Hydrometer question

reefready · 02-26-2008, 10:10 PM

Hey guys,

Talking to the guy at the LFS today...did you soak your hydrometer before your first use? He says they throw theirs in a tank for a couple of days before using it to let is "soak"?

Thoughts?

Also, I have a glass tank -- is it possible to scratch it with my MagFloat? I have a few scratches on the inside glass (i'm pretty sure they were there when I got it used) and I want to make sure I'm not causing them.

Thanks!

OneDummHikk · 02-26-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefready

Hey guys,

Talking to the guy at the LFS today...did you soak your hydrometer before your first use? He says they throw theirs in a tank for a couple of days before using it to let is "soak"?

Thoughts?

Also, I have a glass tank -- is it possible to scratch it with my MagFloat? I have a few scratches on the inside glass (i'm pretty sure they were there when I got it used) and I want to make sure I'm not causing them.

Thanks!

If you get sand or debris between the magfloat and the glass, then yes, you can scratch it. I don't use a hydrometer (I threw all mine in the trash) so I can't answer you about that one.

hng · 02-26-2008, 10:42 PM

I've never heard of soaking a hydrometer. Not sure how soaking something plastic would help. A refractometer is still a nice thing to have.

You CAN scratch the glass with a mag float if a grain of sand of something hard gets caught in between the float and the glass. It's happened to me too.

reefready · 02-26-2008, 11:09 PM

Thanks guys. How much does a good refractometer run?

Any suggestions or tips to make sure I don't get stuff caught in the magfloat?

Thanks again!

OneDummHikk · 02-27-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefready

Thanks guys. How much does a good refractometer run?

Any suggestions or tips to make sure I don't get stuff caught in the magfloat?

Thanks again!

The one I have I bought on eBay. 31 dollars delivered to my door. Took it about 4 days to get here.

cjtice · 02-27-2008, 09:01 AM

I bought the "Deep Six" Hydrometer when I first started, and they do recommend that you soak them in water for 24 hours or something like this. I just filled mine with water and set it on the table for a day.

It was still a piece...

Chris

Kimberfish · 02-27-2008, 09:13 AM

throw it in the trash and leave it there! I had 2 which were both off about 6 points compared to a refractometer - $30.00 on ebay will do the trick

know-it-all · 02-27-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kimberfish

throw it in the trash and leave it there! I had 2 which were both off about 6 points compared to a refractometer - $30.00 on ebay will do the trick

I've said this before
but one of the reef club meeting topics we did was accuracy of hydrometers

out of 12 that we tested
best was .002 off
worst was .010 off

snow_man84088 · 02-27-2008, 09:19 AM

^ditto bought mine refractometer off ebay from a place called Industrial Supply or something like that, they are based out of Cali and it took about three days to get here, it was also $31 shipped. Works Great!!!

Hardhead Cat · 02-27-2008, 10:00 AM

I agree, I threw away all my hydrometers, they were WAY off with what the LFS refractometer said - so I bought a refractometer, easy to use and very handy! I think they should be required equipment for serious aquarium folks. Well worth the money, like a good skimmer and RO/DI unit!

I have scratched my glass 135 gallon several times when the magfloats weren't clean and had sand/gravel on them, it stinks!

HHC

Loverotties · 02-27-2008, 10:02 AM

Also bubbles can cause a false readding.

hng · 02-27-2008, 12:11 PM

To avoid scratches, keep the float clean. Remember, it's a float! Release it, catch it at the top, clean it off with a toothbrush.

OneDummHikk · 02-27-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snow_man84088

^ditto bought mine refractometer off ebay from a place called Industrial Supply or something like that, they are based out of Cali and it took about three days to get here, it was also $31 shipped. Works Great!!!

That is the same one I have. Was it you that pointed me to it? I don't remember. No more hydrometers in my future.

snow_man84088 · 02-27-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneDummHikk

That is the same one I have. Was it you that pointed me to it? I don't remember. No more hydrometers in my future.

No I was reading a thread earlier that you were asking about them and someone suggested it and you order yours and said it worked great so I ordered mine. So technically I guess you pointed it out to me

snow_man84088 · 02-27-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hng

To avoid scratches, keep the float clean. Remember, it's a float! Release it, catch it at the top, clean it off with a toothbrush.

+1!!!!! Do this at least once every couple of weeks. I have a 55 gallon african tank with eco complete sand in it, I would just pull the magnet off and look at it floating, I couldn't see any white sand on and would put it back together but it would make a horrible scratching noise. I finally took it out to clean it and put it in my salt water tank and low and behold apparently the black colored sand in the eco complete cichlid mix is magnetic, I couldn't see it because it was black and I scratched my 55 g all to heck. Just thought I would share my experience as to show the importance of actually doing this!