At the moment I need to cut some corners. From the responses in this thread, including yours, I think the glass hydrometer is accurate enough for me. I'll use the extra 30 dollars towards better water or lighting first.
Glass or Plastic Hydrometers?
- Thread starter InTr4nceWeTrust
- Start date
If your going to cut corners then marine/reef tanks are not the way forward for you i'm affraid. A refractometer is one of the most important peices of kit you need in SW as hydrometers whether glass or plastic are notorious for being inaccurate. Spend the money on that, wait a while and then get the other equipment you need later. If you dont have the patience to that you have definately picked the wrong hobby and will end up wasting your money further up the road, sorry but thats my opinion
Are you saying it's better that I continue to use low quality water for now as long as I got my salinity perfect?
It's just dechlorinated tap water. That's why I'm looking to get a cheap but relatively accurate hydrometer for now so I can get better water or something.
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Have you set up your tank yet? If so I would also advise that you dont use tap water as even with a dechlorinater your going to have high phosphate and nitrate levels which will cause you nothing but problems with algae. I would wait till you have some cash saved up, buy the right equipment and then either buy an RO unit or purchase RO water from you lfs
If your tank is already set up, this is what I would do:
Buy the glass hydrometer, and ask the LFS if you can calibrate it against their refractometer (actually, ask first, then buy. If they won't let you, find another LFS that will). If the glass hydrometer that you purchase reads 1.024, and their refractometer reads 1.026, then you know you have to add 0.002 to each measurement.
Use the $30 you saved towards purchasing an RO system.
I do agree with waynecav, though - I think a refractometer is indispensable. Hydrometers (both kinds) are temperature sensitive and prone to having air bubbles stick to them, which throws off the readings. Put this on a future shopping list.
Buy the glass hydrometer, and ask the LFS if you can calibrate it against their refractometer (actually, ask first, then buy. If they won't let you, find another LFS that will). If the glass hydrometer that you purchase reads 1.024, and their refractometer reads 1.026, then you know you have to add 0.002 to each measurement.
Use the $30 you saved towards purchasing an RO system.
I do agree with waynecav, though - I think a refractometer is indispensable. Hydrometers (both kinds) are temperature sensitive and prone to having air bubbles stick to them, which throws off the readings. Put this on a future shopping list.
I have to agree with the above.. And if the store doesn't have a refractometer for their own water I wouldn't shop there any longer personally.
@waynecav
Yes. Thanks but I've been through the whole water quality speech. You can see where I'm at here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138027
@dolfans1
Sounds like a great plan. I was just going to buy the glass hydrometer and save the 30 for either RO/DI water or towards my own RO/DI unit. I'll definitely ask to have it test against their refractometer.
@clown-lover
Sadly they seem to be the only LFS around : / If they don't own a refractometer for their own water then I'll have to do some searching for a better LFS.
Yes. Thanks but I've been through the whole water quality speech. You can see where I'm at here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138027
@dolfans1
Sounds like a great plan. I was just going to buy the glass hydrometer and save the 30 for either RO/DI water or towards my own RO/DI unit. I'll definitely ask to have it test against their refractometer.
@clown-lover
Sadly they seem to be the only LFS around : / If they don't own a refractometer for their own water then I'll have to do some searching for a better LFS.
