Jesse's 20L+20L fuge...
- Thread starter reefman23
- Start date
I picked up my replacement yellow watchman a few days ago... he is doing great and is even hanging out with my black and white perc and peppermint shrimp. The only thing about him is that I have yet to get him to eat, however he still looks fine and Im not too worried about it.
I also just picked up on a JBJ Digi-Lab TSS digital salinity/SG/temp tester. It was used lightly for 2 months and is in like-new condition... $45!!! My LFS sells these things for $139.99 and most others sell them for around $100-$110, so I think that is was a pretty good deal. I couldnt even find a decent refractometer for that price. It should be here by Thursday or Friday... I can finally test my SG accurately.
Jesse
I also just picked up on a JBJ Digi-Lab TSS digital salinity/SG/temp tester. It was used lightly for 2 months and is in like-new condition... $45!!! My LFS sells these things for $139.99 and most others sell them for around $100-$110, so I think that is was a pretty good deal. I couldnt even find a decent refractometer for that price. It should be here by Thursday or Friday... I can finally test my SG accurately.
Jesse
So i got the digi-lab today... This should sum it up...
I will never again recommend a hydrometer to anyone... NEVER. They are a poor and inaccurate way to measure salinity and SG...
The digi-lab states that my salinity is 31 ppm and my SG is 1.020.... the hydrometer reads a salinity of 38 ppm and a SG of 1.028!!! Not even CLOSE!!
Jesse
I will never again recommend a hydrometer to anyone... NEVER. They are a poor and inaccurate way to measure salinity and SG...
The digi-lab states that my salinity is 31 ppm and my SG is 1.020.... the hydrometer reads a salinity of 38 ppm and a SG of 1.028!!! Not even CLOSE!!
Jesse
A
Anonymous
Guest
wow---now i'm curious i have used the same simple hydrometer for 15 years of reefing...........i wonder what my salinity really is...... i guess though it just goes to show consistency is far more important then the actual numerical value maybe????????? i guess my next investment may have to be a digilab????
There are all kinds of refractometers on www.ebay.com .... just search for "salinity refractometer"... if you dont specify salinity, you will end up having to sort through all kinds of different kinds of refractometers.
The "Buy It Now" prices are anywhere from $39.99 on up on ebay.... it will be the best $40 or so that you have spent for you tank.
Jesse
The "Buy It Now" prices are anywhere from $39.99 on up on ebay.... it will be the best $40 or so that you have spent for you tank.
Jesse
ripcurrent
New Member
I just picked up a refractometer over the weekend and my hydrometer was off too. Not to the extent that Jesse's was off but like him, I'll never recommend a hyrdrometer to anyone. Definitely an investment.
mikeguerrero
Active Member
Jesse,
Before you put to sleep the hydrometer, please note two important elements... You should take three samples with the hydrometer and take the average of the three...
Secondly, the older the hydrometer the more specific it is...
I by no means am saying that the hydrometer is a better call than your new unit... Just that a lot of entry level reefers don't have the funds to dive into this awesome gadget...
With time a hydrometer when properly used will yield results that are within the parameters of nano reefing...
For the intermediate to advance reefers, this unit that Jesse and Dragon have are the way to go...
Just looking out for the french fries on this site
MG
Before you put to sleep the hydrometer, please note two important elements... You should take three samples with the hydrometer and take the average of the three...
Secondly, the older the hydrometer the more specific it is...
I by no means am saying that the hydrometer is a better call than your new unit... Just that a lot of entry level reefers don't have the funds to dive into this awesome gadget...
With time a hydrometer when properly used will yield results that are within the parameters of nano reefing...
For the intermediate to advance reefers, this unit that Jesse and Dragon have are the way to go...
Just looking out for the french fries on this site
MG
EDGRAY
New Member
well mike hydros are really no accurate no matter what if old or cleaned with vinager and all the ways to clean it it never gonna be accurate...but i know some people might not have the budget to but if anyone is a good hubbiest it will save some pennis and eventually get it cause is a good investment and even mentioned you can get some refrac. for cheap prices at ebay or someplace else.....mikeguerrero said:Jesse,
Before you put to sleep the hydrometer, please note two important elements... You should take three samples with the hydrometer and take the average of the three...
Secondly, the older the hydrometer the more specific it is...
I by no means am saying that the hydrometer is a better call than your new unit... Just that a lot of entry level reefers don't have the funds to dive into this awesome gadget...
With time a hydrometer when properly used will yield results that are within the parameters of nano reefing...
For the intermediate to advance reefers, this unit that Jesse and Dragon have are the way to go...
Just looking out for the french fries on this site
MG
but anyways just my point ... :langle
P.S: i owned 2 hydros... i took like around 5 samples and they were all the same result or a .001 - 003 difference same LFS .... refractometer what a difference.....
