Refractometer Question?

[RYANLAWRENCE]

I finally think I should give in and get a refractometer. There is one for sale on Ebay ill post the link. People with refractometers... Is this a good one? Or would you recommend another. And would i need to buy the calibration fluid for it? Thanks in advance.
Ryan

Link:
Sea Water Salinity Refractometer 4 Aquarium Hydrometer | eBay

 

[RYANLAWRENCE]

Sorry...should have put this in the general hardware place. My bad

 

[melosu58]

I`ll put it there.

 

[Hillage]

Believe it or not, that's the exact one I was planning on buying any day. I'll be watching to see what others think. =)

 

[hackteck]

i have that exact one it works great highly accurate i would recommend it to anyone

 

[Mr. Limpet]

I have that very same one and it works great! I highly recommend it and the price is right .

 

[RYANLAWRENCE]

Awesome! looks like a buy! is it necessary to buy the calibration fluid?

 

[Mr. Limpet]

Awesome! looks like a buy! is it necessary to buy the calibration fluid?

Nope, use distilled water. .97 a gal. at Target.

 

[RYANLAWRENCE]

Awesome! Just ordered it!

 

[Hillage]

Sweet, sounds good for me. I actually bought distilled water not too long ago, so I have some around here somewhere. I'll be buying this as well. =) Thanks to the OP for posting this too =)

 

[ccCapt]

Nope, use distilled water. .97 a gal. at Target.

That's fine if you only want it calibrated at 0 but it will be off at 35ppt (by about 2 ppt).

You do need calibration fluid if you want it calibrated for saltwater.
PINPOINT® Salinity Calibration Fluid - English

 

[Mr. Limpet]

That's fine if you only want it calibrated at 0 but it will be off at 35ppt (by about 2 ppt).

You do need calibration fluid if you want it calibrated for saltwater.
PINPOINT® Salinity Calibration Fluid - English

Are you talking "part per trillion"? Is it possible a $24 refracto can even get that close?

 

[carey]

I calibrated with ro water and natural sea water.

 

[ccCapt]

Are you talking "part per trillion"? Is it possible a $24 refracto can even get that close?

PPT = part per thousand. The average salinity on and around the reefs is 35 ppt.

 

[kay-bee19]

I'm with ccCap. I'd recommend calibrating to a known salinity (the calibration fluid) than calibrating against the zero salinity of distilled or ro/di water.

 

[RYANLAWRENCE]

Why would calibrating with distilled water make your results inaccurate? I'm not saying that I don't believe you I'm just saying I don't see how that would skew results since distilled water has a concentration of 1.000.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

PPT = part per thousand. The average salinity on and around the reefs is 35 ppt.

Gotcha. So if you use calabration fluid, what do you adjust the setting to? With dist. water I set it to 1.000.

 

[ccCapt]

Why would calibrating with distilled water make your results inaccurate? I'm not saying that I don't believe you I'm just saying I don't see how that would skew results since distilled water has a concentration of 1.000.

The easiest way to describe it is because plain water and salt water refract (bend) light differently. A refractometer measure how much the water bends the light.

Gotcha. So if you use calabration fluid, what do you adjust the setting to? With dist. water I set it to 1.000.

Calibration fluid is 35ppt. So when you put it on the refractometer it should read exactly 35ppt.

 

[RYANLAWRENCE]

Dang well I already ordered it so I guess I'd have to place another order and pay the shipping to get the fluid. That kinda sucks but oh well

 

[Mr. Limpet]

I was going by the instructions which says use distilled water, but I may have to try the calibration fluid just to see how accurate this one really is.