Just as the title states, I’m looking to replace my swing arm “Ol’ Unreliable” with an accurate refractometer to measure salinity. I could buy used or new, don’t really care. Information on the net is mostly propaganda, and I would like some input/advice from you kind folks on what I should get. I just need one that works, don’t need all the bells & whistles.
Any suggestions?
i’d go to ebay. $25 or above should be decent. but get calibratiion fluid to make sure it’s set up right
DPA caries good ones, but you wil pay more then ebay, but you also get to touch before you put down any money and you also support a local store. DPA will also teach you how to calibrate it and read it.
But that’s just my :TWOCENTS
I see them ranging from $30 and up, just wanted to stay away from the cheap ones . . . but I also didn’t want to break the bank. The one I saw at DPA was around $100, unless I didn’t see anything else. That’s a bit much for me right now (not saying it isn’t a good one).
[quote=“Pat B, post:3, topic:4196”]
DPA caries good ones, but you wil pay more then ebay, but you also get to touch before you put down any money and you also support a local store. DPA will also teach you how to calibrate it and read it.[/quote]
I’ve purchased 95% of my tank material from DPA, those guys are great and knowledgeable and I would rather work with them. (if they had a slightly less expensive model) :
:
Wow, double check with DPA. Unless they jacked up their prices recently I doubt it was $100. I’ve never seen a cheaply made refratometer, but they can get screwed up if dropped, so I wouldn’t buy a used one online. Used locally would be great if you could find one, but few who stay in the hobby part with theirs.
I’ve had one of these for about 7-8 years now:
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9957
Calibrated it a couple times and had the pin fall out on me a couple of times other then that it’s always worked. Tried a couple different brands myself, used 7-8 different onces in a lab, used some with lights in them, could hook up a digital reader to my controller, but still use old faithful.
Call DPA and double check the price. If it’s $100 see if you can find a trusted ebay seller or hit up DRF&S, MarineDepot, or TPP.
I have to pick something up there after work, and I’ll check with them and post back here. Thanks for the link!
[quote=“moliken, post:2, topic:4196”]
i’d go to ebay. $25 or above should be decent. but get calibratiion fluid to make sure it’s set up right[/quote]
I got the same one on eBay as DF&S for $20 like Paul said, works like a charm. It’s been almost 7 years. Just got a new calibration fluid for it. Never had any problem.
If you can’t afford to purchase new refractometer, you can ask some one to “calibrate” your hydrometer. Altho hydrometers are horrible, I checked my coworkers hydrometer with my refractometer and it was only -1 off, showed 1.025 instead of 1.026. It maybe an idea for now until you get new one.
been using my atc for 2 years. calibrate it every so ofter. right on. double checked with a floater, and both remain steady. was 40$ now they’re 50$
Checked yesterday and DPA had some on backorder. They were $49, I must have seen the wrong price initially. Thanks for your input!
Got mine from Mac’s, about $50.