Deep Six Hydromerter vs Instant Oceans Hydrometer...

[mikeguerrero]

Just curious on users to give their opinion? Which one works best for them? Instant Oceans has been out for years since my reefing days back in 1991 when I started....

But recently I've seen the Coralife Deep six advertising it's better since it checks the water at a lower level....

What do you guys think,,,

Mike

 

[incysor]

Honestly, I'd say go ahead and get a refractometer. They're much more accurate, and the prices have dropped enough that you can get one for $35-$50.

B

 

[mikeguerrero]

How does the refractometer work? I've heard that they cost 99 dollars..
So I opted to stay with the 10 dollar deep six...

Mike

 

[Phischy]

The good thing about refractometers is that they are dual use, you can also use them to determine the alcohol content of homebrew beer! This is now 2 reasons why I should buy one!

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

lol phishy!

Save yourself the $10 you would spend on a hydrometer that can (will) give an inacurate reading and put it towards this $42.95 refractometer. I use this one and am quite happy with it. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... Hydrometer

I've used both of those hydrometers you listed and both gave a false reading. Of the two the deep six was closer to the accurate reading of the refractometer, but still off.

 

[dragon79]

The good thing about refractometers is that they are dual use, you can also use them to determine the alcohol content of homebrew beer! This is now 2 reasons why I should buy one!

ha ha, wow!! :shock:

 

[incysor]

How does the refractometer work? I've heard that they cost 99 dollars..
So I opted to stay with the 10 dollar deep six...

Mike

There's a prism/viewing plate with a plastic cover, you put a couple drops on the plate, fold the cover down on it, point the prism end toward a light source and then look through the eyepiece. Very simple.

I've read that hydrometers get progressively less accurate over time, and that it's worse if they are allowed to dry out. It makes sense. Even if you rinse it out very well with tap water after every use you're eventually going to get some kind of buildup on the inside, whether it be salt deposits, or calcium deposits, or lime scale, etc... Most folks use them, shake them off and put them away so by drying them that way you'd be adding salt deposits over time. I figure that if you rinsed them with tap you'd probably extend the lifetime by a lot, but I'd still replace it every year or so. Which is why I decided to go ahead and get a refractometer, eventually it'll save me money. Plus I'm a guy and it's a gadget. :smile:

 

[mikeguerrero]

Insysor,

You sold me,,, I'm a guy to and I love gadgets... Can you point me to an online source where I can save money on the purchase? I saw one on sale for 89 dollars but I haven't seen them cheaper,,,

thanks,,,

Mike

 

[Purple Haze]

Exactly, get the refractometer as I posted in your other thread. You can find them for around $40 or so. Check diyreef.com and reefgeek.com. I've got the one with the blue handle and it was around $40.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

lol phishy!

Save yourself the $10 you would spend on a hydrometer that can (will) give an inacurate reading and put it towards this $42.95 refractometer. I use this one and am quite happy with it. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... Hydrometer

I've used both of those hydrometers you listed and both gave a false reading. Of the two the deep six was closer to the accurate reading of the refractometer, but still off.

I already linked you! 8)

 

[mikeguerrero]

Pinpoint Salinity Monitor w/probe

Thanks Magnolia,

Man that website is awesome, they answer all the tech questions we have. But as I started to snoop, I fell in love the the hydrometer that measures the salinty digitally.

Okay guys, tell me about this product because I bet one of you has researched it already aqainst the competition of refractometers...

the plastic hydros are out of the race...

Mike

 

[incysor]

Insysor,

You sold me,,, I'm a guy to and I love gadgets... Can you point me to an online source where I can save money on the purchase? I saw one on sale for 89 dollars but I haven't seen them cheaper,,,

thanks,,,

Mike

This is pretty close to what I've got.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... uct=CP2111

If I were buying one today I'd go with the one SM posted, or I'd look around on ebay like I orginally did. I got mine 2yrs ago, when they were going for $90-$130, and found the one I have for about $60 with shipping.

Since I don't see any substantial savings on ebay I'd probably just go with the premium aquatics one that SM posted. It's about the same price and PA is a company with a good rep.

Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 24601&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 76013&rd=1

 

[incysor]

Re: Pinpoint Salinity Monitor w/probe

Thanks Magnolia,

Man that website is awesome, they answer all the tech questions we have. But as I started to snoop, I fell in love the the hydrometer that measures the salinty digitally.

Okay guys, tell me about this product because I bet one of you has researched it already aqainst the competition of refractometers...

the plastic hydros are out of the race...

Mike

I did a quick searc on RC for pinpoint AND salinity, here's the results page if you want to read through some of the threads. Some people seem to like them, some not so much.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/search.ph ... descending

From that results page this guy seems to have one for sale.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthrea ... D+salinity

 

[incysor]

The cheapest places I've found for a new one is $115

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_con ... sp?CartId=

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/par ... 233;pcid1=

http://www.exoticfish.com/results.cfm?c ... C1840%7C0&

http://www.aquariumguys.com/pinpoint1.html

I've ordered from marinedepot and bigals. Both companies were great to deal with.