How to read refractometer

[Joshua W. Lee]

My link

 

I bought this refractometer through Amazon.com and yesterday I've got this.

When I test it I realized that it is unusual but something different diameter. Look very simple but I don't know what diameter says.

 

Please let me understand it. I just need how much salt I need to put my tank. :'(

Edited September 6, 2012 by Joshua W. Lee

[Origami]

Unfortunately, you bought a brix refractometer. I'm not sure how it's calibrated to seawater. You need one that reads in ppt and/or specific gravity (sg).

[Happyfeet]

I'm not exactly sure what you just said... and the website you linked is blocked by my firewall listing it as "Porn"... soo yeah

 

That aside, if your trying to read a refractometer it's pretty simple. A refractometer just measures the degree light is bent while passing through the sample.

 

 

Now to read a refractometer you simple focus your refractometer by rotating the eye lens to the right or left until the the line created by light passing through the liquid is clearly visible as a blue color in the top of view and a white color in the bottom of the view. The bottom of the blue line is your current salinity.

 

Remember if your reading Salinity to use the numbers on the right side of the viewer that read as 10, 20, 30, 40 etc

 

The numbers on the left side of the viewer designate the current Specific Gravity and read as 1.010, 1.020, 1.030 etc

 

They both measure the same thing just in different units. I find it's easier to keep track using Specific Gravity instead of Salinity.

 

 

Edit* just saw Oragami's post

 

Here you go

Specifc Gravity / Brix

1.023 / 5.82

1.024 / 6.07

1.025 / 6.32

1.026 / 6.57

1.027 / 6.81

1.028 / 7.06

1.029 / 7.30

1.030 / 7.55

Edited September 6, 2012 by Happyfeet

[Origami]

Thanks, Happyfeet.

 

Joshua, read this:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-12/rhf/index.php#15

 

It says, "A Brix refractometer that reads 0 to 10 % Brix with a resolution of 0.1% Brix might be a fine choice for determining seawater salinity in a reef aquarium, (although they are not inexpensive). Some Brix refractometers have a resolution of 0.5 % Brix or even 1% Brix, and they would not be suitable choices. "

 

It looks like you're refractometer reads from 0 to 32% brix and that the resolution is down to around 0.2% or maybe 0.25% (the image is blurry). It still may not be suitable for reefing because of this. There are other refractometers to be had from ebay for less than $20 that would be better suited for this hobby.

 

The link you posted was blocked by my firewall, too. It was characterized as "games." I got to it using my phone.

[Joshua W. Lee]

Unfortunately, you bought a brix refractometer. I'm not sure how it's calibrated to seawater. You need one that reads in ppt and/or specific gravity (sg).

 

Thank you. But I don't want to buy any another one.

[Joshua W. Lee]

I'm not exactly sure what you just said... and the website you linked is blocked by my firewall listing it as "Porn"... soo yeah

 

That aside, if your trying to read a refractometer it's pretty simple. A refractometer just measures the degree light is bent while passing through the sample.

 

 

Now to read a refractometer you simple focus your refractometer by rotating the eye lens to the right or left until the the line created by light passing through the liquid is clearly visible as a blue color in the top of view and a white color in the bottom of the view. The bottom of the blue line is your current salinity.

 

Remember if your reading Salinity to use the numbers on the right side of the viewer that read as 10, 20, 30, 40 etc

 

The numbers on the left side of the viewer designate the current Specific Gravity and read as 1.010, 1.020, 1.030 etc

 

They both measure the same thing just in different units. I find it's easier to keep track using Specific Gravity instead of Salinity.

 

 

Edit* just saw Oragami's post

 

Here you go

Specifc Gravity / Brix

1.023 / 5.82

1.024 / 6.07

1.025 / 6.32

1.026 / 6.57

1.027 / 6.81

1.028 / 7.06

1.029 / 7.30

1.030 / 7.55

 

Thank you.

So If I want to put salt that measure around 1.023 / 5.82 then I think I have to measure my refractometer on 5.82. Mine has only 0-30% Brix scale.

Do you think I am right?

[Origami]

Here's your refractometer image from your link.

 

 

Good luck with it. Personally, I think you'd be better off using a cheap hydrometer over something whose resolution would inevitably lead to inaccurate measurements. After all, you buy a refractometer for precision and calibrate it for accuracy.

[Happyfeet]

Thank you.

So If I want to put salt that measure around 1.023 / 5.82 then I think I have to measure my refractometer on 5.82. Mine has only 0-30% Brix scale.

Do you think I am right?

 

Origami said you had a resolution of .2% so while it's not ideal, it's better than a hydrometer most of us started out with. Depending on what you plan on keeping in your tank I agree with Origami and you could pick up a relatively cheap refractometer off Ebay which will do exactly what you need.

 

In the meantime yes, you could. I'd suggest trying to get as close to 6% as you could(It would probably be easier to measure than 5.82% and would make for a more consistant environment)

 

 

*Edit,

That thing looks like a nightmare good luck =)

Edited September 6, 2012 by Happyfeet

[Joshua W. Lee]

THANK YOU ALL.

 

I'VE RETURN THIS. THEY GET ME BACK 80% MONEY ONLY BUT I THINK BETTER THAN KEEP THIS.

 

SO I'LL BUY ANOTHER ONE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE I CAN BUY THIS FOR $20.00.

 

 

THANK YOU AGAIN.

[Origami]

Examples:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Biding-RHS-10ATC-Salinity-Aquarium-Refractometer-new-/300775030914?pt=BI_Cellular_Optical_Television_Test_Equipment&hash=item460796c082

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Salinity-Portable-Refractometer-Meter-0-10-Salt-Water-Aquarium-w-ATC-/170903647348?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27caa6b474

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-Portable-Refractometer-RHS-10ATC-/130760304640?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e71ebe800

 

 

Used:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marine-Depot-Refractometer-/140841585631?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20cad00bdf

[Origami]

By the way, pick up some 1.0264 sg refractometer calibration solution, too, and calibrate the refractometer. It may read correctly out of the box, but sometimes they don't. It's good practice to check and maintain confidence in the accuracy of any of our test & measurement equipment (including our test kits).