Rmckoy
7500 Club Member
Does each test use hanna reagent separately ?
Ammonia levels
- Thread starter Crystal08
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Crystal08
Active Member
Yes everything comes with it to test. But every test is run separately with its own instructions. The machine walks you through every step though. Tells you exactly how much to use and set the timers. I wish it was as easy as one test to tell you everything though
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Rmckoy
7500 Club Member
Wow …..
Thinking of it now .
the initial cost is crazy but it would easily have cost the same buying each kit separately
How do you like the nitrate and calcium kit ?
Is it the same pain in the butt as the other Hanna nitrate and calcium kits ?
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Crystal08
Active Member
Before I bought it I priced what it would cost if I bought the 9 individual checkers and it was around $680. So it was cheaper to buy the one machine but if you didn’t need some of the testers it would obviously be less. I got it on the Hanna website and if you give them your email you can get 10% off which was $45 so worth it. I haven’t ran those tests yet but the machine gives you step by step instructions as you go
Rmckoy
7500 Club Member
when you do . Either compare or just your review of the kit and process please .
I have stayed with salifert just for the reason of reading reviews and complaints here.
I bought the nitrate kit and it was the biggest pain ever !
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Crystal08
Active Member
Ok so the nitrate test was easy. The calcium test was a little bit more involved because you needed distilled water and the saltwater sample was tiny. I may have added too much saltwater to the cuvette. My calcium said 507 which is higher than it should be I believe. Alk was 9.6 nitrate HR was 5.3 and my ph was 7.6 which is low right? Should I worry about the ph? I opened the door next to the tank to let fresh air in and I’m going to recheck it in an hour
It will take a day or two for fresh air to make much of a difference. Don't sweat pH... keep alk good and forget about it. If you do want to worry about pH, get a digital pH pen since the water test kits are not all that accurate. On the good side, the fresh air will help the humans and other animals in your home too.
507 calcium is high, but don't sweat it... it will come down on it's own when stuff start to use it.
507 calcium is high, but don't sweat it... it will come down on it's own when stuff start to use it.
The pH is not likely 7.6. It is more likely that the test is off. It might be at 7.8, which is no problem. Much below that and calcium carbonate will start to dissolve and buffer the tank. You can do more damage chasing pH than ignoring it. ...especially when airborne co2 in the room affects pH more than anything else - assuming that you have good gas exchange with good surface movement or a protein skimmer.
That tester does look cool. If I wasn't already invested in Hanna testers that I need, alk, ulr phosphate and high range nitrate I'd consider one. I'm kinda new compared to many (7-8 yrs) but I don't even own an ammonia or nitrite test kit. I. Have a pH tester but couldn't tell you the last time I used it. I figure pH is pretty much out of my control so I don't test unless things are looking bad.
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Crystal08
Active Member
I do have a protein skimmer and the water surface movement is good. Ok thanks for your help. I’ll leave it alone. I’m trying not to intervene unless I have to. I think Mother Nature knows way better than me lol
The fresh air is still a good idea. Excess co2 is not good for humans or pets either, so there is no harm. There is more than co2 that you remove.
Rmckoy
7500 Club Member
This is great ! Im glad those 2 kits were not too big of a hassle .
The old nitrate kit was a pain , but I believe they made a new one to replace it . Or a different range that’s easier to use . The older calcium kit is a pain with many different steps required to complete the test .
and why I haven’t bought one or personally tried it .
ph …. It will naturally fluctuate from day to night .
I would assume as long as you are not a hermit and doors or windows get opened every so Often . I’d assume ph is ok
higher c02 is the main factor for effecting ph .
vanguard
Active Member
You're doing great and I like your tester. Like so many things in life it's "buy it nice or buy it twice".
Based on the things you've bought so far, you might like the neptune apex system with the trident tester. I'm so deep in the automation stuff at this point if it doesn't work with neptune it doesn't work for me. I'm done with having six different controllers for lights, power, etc. (Ok, I'm not actually done, I just wish I was.
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You have your answer about ammonia. My cheap test kit goes from 0 to .25 so I wouldn't even notice .09. I did have a spike when the tank was a few months old. A snail died. It's possible to have an ammonia issue in a small tank but you don't have one right now.
I disagree that a PH of 7.6 is fine. I'd restest it (recalibrate?) and figure out why you're so low if you get repeatable results. The hobby level test kits we all use are not to be fully trusted so don't react to the first bonkers result you see. Confirm then react.
Based on the things you've bought so far, you might like the neptune apex system with the trident tester. I'm so deep in the automation stuff at this point if it doesn't work with neptune it doesn't work for me. I'm done with having six different controllers for lights, power, etc. (Ok, I'm not actually done, I just wish I was.
)You have your answer about ammonia. My cheap test kit goes from 0 to .25 so I wouldn't even notice .09. I did have a spike when the tank was a few months old. A snail died. It's possible to have an ammonia issue in a small tank but you don't have one right now.
I disagree that a PH of 7.6 is fine. I'd restest it (recalibrate?) and figure out why you're so low if you get repeatable results. The hobby level test kits we all use are not to be fully trusted so don't react to the first bonkers result you see. Confirm then react.
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Crystal08
Active Member
I didn’t do the nitrate LR test yet so I’m not sure how hard that one is. The tank is in the kitchen near the back door and it gets open pretty often to let our dogs out. I think i will try to retest but I didn’t want to do anything if i needed really need too
OP
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Crystal08
Active Member
I will retest just Incase. But if it is still low what would you recommend I do to fix it?You're doing great and I like your tester. Like so many things in life it's "buy it nice or buy it twice".
Based on the things you've bought so far, you might like the neptune apex system with the trident tester. I'm so deep in the automation stuff at this point if it doesn't work with neptune it doesn't work for me. I'm done with having six different controllers for lights, power, etc. (Ok, I'm not actually done, I just wish I was.
You have your answer about ammonia. My cheap test kit goes from 0 to .25 so I wouldn't even notice .09. I did have a spike when the tank was a few months old. A snail died. It's possible to have an ammonia issue in a small tank but you don't have one right now.
I disagree that a PH of 7.6 is fine. I'd restest it (recalibrate?) and figure out why you're so low if you get repeatable results. The hobby level test kits we all use are not to be fully trusted so don't react to the first bonkers result you see. Confirm then react.
Rmckoy
7500 Club Member
H1781 is the lr nitrate kit I have and it’s a huge pain …..
First and most confusing part is you need to know your nitrate level of greater than it less than 5 ppm to choose which test method you need to do .
One method and can’t remember which one requires a fresh batch of saltwater with known zero nitrates for a step of the test which seams silly . Why would I want to test if I knew .
needless to say, I had to wipe the dust off the kit before taking a picture of it .
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