If there's one time of year to pick up our favorite salinity testing tool, now is the time! www.bulkreefsupply.com/black-friday/milwaukee-refractometer-don-t-fail-black-friday.html
I LOVE my Milwaukee digital Refractometer! I went through two different hand held ones (Cheap and Expensive) that just sucked to use. I calibrate my Milwaukee before every use and it never fails. The one and only complaint I have is that the battery compartment is really tight and I always worry that I might damage the cabling when I open it to change the battery. But the battery life is really really long so it is not a real issue in the end. I recommend to all my friends who get into the Marine part of the hobby to WASTE NO TIME and get one of these right from the start.
I really like mine I always tell people first calibrate then before use with only distilled water according to Milwaukee you can use Windex to clean the lens
I actually bought this a while back, thanks for the vid! One question, how many drops to put on the sensor? I see a bigger "puddle" when you use it compared to when I use it.. does that make a diff? Cheers! P.S Just ordered from you guys a Hanna Alk tester, my first order, won't be my last :))
The instructions state to "fill the well completely" if that helps. Generally speaking, we've found that as long as you cover the sensor, the results are pretty darn accurate.
I’m struggling calibrating mine. Tried rodi water purchased from two different lfs, tried distilled water keep getting the “Lo” reading. Looks like I’m going to have to order or try to find to order the replacement calibration fluids.
The LO reading means that the sample is reading lower than the 0 standard used for meter calibration. Before calibrating, make sure to clean off the prism as any salt residue can affect the calibration or reading.
People you have to read the directions this unit is designed to be calibrated with only and only distilled water do not calibrate it with RODI water do not do that I have talked to the guy at the company and he has also told me the same thing only distilled water to calibrate!!!!!!!!!!
As long as you zero the machine with the distilled/rodi solution first you should be good to go. There is a resolution within +/- 0.002 with the Milwaukee so a reading of 1.027 is still within that range. Just as long as you get consistent readings it's working just fine. :)
Same here. The tester always reads 1.026 or 1.027 with the solution. My lfs says to use your own rodi water to zero it out each time you use it. I always thought the issue had to do with temperature, but this video says the Milwaukee makes temperature adjustments. Very interesting!
I hated this thing, poor precision. Accuracy may be on, but with that low precision, that's kind of ridiculous. Hanna is hands down 10 times better IMO. Super easy and precise.
Mine sometimes reads a point off the thing is to keep the lens clean I always clean it with Windex that's what I was told to use you must be calibrated before each use that's what I always do and only distilled water
![Are Digital Refractometers Worth It? [Checking Your Reef's Salinity]](/img/n.gif)
If there's one time of year to pick up our favorite salinity testing tool, now is the time!
www.bulkreefsupply.com/black-friday/milwaukee-refractometer-don-t-fail-black-friday.html
As someone who struggles with their vision and using standard refractometers, this is a godsend!
I LOVE my Milwaukee digital Refractometer! I went through two different hand held ones (Cheap and Expensive) that just sucked to use. I calibrate my Milwaukee before every use and it never fails. The one and only complaint I have is that the battery compartment is really tight and I always worry that I might damage the cabling when I open it to change the battery. But the battery life is really really long so it is not a real issue in the end. I recommend to all my friends who get into the Marine part of the hobby to WASTE NO TIME and get one of these right from the start.
Thank you for the amazing videos!
I really like mine I always tell people first calibrate then before use with only distilled water according to Milwaukee you can use Windex to clean the lens
Also don’t forget to clean your pippette if you don’t salt crystals will remain and mess up the next reading, and get or 3D print a case.
You guys didn’t mention to buy the case for it, not buying the hard shell case to protect it...that’s a mistake
You could also keep it in the box that it came in as long as it's protected it's not a problem
Well done! That said, why are you using Centigrade (vs. Fahrenheit) measurements in the visuals in this video?
Celsius is the factory default setting. It can easily be changed to Fahrenheit if you wish.
I actually bought this a while back, thanks for the vid!
One question, how many drops to put on the sensor? I see a bigger "puddle" when you use it compared to when I use it.. does that make a diff? Cheers!
P.S Just ordered from you guys a Hanna Alk tester, my first order, won't be my last :))
The instructions state to "fill the well completely" if that helps. Generally speaking, we've found that as long as you cover the sensor, the results are pretty darn accurate.
@@BRStv Thanks!
can this be used for reading a saltwater pool reading?
Unsure on that one as we don't have any experience with saltwater pools.
I’m struggling calibrating mine. Tried rodi water purchased from two different lfs, tried distilled water keep getting the “Lo” reading. Looks like I’m going to have to order or try to find to order the replacement calibration fluids.
The LO reading means that the sample is reading lower than the 0 standard used for meter calibration. Before calibrating, make sure to clean off the prism as any salt residue can affect the calibration or reading.
People you have to read the directions this unit is designed to be calibrated with only and only distilled water do not calibrate it with RODI water do not do that I have talked to the guy at the company and he has also told me the same thing only distilled water to calibrate!!!!!!!!!!
@@dobermanguy9437What is the difference between rodi and distilled? They are both 0 tds
@@jgtheman84 distilled water is steamed Rodi is not the manufacturer told me only distilled water
@@dobermanguy9437 I know but the result is the same. 0 tds water. I use rodi to calibrate it.
Getting 1.027 with the checking solution.
Do I need to change anything
As long as you zero the machine with the distilled/rodi solution first you should be good to go. There is a resolution within +/- 0.002 with the Milwaukee so a reading of 1.027 is still within that range. Just as long as you get consistent readings it's working just fine. :)
Same here. The tester always reads 1.026 or 1.027 with the solution. My lfs says to use your own rodi water to zero it out each time you use it. I always thought the issue had to do with temperature, but this video says the Milwaukee makes temperature adjustments. Very interesting!
I hated this thing, poor precision. Accuracy may be on, but with that low precision, that's kind of ridiculous. Hanna is hands down 10 times better IMO. Super easy and precise.
Mine sometimes reads a point off the thing is to keep the lens clean I always clean it with Windex that's what I was told to use you must be calibrated before each use that's what I always do and only distilled water