Four different Hanna phosphate checkers!

[SteveG_inDC]

I tried searching and I've read a lot of threads about this, but most seem to be about different ways of measuring ultra-low range -- phosphorus vs. phosphate.
But there are actually four on the market: high range, low range, ultralow range phosphate, and ULR phosphorus. If you're starting a new reef tank and you want to stay on top of phosphates (and you want to use Hanna), how many $50 checkers do you need?

Obviously I'll need one for the range wherever I want/expect my parameters to hover, but what if my tank doesn't agree with me? Do I need one low range and one ultra low?
I actually have the low range one, 713 I believe, that I got used from another reefer , but the battery compartment was corroded and even with a fresh battery I can't get it to turn on. I also have reagent, but that's cheap. Do I replace it? Get an ULR? (If so, I'll read the threads about phosphorus vs. phosphate). Thanks in advance.

 

[Biglew11]

Just one, either the ulr phosphate or the ulr phosphorous, using the ulr phosphorous requires just a little math to convert phosphorous to phosphates. we try to keep phosphates between .03-.1 ppm. if it gets higher than this you need to decrease it, if its outside the range of the meter you still know you need to decrease it.

 

[schuby]

I use the Hanna ULR in ppm (HI774). It displays in the unit that I want to know, ppm, in the range that I target, 0.1 - 0.2 ppm).

If you plan to run phosphate extremely close to zero ( <= 0.05ppm, very dangerous to a reef IMO), then the Hanna ULR in ppb is more accurate (just have to convert to ppm using their conversion table). You'll be able to know with fairly good certainty that running zero/near-zero phosphate is why all your SPS died and now you have dinos.

 

[nereefpat]

Just one, either the ulr phosphate or the ulr phosphorous, using the ulr phosphorous requires just a little math to convert phosphorous to phosphates. we try to keep phosphates between .03-.1 ppm. if it gets higher than this you need to decrease it, if its outside the range of the meter you still know you need to decrease it.

I agree with just one of the ULR. I like the phosphorous that reads in ppb, but I've been told that the newer ULR phosphate works well too.

The other ranges are not useful to us as reefkeepers, unless your phosphate levels are kept way too high.

 

[Donseas]

I just purchased the HI774 Phosphate URL I have been getting reading from my Red Sea Phosphate pro kit .08-.12 I tested with the Hanna . It did not do a 3 min countdown and gave me .28 reading in like 5 sec. Is this normal.

 

[hds4216]

I also have HI774 I recommend it.

 

[StlSalt]

I just purchased the HI774 Phosphate URL I have been getting reading from my Red Sea Phosphate pro kit .08-.12 I tested with the Hanna . It did not do a 3 min countdown and gave me .28 reading in like 5 sec. Is this normal.

You have to hold the button down until the 3 minute timer starts.

 

[StlSalt]

Oh and it shuts off after 10 minutes. Don't get distracted and forget to read it after 3 minutes. I may or may not know this from experience several times. I set a 3 minute timer on my phone for an audible alert.

 

[schuby]

I just purchased the HI774 Phosphate URL I have been getting reading from my Red Sea Phosphate pro kit .08-.12 I tested with the Hanna . It did not do a 3 min countdown and gave me .28 reading in like 5 sec. Is this normal.

No. You must shake for 2 minutes and then wait 3 more minutes. To get the 3-minute count-down, hold the button for a few seconds until the count-down starts.

 

[Donseas]

Holding the button till timer started worked. Still getting .29 I guess i need to work on getting it lower. Should I be aiming for .08

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I just purchased the HI774 Phosphate URL I have been getting reading from my Red Sea Phosphate pro kit .08-.12 I tested with the Hanna . It did not do a 3 min countdown and gave me .28 reading in like 5 sec. Is this normal.

It is not "normal" for tests to not agree to that extent, but I do not know which (if either) is giving an accurate answer.

 

[Saltfishlover]

Do I need to use the ulr reagents with the ulr tester? Or can I use low range reagents in a ulr tester?

 

[Scorpius]

Do I need to use the ulr reagents with the ulr tester? Or can I use low range reagents in a ulr tester?

You need the correct reagent made for your specific Hanna Checker. You can't mix and match them.

 

[Uncle99]

Phosphorus is the one I trust.
It’s in PPB, so can “see” that trace amount where others show 0.

 

[Reef.]

Why is it so hard to get a PO4 test that people trust and also be accurate.

Just working out which Hanna to buy is a job in itself, once you decide which to buy, don’t read any reviews or you will be totally lost again.

 

[Scorpius]

Why is it so hard to get a PO4 test that people trust and also be accurate.

Just working out which Hanna to buy is a job in itself, once you decide which to buy, don’t read any reviews or you will be totally lost again.

Thats because Hanna Checkers require strict adherence to the directions.

 

[Reef.]

Thats because Hanna Checkers require strict adherence to the directions.

Some will argue they do that and still get bad readings, should it be that hard to do a PO4 test anyway?

I guess we each need to buy one to decide for ourselves as the reviews don’t help.

 

[Scorpius]

Some will argue they do that and still get bad readings, should it be that hard to do a PO4 test anyway?

I guess we each need to buy one to decide for ourselves as the reviews don’t help.

Like I said, strict adherence. A smudge on the cuvette is all it takes to skew the final result.

 

[danieyella]

I use the ulr phosphorus in conjunction with this chart because I don't feel like doing math on my own.

https://www.hannainst.com/hubfs/006...phate-conversion-table--hanna-instruments.pdf

 

[Reef.]

Like I said, strict adherence. A smudge on the cuvette is all it takes to skew the final result.

I can be very OCD when needed.