hydrometer or refractometer

Brian_G

overly obsessed
im putting "stuff" in my shopping cart to buy and get for my 75 gal tank...

i need something to measure salinity... hydrometer or refractometer

how accurate do i really need to read? will the cheaper hydrometer work for me or should i go for the more expensive refractometer?
 
go refractometer. my hydro says my salt is 1.021 but it is really 1.026 on my refractometer. if i used my hydro to keep my salt at 1.026 it would end up being way to high to to low. hydros are not acurate at all i would spend the money once and get something that is going to last and be as acurate as possible
 
i got mine from my lfs just make shure that it says atc on it. most all hydros are not accurate after a couple months so you have to buy a new on at least every 6 months.

my refract is this one
 
another thing i need to add to my cart...

test supplies for nitrates nitrites ammonia etc

any recomendations? what to stay away from? what you use?
 
Hydrometers need to be replaced every 6 months or so, and they are very inaccurate. Refractometer is definitely the way to go. Salifert test kits are one of the best, but they are expensive. API test kits are much cheaper and are a really good alternative to Salifert if you are on a budget.
 
i use api test kits and once in a while take a sample to the lfs to double check.

definitely go with a refracto
 
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