Do you trust your Hanna Alk Checker?

[Tamberav]

Yes because the readings always make sense based on the changes I made to my tank.

 

[Pistondog]

Trust but verify. I've had one fail with bad readings creeping low. Finally verified bad with a red sea kit. Replaced the egg.
Hanna is easy.

 

[Biglew11]

I read on here to keep the reagent in the fridge once open helps keep consistent readings

Haven't heard this but makes sense. Going to have to start doing this.

My hanna consistantly reads 1dkh higher than other test. So for getting consistent readings yes. But for accuracy I have to subtract 1dkh from what it reads.

 

[92Miata]

Well it seems the majority trust their Hanna alk checkers as for actual accuracy your guess is a good as mine lol

15% of people saying "This thing is a mess" shouldn't make you feel good about a test kit.

 

[punchy7080]

The reagents change drastically from batch to batch. I calibrate my trident and then test the calibration fluid with the Hanna as well. I’ve done this enough to trust the trident more than the Hanna. I use the trident as my baseline and adjust the Hanna results accordingly on all my other tanks.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Clue is in the title do you trust your Hanna alk checker ? Interested to see what the general thought is compared to a standard Alk test like salifert, Red Sea ect

if yes or no please state why in the comments below

Nope, The reagents are unstable - have to be used within 3 months to retain any accuracy and vary a lot between batches. If you're unlucky you can see a 0.6dkH difference between batches.

They're handy for a quick test, but salifert is much better.

 

[DHill6]

Yes I trust it. Testing newly mixed TM Pro salt mix reads 6.9-7. Where it has always mixed for years. Corals are happy, must be within 7-7.5 where I run it.

 

[DHill6]

Yes I trust it. Testing newly mixed TM Pro salt mix reads 6.9-7. Where it has always mixed for years. Corals are happy, must be within 7-7.5 where I run it.

I also calibrate using their standards once a year.

 

[Biglew11]

The reagents change drastically from batch to batch. I calibrate my trident and then test the calibration fluid with the Hanna as well. I’ve done this enough to trust the trident more than the Hanna. I use the trident as my baseline and adjust the Hanna results accordingly on all my other tanks.

I Haven't noticed the reagent drift, but testing the same calibration solution with the hanna and apex is how I discovered the discrepancy. I then tested the same solution with red sea and came up close to the apex.

I use the hanna to spot check if the apex might be drifting.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I also calibrate using their standards once a year.

If you mean the Hanna colored water cuvettes, just bear in mind that isn't really a standard. It should better be called an electronics diagnostic test,. It cannot tell you the test is working right on a water sample because the reagents or the procedures used may not work at all, and the "standard" will check out.

 

[truepercs]

Yes... However I think it takes a bottle or two for you to get a process down. If you are not careful you can contaminate the reagent . Usually you will notice it when switching to new bottle.

 

[homer1475]

Yup 100%

Tested the hanna against salifert I have used for years. After having many tests come back as equal, I trust the hanna as it's quite simple to use.

FWIW....
I have posted this many times over, but you do realize there are only 25 tests per bottle, but they give you 30ml of reagent?

Only time my readings were off is when I tried to use the last 5ml of reagent. I now mark my bottles, and throw them away after 25 tests regardless of how much reagent is left.

I also run my last test, and immediately run another test on a new bottle of reagent. They are always within error of the reader.

 

[Gtinnel]

Ok earlier in this thread I said that I trust my Hanna. Well yesterday I opened a new reagent bottle and started using it. I tested my tank water 3 times with my Red Sea pro and got 8.4 all 3 times. I then tested twice with the Hanna with the new reagent and got 8.9 both times.

So I decided to use a calibration solution that I had that was 8.45 and on the Red Sea I got 8.4. The Hanna gave me 8.9 again.

So I guess I agree that I don’t completely trust the accuracy and f my Hanna.

 

[DHill6]

If you mean the Hanna colored water cuvettes, just bear in mind that isn't really a standard. It should better be called an electronics diagnostic test,. It cannot tell you the test is working right on a water sample because the reagents or the procedures used may not work at all, and the "standard" will check out.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[punchy7080]

FWIW....
I have posted this many times over, but you do realize there are only 25 tests per bottle, but they give you 30ml of reagent?

Only time my readings were off is when I tried to use the last 5ml of reagent. I now mark my bottles, and throw them away after 25 tests regardless of how much reagent is left.

So the liquid reagent that has been mixed together in the bottle the whole time somehow realizes when there’s only 5ml left and then immediately gives different results?

 

[homer1475]

So the liquid reagent that has been mixed together in the bottle the whole time somehow realizes when there’s only 5ml left and then immediately gives different results?

No its to account for measurement errors. Like most things that are liquids, there is always a small bit of extra. Take the trident for example, extra reagent in the bottle, yet people try to use the last bit, and get wonky readings.

And we all know that as times goes on, the reagent doesn't report right. Same problem as using the last bit in the bottle.

 

[gbroadbridge]

So the liquid reagent that has been mixed together in the bottle the whole time somehow realizes when there’s only 5ml left and then immediately gives different results?

No, but the smaller volume oxidises faster, and also the products of oxidation since the bottle was opened settle to the bottom.

Given the shelf life of possibly 3 months once opened, not many would reach that point anyway.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok earlier in this thread I said that I trust my Hanna. Well yesterday I opened a new reagent bottle and started using it. I tested my tank water 3 times with my Red Sea pro and got 8.4 all 3 times. I then tested twice with the Hanna with the new reagent and got 8.9 both times.

So I decided to use a calibration solution that I had that was 8.45 and on the Red Sea I got 8.4. The Hanna gave me 8.9 again.

So I guess I agree that I don’t completely trust the accuracy and f my Hanna.

That sounds perhaps like a case of excessive expectations, not lack of proper function.

The Hanna checker only claims to be accurate to +/- 0.3 dKH:

Assuming the salifert is equally accurate, then any readings less than or equal to 0.6 dKH apart are fully within specifications for the same water.

 

[Gtinnel]

That sounds perhaps like a case of excessive expectations, not lack of proper function.

The Hanna checker only claims to be accurate to +/- 0.3 dKH:

Assuming the salifert is equally accurate, then any readings less than or equal to 0.6 dKH apart are fully within specifications for the same water.

Yea perhaps, just a little disappointing when always before my test kits for alkalinity always matched each other, even if not accurate they were at least consistent.