I agree that maybe a digilab or refractometer may be a little too expensive for a new aquarist, especially if they are starting out from scratch. It seems to me though that maybe we should be encouraging them to go back in time a bit and use a floating thermometer type hydrometer instead of a swing arm style, these are much more accurate and are not that expensive. They are usually calibrated for a specific temperature (I think it is 78 degrees) which is something that would need to be stressed but IMO they are a better option than a swing arm hydrometer for the cost conscious. The difference in price between the swing arm and floating is nothing compared to the cost of lost livestock.mikeguerrero said:Jesse,
Before you put to sleep the hydrometer, please note two important elements... You should take three samples with the hydrometer and take the average of the three...
Secondly, the older the hydrometer the more specific it is...
I by no means am saying that the hydrometer is a better call than your new unit... Just that a lot of entry level reefers don't have the funds to dive into this awesome gadget...
With time a hydrometer when properly used will yield results that are within the parameters of nano reefing...
For the intermediate to advance reefers, this unit that Jesse and Dragon have are the way to go...
Just looking out for the french fries on this site
MG
I have to say that the hydrometer pictured is 2.5 years old, it was properly calibrated before it was used, it was cleaned out with vinegar once in a while to remove any buildup, AND I always took several reading and they would all be within 0.001 or 0.002 of eachother.
I still have to say that I could never suggest hydrometers to any reefer, but I would suggest the floating kind that skip mentioned.
Jesse
p.s. There are others that are less expensive, but this one is probably THE most accurate way of measuring salinty... it is accurate within +- 0.0005 S.G. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 003&ctt=60
I still have to say that I could never suggest hydrometers to any reefer, but I would suggest the floating kind that skip mentioned.
Jesse
p.s. There are others that are less expensive, but this one is probably THE most accurate way of measuring salinty... it is accurate within +- 0.0005 S.G. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 003&ctt=60
mikeguerrero
Active Member
Jesse,
I fully understand your point, and agree 100 percent that it's the way to go and that your hydrometer has been inacurate for some time.
But the point I would like to mention is that in my experience, I have never lost any critters or fish to mixing my salt and relying on the hydrometer.
In fact, back in the late 80's when I first started they were our only choice along side the floating hydro.
Point is that technology has changed and better reefing techniques yeild happier corals and critters.
But all in all, the hydrometer with arm, can and will take a reefer very far; it did for me, but then again, I'm a reefing NUT BALL!!!! :lol:
I personally use the refractometer with built in light, extremely accurate; I however would love to have your gadget over mine, since I love electronics.
MG
I fully understand your point, and agree 100 percent that it's the way to go and that your hydrometer has been inacurate for some time.
But the point I would like to mention is that in my experience, I have never lost any critters or fish to mixing my salt and relying on the hydrometer.
In fact, back in the late 80's when I first started they were our only choice along side the floating hydro.
Point is that technology has changed and better reefing techniques yeild happier corals and critters.
But all in all, the hydrometer with arm, can and will take a reefer very far; it did for me, but then again, I'm a reefing NUT BALL!!!! :lol:
I personally use the refractometer with built in light, extremely accurate; I however would love to have your gadget over mine, since I love electronics.
MG
mikeguerrero
Active Member
Hey Jesse,
Yeah, lets trade... I don't use mine anymore because I'm lazy to pull out water and drip one drop on the scale and then clean it...
Mine is top of it's class when i purchased it from Marine Depot... It's the one with a built in light...
Is yours the same as my brothers?
Mike G
Yeah, lets trade... I don't use mine anymore because I'm lazy to pull out water and drip one drop on the scale and then clean it...
Mine is top of it's class when i purchased it from Marine Depot... It's the one with a built in light...
Is yours the same as my brothers?
Mike G
mikeguerrero
Active Member
Jesse,
If you are serious, we can trade. I own the Captive Purity refractometer w/light. It has it's box, with pipette, and calibration screwdriver. Still sells for $119 at Marine depot.
It takes 3 watch batteries; which I will replace if you want to do the trade.
Oh yeah, it looks brand new, because I hardly ever used it.
MG
If you are serious, we can trade. I own the Captive Purity refractometer w/light. It has it's box, with pipette, and calibration screwdriver. Still sells for $119 at Marine depot.
It takes 3 watch batteries; which I will replace if you want to do the trade.
Oh yeah, it looks brand new, because I hardly ever used it.
MG
Hey all...
I'm workin on putting together a battery-powered 5 gallon ATO, all I need is a float switch.
In the mean time, I threw this little guy together. It is a 1 gallon gravity-fed ATO made using a gatorade bottle... works like a charm! Plus it cost nothing! Check it out...
I'm workin on putting together a battery-powered 5 gallon ATO, all I need is a float switch.
In the mean time, I threw this little guy together. It is a 1 gallon gravity-fed ATO made using a gatorade bottle... works like a charm! Plus it cost nothing! Check it out...
