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Old June 6th 06, 06:09 PM posted to rec.aquaria.marine.reefs
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Default hydrometer dilemma

Two problems

First, the Deep Sea is about the worst I have seen or we have tested. Second SeaTest's
are fairly accurate based on all tests. The issue is proper care and maintenance, which
few do or understand. Being that it is 20 yeas old put it back in the trash and trash that
Deep Sea with it. Many like refracts, which I think work best for most but there are some
issues with these also. 100 % of those in this hobby are calibrated to NaCl , Table Salt
and Tabel salt _ IS NOT_Seawater. Saying that, they are no more accurate than a properly
maintained SeaTest but refracts are more user friendly, much less frustrating, easier to
maintain but still both read about .0015 SG or 1.5 ppt salinity to low. However, tests
have shown that those that buy the "blue" China hydrometer, that is by far the most common
in this hobby, really lucked out. There are NOT properly calibrated to their std. NaCl and
by absolute fluke are right on for NSW. They are sold on various web sites as RHS-10ATC
model number and look like the one half-way down this webpage

http://www.aquatics-online.co.uk/aca..._PRODUCTS.html

This is the only one that has been tested against NSW stds so far. If it is not this
"blue" model and is one of "black" cheap models we do not know where it is but _assume _it
reads .0015 SG or 1.5 ppt to low.

Roy mentioned Foster & Smith and they have it.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

Roy also mentioned Premium Aquatics and they have it also.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=Hydrometer

--
Boomer

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Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
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"Cindy" wrote in message
. com...
: I have a new Coralife Deep Six hydrometer that I've been using for the
: past year or so. But over the weekend I sorted through my trash can
: full of aquarium supplies, and found my old "The Original" Seatest
: hydrometer that I've had for probably 20 years.
: The Coralife reads 1.022, and the tank has been doing fine.
: The Seatest reads off the scale, well above 1.027! It's pretty simple,
: I don't see how it could have gotten screwed up sitting in a box? And
: my tanks did fine 20 years ago too.
: I'm going to take them both to the fish store and see what they say,
: but which one do I believe?
:
: Cindy