Does Hanna alk reagent need to be refrigerated?

Miami Reef · Jul 30, 2023

Does the Hanna alkalinity reagent need to be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the readings from showing too high?

shootingstar_reef · Jul 30, 2023

I don't believe so, it is not recommended by Hanna and it's not reactive by itself so I can't think of a reason it would need to be kept at colder temperatures. Powdered chemicals are kept at RT all the time.

Townes_Van_Camp · Jul 30, 2023

Dan_P · Jul 30, 2023

Miami Reef said:
Does the Hanna alkalinity reagent need to be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the readings from showing too high?

I think the refrigeration minimizes solvent evaporation which increases the concentration of the reagent, making it appear there is less alkalinity in the sample.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 30, 2023

Miami Reef said:
Does the Hanna alkalinity reagent need to be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the readings from showing too high?

Room temperature

KrisReef · Jul 30, 2023

I don’t leave the reagent open any longer than I have to. I draw the syringe full and then put the cap back on before I continue with the process. I have been getting good results since I started doing this.

killer2001 · Jul 30, 2023

If you use the entire bottle within a couple of weeks, room temperature is fine. However, if it takes you longer, you may want to refrigerate. Every bottle I've kept at room temperature (77*F) always ends up reporting lower values than what they actually are, this causes you to increase your Alk if you are not aware of this.

This has happened to me a couple times before I realized it was time to refrigerate. I would get to the end of the bottle, get low readings and increase my Alkalinity accordingly, the new bottle would come in and it would read way higher than the old bottle. I would then buy another new bottle with a different batch # and get the same results as the other new bottle, and the old bottle would still yield low numbers.

Now that I refrigerate the product, I get the same values (~0.1 difference) as my old refrigerated bottle versus a brand new bottle.

Rmckoy · Jul 30, 2023

There has been threads and comments here about it and even suggested by some to refrigerate others say to store
At room temp and always shake well before using .

I have noticed the last half of the reagent always tests higher . And when I notice it I order a new bottle

billyocean · Jul 30, 2023

Refrigerate..not even up for debate. Shake before using, don't leave it open long, Refrigerate. Numbers will stay on point if you follow that and it keeps accuracy

Big E · Jul 31, 2023

My opinion is the reagent is garbage. There is no consistency........I've had bottles that were exact same switching from old to new bottle un-refrigerated & others that were not.

I did the refrigerater deal for a spell and it does seem to help but eventually it still degrades before I get through a bottle.

I'll stick to Salifert as it's consistent for me. Hannah has always read about .5 or so less.
I have a procedure for Salifert that I can duplicate and it's consistent.

I've never had a problem reading colors and when I heard Craig Bingham say the human eye is probably more accurate than the reader in those hannah detectors it sold me.

Salifert more tests, cheaper price...........what's not to like?

Miami Reef · Jul 31, 2023

I actually decided against the Hanna, and chose the Salifert yesterday. Same reason. More accurate and cheaper.

revhtree · Jul 31, 2023

So what's the verdict here?

piranhaman00 · Jul 31, 2023

I switched back to salifert

billyocean · Jul 31, 2023

revhtree said:
So what's the verdict here?

If you use hanna...refrigerate it.

Miami Reef · Jul 31, 2023

@Lasse

KStatefan · Jul 31, 2023

I have been storing mine it the refrigerator since @Lasse wrote his post. I have bought a six pack fridge for my work bench so it is at my test station.

Doctorgori · Jul 31, 2023

billyocean said:
Refrigerate..not even up for debate. Shake before using, don't leave it open long, Refrigerate. Numbers will stay on point if you follow that and it keeps accuracy

I dunno, I’ve had less issues since doing the fridge thing…. Endorse…

Miami Reef said:
@Lasse

just in case I’ll use the Bat phone @Lasse

Reefer Matt · Jul 31, 2023

I don't store it in the fridge. I swirl the reagent bottle everytime before use. Never had a problem in the three years I have had the tester.

hart24601 · Jul 31, 2023

billyocean said:
If you use hanna...refrigerate it.

I agree. I started doing this and readings have been rock solid for 3 vials. Before they would get unreliable near the end of the vial. I even used one vial for months keeping in fridge and it was spot on compared to a new vial on the last test.

Im sold on keeping them in the fridge.

codenfx · Jul 31, 2023

hart24601 said:
I agree. I started doing this and readings have been rock solid for 3 vials. Before they would get unreliable near the end of the vial. I even used one vial for months keeping in fridge and it was spot on compared to a new vial on the last test.

Im sold on keeping them in the fridge.

Same here. I keep in the fridge now.