly.

EMeyer · 03/21/2018, 10:08 AM

I am not familiar enough with the digital refractometer to argue with you about that one. For standard refractometers, what I said stands.

I suspect it does for the digital too. If you zerod with DI water then checked the 35 ppt fluid, and found it read high by 2 ppt, what would you do?

But like I said, I dont know that instrument well and could be wrong about that one.

homer1475 · 03/21/2018, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMeyer

I am not familiar enough with the digital refractometer to argue with you about that one. For standard refractometers, what I said stands.

I suspect it does for the digital too. If you zerod with DI water then checked the 35 ppt fluid, and found it read high by 2 ppt, what would you do?

But like I said, I dont know that instrument well and could be wrong about that one.

If it was off, you would send it back to milwaukee for proper calibration or replacement like I had to.

And yes, I totally agree with you on using 35ppt solution for standard refractometers to calibrate them.

Volcmreefer · 03/21/2018, 10:38 AM

Just got off the phone with Milwaukee support and they said to use distilled water for calibrations, NOT RO/DI water. Wow, glad I followed this thread. Off the the store to buy some distilled water!

They have really awesome support! The guy just told me to send him my address and they would ship out a "seawater validation liquid" for me to use. He also said NOT to use the liquid provided, as it is wrong. Thought that I would throw that out there as well. Can't remember why, but if anyone wants to know give them a ring. GREAT customer support Milwaukee!

Milwaukee Instruments, Inc.
2950 Business Park Drive
Rocky Mount, NC 27804 - U.S.A.
Tel.: 1.252.443.3630
Fax: 1.252.443.1937
Primary:*sales@milwaukeeinstruments.com
Financial Dept:*accounting@milwaukeeinstruments.com
Technical Dept:*support@milwaukeeinstruments.com*

bertoni · 03/22/2018, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshaman

You calibrate it to zero with rodi water then you test it with their solution of 1.026.

That's functionally nearly identical to calibrating with the 1.026 solution in the first place, although the unit's controls might make direct calibration to 1.026 difficult or impossible. If you are checking the unit with their solution, and adjust your readings accordingly, it's a second calibration step.

Salty Waffles · 03/25/2018, 03:28 PM

The instructions with my Milwaukee said to only calibrate with the steam distilled 1.00 solution and not to use RODI. Mine came with a bottle of 1.00 calibration fluid and a bottle of 1.025 validation fluid.

03/20/2018, 12:46 PM	#1
LouB Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 38	Instant Ocean Hydrometer or Refractometer? I currently use the instant Ocean Hydrometer. Should I pay 600 bucks and switch to a refractometer instead? Thanks in advance!

03/20/2018, 01:50 PM	#4
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	While hydrometers are typically off a bit, as long as it's calibrated and you know how much it is off by, they are fine to use. Personally I like a refractometer, and yes 20$ is plenty. There are certainly more expensive ones, but this is the one time where price doesn't always reflect quality in this hobby. I have recently switched to using a milwaukee digital refractometer(100$), and love it! __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

03/20/2018, 02:23 PM	#6
ROB2005 Reefing Is My Passion! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 719	Hydrometers if you are just doing a quick check on salinity, if you don't mind that they are not spot on with salinity. Refractometers are a must if you desire to keep strict salinity parameters. __________________ If at first you don't succeed at reefing, break it down and set back up😁 Current Tank Info: 75 gallon corner overflow, 4-54W T-5 , dozen blue hermits, tiger pistol/yellow watchman goby, royal gramma, banghai and pajama cardinals

03/20/2018, 10:01 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't trust a refractometer calibrated with RO/DI, even a digital one. The PinPoint conductivity solution is cheap and reasonably reliable. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/21/2018, 08:54 AM	#15
Reefiez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 157	milwaukee refractometer, it's worth every penny in time saved from calibrating __________________ my reef tank is the best skimmer... of my wallet

03/20/2018, 12:52 PM	#2
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	Switch to refractometer, yes! Switch to a 600 bucks refractometer, no!!! There are refractometers on amazon for $20

03/20/2018, 01:33 PM	#3
LouB Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 38	Meant to say $60 dollar refractometer..lol

03/20/2018, 02:03 PM	#5
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Refractometers are a pain. I like my twenty-year-old swing arm. I keep it clean and test it against a high quality lab-grade glass hydrometer once in a while.

03/20/2018, 02:33 PM	#7
LouB Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 38	If you had to maintain a hypo qt which would you use?

03/20/2018, 03:37 PM	#9
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	The Milwaukee refractometer is about $100 at BRS. The best thing about it is you calibrate with RODI water.

03/21/2018, 08:33 AM	#13
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Wow, always thought you used RODI water. Guess I will be calling Milwaukee today and asking for “steam distilled” water! Thanks!

03/21/2018, 08:37 AM	#14
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Guess BRS is wrong then? They are saying distilled or RODI water for calibrations in the video below. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video...-brstv-how-to/

03/21/2018, 09:43 AM	#16
EMeyer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 173	Calibrating refractometers with distilled or RODI water is incorrect and like to cause errors. It doesnt matter how often the bad advice is repeated, its still bad advice. This has been explained hundreds of times. At this point, calibrating with RODI is right up there with using tapwater for topoff or never quarantining your new fish: its known to be a bad idea but you just go ahead and do it anyway.

03/21/2018, 10:08 AM	#19
EMeyer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 173	I am not familiar enough with the digital refractometer to argue with you about that one. For standard refractometers, what I said stands. I suspect it does for the digital too. If you zerod with DI water then checked the 35 ppt fluid, and found it read high by 2 ppt, what would you do? But like I said, I dont know that instrument well and could be wrong about that one.

03/21/2018, 10:38 AM	#21
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Just got off the phone with Milwaukee support and they said to use distilled water for calibrations, NOT RO/DI water. Wow, glad I followed this thread. Off the the store to buy some distilled water! They have really awesome support! The guy just told me to send him my address and they would ship out a "seawater validation liquid" for me to use. He also said NOT to use the liquid provided, as it is wrong. Thought that I would throw that out there as well. Can't remember why, but if anyone wants to know give them a ring. GREAT customer support Milwaukee! Milwaukee Instruments, Inc. 2950 Business Park Drive Rocky Mount, NC 27804 - U.S.A. Tel.: 1.252.443.3630 Fax: 1.252.443.1937 Primary:sales@milwaukeeinstruments.com Financial Dept:accounting@milwaukeeinstruments.com Technical Dept:support@milwaukeeinstruments.com

03/25/2018, 03:28 PM	#23
Salty Waffles Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 92	The instructions with my Milwaukee said to only calibrate with the steam distilled 1.00 solution and not to use RODI. Mine came with a bottle of 1.00 calibration fluid and a bottle of 1.025 validation fluid.