Chemical Testing

KKaiser85 · Jul 5, 2016

*Full disclosure*

I work at Hanna Instruments. I am not a sales guy, but I have been working on the Hanna Instruments Marine Line and have since become very interested in this whole area.

A close friend of mine is hooking me up with some coral and I hope to have awesome pictures to show off in the coming weeks

For anyone wondering what those Checkers are,
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHjMrVxGgcZSOW0H9pLjnXYQo88f0b93a

But man these things are cool.

JimWelsh · Jul 5, 2016

Count me in!

twilliard · Jul 5, 2016

I use hanna alkalinity and calcium and have been for a few years now

d2mini · Jul 6, 2016

How about coming out with some checkers that don't suck? Besides Alk. That's the only one I feel like I can rely on.
The Phosphorous ULR is the only other one I will use and I get varied results. The powder is a pain to use.
For most things, liquid hobby kits are easier and more consistent.

KKaiser85 · Jul 7, 2016

d2mini said:
How about coming out with some checkers that don't suck? Besides Alk. That's the only one I feel like I can rely on.
The Phosphorous ULR is the only other one I will use and I get varied results. The powder is a pain to use.
For most things, liquid hobby kits are easier and more consistent.

Total bummer that you're getting varied results. Are you wiping the cuvettes you use? The majority of users I speak with have been using these Checkers for years with consistent results.
Other things to keep in mind,
The lid should be completely closed
The Checker should be on a flat surface

Hanna also offers validation kits for $11. In the event that your Checker is acting whacky, these kits will help you narrow down the problem.
The validation kits are Part# - 11. so HI755-11 or HI736-11

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 7, 2016

You should take back to them the feedback that people are unhappy with the calcium checkers. I've not used it or any of your checkers, but of them, the calcium clearly frustrates people the most.

twilliard · Jul 7, 2016

It is safe to say most all the errors in the calcium checker is user error is it not?
I have been using mine for quite some time now and I can get reliable results
Sure I don't complain if one says 440 and another says 450 as long as I am over 380 I am happy.

KKaiser85 · Jul 8, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You should take back to them the feedback that people are unhappy with the calcium checkers. I've not used it or any of your checkers, but of them, the calcium clearly frustrates people the most.

The negative feedback stems mostly from the fact that it requires such a small amount of sample (.1mL)
Hanna has since created a pipette specifically for the HI758 Calcium Kit so that sample is more easily extracted without the worry of tainting the result.

So far people have really appreciated it.

twilliard · Jul 8, 2016

KKaiser85 said:
The negative feedback stems mostly from the fact that it requires such a small amount of sample (.1mL)
Hanna has since created a pipette specifically for the HI758 Calcium Kit so that sample is more easily extracted without the worry of tainting the result.

So far people have really appreciated it.

Yes sir this indeed is the common error. It's 7 drops with the tip on

I just count the drops now

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 8, 2016

twilliard said:
It is safe to say most all the errors in the calcium checker is user error is it not?
I have been using mine for quite some time now and I can get reliable results
Sure I don't complain if one says 440 and another says 450 as long as I am over 380 I am happy.

I do not know, but if many users use it wrong, there is a design problem.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 8, 2016

KKaiser85 said:
The negative feedback stems mostly from the fact that it requires such a small amount of sample (.1mL)
Hanna has since created a pipette specifically for the HI758 Calcium Kit so that sample is more easily extracted without the worry of tainting the result.

So far people have really appreciated it.

I've yet to see positive comments, but I'll look for them.

jason2459 · Jul 8, 2016

I know a lot of people have really wanted a nitrate checker. I've had really good results and consistency with the Alk and PO4 checkers. I skipped trying out the calcium due to all the poor reviews on it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

KKaiser85 · Jul 8, 2016

jason2459 said:
I know a lot of people have really wanted a nitrate checker. I've had really good results and consistency with the Alk and PO4 checkers. I skipped trying out the calcium due to all the poor reviews on it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

You can check the new Calcium Checker Kit on Youtube. The channel is HannaInc

Those are my hands! HAHA

KKaiser85 · Jul 8, 2016

The HI758 Calcium Checker is a very picky piece of equipment, requiring a small amount of sample, deionized water, and proper amounts of reagent.

The new sample pipette is a game changer for those having a difficult time getting precisely .1mL of sample.

I tested with this Checker every day for a week and had incredibly accurate results... granted I was using instant ocean.. but consistent none the less

twilliard · Jul 8, 2016

I use the calcium checker.

I may be more meticulous than others but I get consistant results every time.
No odd ball reading at all.
I stand behind user error for results that are not normal.

Thor2j · Jul 8, 2016

KKaiser85 said:
You can check the new Calcium Checker Kit on Youtube. The channel is HannaInc

Those are my hands! HAHA

How to we make sure the kit we order has the new pipette in it?

ReefQueen · Jul 9, 2016

And how do those of us who already own one get ahold of the new pipette? I would be lying if I said I haven't gotten the 0.1 and 1.0 mixed up more then once lol.

KKaiser85 · Jul 11, 2016

Thor2j said:
How to we make sure the kit we order has the new pipette in it?

If you order an HI758 Kit, it will come with the new pipette.

I can't say for sure that's the case if you order form a third party source though

KKaiser85 · Jul 11, 2016

ReefQueen said:
And how do those of us who already own one get ahold of the new pipette? I would be lying if I said I haven't gotten the 0.1 and 1.0 mixed up more then once lol.

Unfortunately it isnt a stand alone product yet..

d2mini · Jul 13, 2016

This is kind of a random nitpicky question....
I just received the new dkh alk checker in the new black box.
I'm used to the old white box which is like half the size.
What was the reason for A)making them bigger (i do like that I can store a 10ml syringe in there now)
and B) the checker not fully recessing into it's spot?
As you can see in the pic above, the checker has to sit at a funny angle in order to close the lid.
And it just seems weird/wrong that the checker kinda floats instead of fitting all the way in to it's recess like in the old box.