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10-12-2007, 10:27 AM
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#1
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Shark
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,569
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swing arm vs. a refracto
This is something i did not know. I have a red sea swing arm. I keep my water at 1.024 on the swing arm. Are you guys telling me my water is more like 10.29+. This is not good wouldnt that be dangerous. Are all swing arms off like described in other threads
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10-12-2007, 10:32 AM
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#2
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Shark
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ontario, CA
Posts: 1,028
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Yep, pretty much. They are garbage. Get a refracto for sure.
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10-12-2007, 10:36 AM
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#3
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Shark
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,569
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its only 2 months old. You guys think its off already. If so what should I lower the gravity to?
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10-12-2007, 10:41 AM
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#4
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Shark
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ontario, CA
Posts: 1,028
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Mine was off the day I bought it, so I bought a new one, different brand, it was off as well. I threw it out and bought a refracto as soon as I found out.
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10-12-2007, 10:44 AM
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#5
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Carpe Noctem
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 5,448
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It can go either way. You could say you are between 1.020 and 1.029... Even the cheap $40 refract. is a decent and fairly accurate purchase 
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"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein
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10-12-2007, 10:44 AM
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#6
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: South Elgin, IL
Posts: 52
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Where is a good place to buy one? I have been using a digital meter but i have to calibrate it every time i use it. It is a pita. If anyone knows of a good place to buy one, please let me know. Thanks.
__________________
Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else.
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10-12-2007, 10:48 AM
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#7
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Shark
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,569
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i just looked at my LFS www.thatfishplace.com and they have two. one is 45.00 the other is 73.00 |
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10-12-2007, 11:03 AM
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#8
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 288
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you can get it from your LFS or ebay! Got mine for like $25 bux
There is not competition between the refractometer vs the $wingy arm thingymagiggy..  |
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10-12-2007, 11:10 AM
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#9
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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Foster & Smith, Marinedepot, thatfishplace, ebay.....All are good places to find refractometers and as stated, Even the cheaper ones are fine.
I have found that almost every Hydrometer I have tested against a refractometer was off by .04 one way or another. Not a good thing. 
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I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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10-12-2007, 11:16 AM
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#10
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Shark
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,569
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i am going to take my water to that fish place tomorrow to get tested. I dont have tons of cash right now so i need to know if mine is off, which way, and how much
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10-12-2007, 11:29 AM
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#11
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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They should be able to calibrate it for you. That will get you by "for now" but get a refractometer as soon as possible. 
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I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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10-12-2007, 11:49 AM
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#12
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Lakeland, FL
Posts: 948
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I had 2 swing arms that were off by alot, went to refractomeer to finally get things accurate,
I do have a friend of mine that uses a swing arm and what we did was got his salinity right with my refracto and then uses the swing arm to see what it measured from that point and then just make new salt water matching that with his swing.
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10-12-2007, 03:07 PM
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#13
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Learn something every day
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Carson Valley Nevada
Posts: 564
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I learned from all of you that swing arms were not good from the very start. But what does everyone think of the floating thermometer / hydrometer style. I compared mine to a refractometer and they were only diff by .002. but you must take a sample of water out of the tank in a beaker and read it at the top of the meniscus to be accurate
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 Mike
VP Sierra Reefers Club
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10-12-2007, 03:44 PM
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#14
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 11,032
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most hobby refractometers are going to be 1-3 pts off as well if you simply use ro or ro/di water to calibrate them to zero. You need to use a calibration solution if you really want it exact
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Zoa and paly pics HERE
SPS pics HERE
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10-12-2007, 05:19 PM
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#15
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Shark
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: michigan
Posts: 2,675
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i always used distilled water to calibrate my refracto.... i think ill pick up somw calibration fluid next time i make an online order somewhere |
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