Refractometer or Hydrometer?

[G S P Freak]

Please read before posting... Thanks! Ok, so I broke my instant ocean hydrometer the other day and am lookin for a replacement. I'm wondering if its worth getting a refractometer($35) or another hydrometer($12)? The important part to consider is that this will be for a very low end brackish f8 tank, at 1.004 sg. Is it worth getting one over the other, and does anyone have any brands/models they would suggest? Thanks.

[Pufferpunk]

Refractometers are fun to use! $35 is a great price.

[PufferMe!]

I got mine new on ebay for $25 including shipping. Might want to check that out. Refracto is more accurate.

[Pufferpunk]

Also keep in mind, both ref & hydro need to be calibrated with calibration solution, to be accurate.

[Terrance]

after i bought a refractometer, i never looked back at my hydrometer. its a big difference in accuracy.

i got my refractometer from bulkreeksupply as well as most other reef equipment.

[G S P Freak]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Salinity-Salt-R ... 337980a181
Is this particular model any good? I have reason to believe my instant ocean hydrometer is off by as much as 1.005 sg! I'm going to have my lfs to check it tomorrow to make sure, but I fear the sg has already been messed up, probably killing all of my beneficial bacteria... So I'm going to do what everyone suggests (a "I told you so!" If there ever was one lol) and get a refractometer. I thought a hydrometer would be fine for low end brackish, but 1.005 difference in accuracy is unacceptable.

[Pufferpunk]

No matter which refractometer you buy, you still need to use calibration solution to calibrate it.

[Arny]

No matter which refractometer you buy, you still need to use calibration solution to calibrate it.

Hey PP

Where can you buy calibration solution? You would've thought they'd sell it with the refractometer

[G S P Freak]

They sell fluid on eBay too, the refractometer I have linked above does come with fluid.

[Pufferpunk]

Hey PP

Where can you buy calibration solution? You would've thought they'd sell it with the refractometer

Yeah, you'd think???

[G S P Freak]

Whew , my lfs tested my water s.g. (refractometer) and parameters and everything checked out OK for the most part! My s.g. was only off by .002 (@1.006), so I didn't kill of all my bacteria, yay! Buuuut, thats still too much off for what I wanted, so I'm still getting the refractometer. Can't wait till it gets here, hope it was worth the investment!