digital vs naked eye you decide

[Aqua-Digital]

I have seen readings as far out as 5mS and more, it varies depending depending on the mineral content of the (wrong) solution you have used.

[sphelps]

Well if you're using a calibration solution for a digital meter anyway then you can certainly do the same for a refractometer. No matter what kind of refractometer you have if you calibrate with a NSW solution at the same range you keep your tank then you will have no accuracy issues and you don't have to calibrate it every time you use it. You really can't say this digital meter will be more accurate, that's just not accurate information and unethical marketing. All you can say is that rather having to read a gauge you get a digital read out which to me seems hardly worth while as refractometers are very easy to read.

[Aqua-Digital]

Originally Posted by sphelps

that's just not accurate information and unethical marketing.

Erm??? Not quite sure why you are getting upset over this, the thread is asking for users input in a new product and its viability, nobody is marketing anything. We are asking for feedback of a potential new product not askiing you to believe some marketing hype.

That being said, a prism refractometer is only as accurate as its calibration (same as a digital unit) however there is no risk of human miss read error with digital.

I am looking for balanced debate for and against nothing more, in other words what would make people switch?

Based on everyones feedback that is relevant to the original question we can then decide the market potential of this product.

[sphelps]

I'm not debating marketing or getting upset, just stating I don't see any valuable gains to such a product and my reasons why as per your request. I wasn't stating you were being unethical or marketing the product but it seems the main advantage here is accuracy and not convenience however it should be clear that the gained accuracy is from human error alone not that refractometers are inaccurate which is a conclusion people tend to make whether it was stated exactly that way or not. That's all I wanted to say, there are many similar products out there now and all being marketed with the claim our refractometers aren't accurate which is just isn't true. If I'm given the opportunity to stop another product from making such claims I will do so.

[jorjef]

Even if the reading is a few points out does it really matter??.. Using the same testing tool, match tank water with new water change water, adjust if needed and add to tank... I would never by a digital ...... hand grenade and horse shoes.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Aqua-Digital

a prism refractometer is only as accurate as its calibration (same as a digital unit) however there is no risk of human miss read error with digital.

Exactly however unlike other testing equipment refractrometers don't require the hopeless attempt of matching a color to another set that all look the same So digital kits like Hanna are quite valuable and are not overly more expensive. A typical refractometer costs around $60 and IMO are easy to read, the difference between blue and white is noticeable and the line is very defined. So the question is how much more does one have to pay to eliminate the so called difficult task of reading a refractometer?

[Aqua-Digital]

we estimate based on us in charge of manufacture about $45.00

The pro to this in our view is

Easy of calibration no requirement to find a good NSW solution
Ease of reading.

[subman]

If the pricing is similar to a good refractometer and I didn't already have one I would probably go with a digital one, but I wouldn't replace my refractometer with one just because.

[jorjef]

Everyone's head is pointy enough already, why make it worse with a new gadget.

[sphelps]

I would agree with ease of reading but that's about it. Despite the fact it won't require a specific kind of calibration fluid you will still need a verified fluid so that's really a moot point. Price sounds compatible which is good but really what will kill this product is the constant need for calibration, unless you can insure reasonable accuracy using RO water for calibration fluid it's ultimately doomed to fail. A hobbyist will always need a supply of calibration fluid, if it is lost, spilled or contaminated the meter is useless until more fluid can be purchased. For something that is typically used all the time, often in emergency situations it just doesn't sound reliable enough.