Guess what's coming in the mail?

[glb]

Well, I've been doing saltwater for four years and want to start using better equipment. My first splurge? A Hanna checker alk test. It comes tomorrow! I really want to take my tank to the next level and I know from all I've read here how important high quality equipment is. I'll post a pic tomorrow!

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Awesome! Let us know how you like it!

 

[glb]

My new toy!

 

[glb]

I love it! I have a few questions. Does anyone else use this one?

 

[mcarroll]

I have quite a bit. I liked it.

In case you didn't already figure this out in research before buying....

If it's your first optical meter, don't waste materials in testing before you read directions and watch their videos on using the kit properly. There are some very different considerations for the user in a kit like this (some even specific to this particular test) vs drip tests. Especially keeping the vials absolutely spotless and scratch-free. Unless you have something similar, buying one of their cleaning cloths isn't a bad idea if you want to favor the longevity of the glass.

Luckily, due to the liquid reagent, alkalinity may be the easiest of their kits to operate so it's a great one to start with IMO! (Out of the common ones, phosphate meters would be next hardest with calcium being the most difficult to operate correctly. With practice, I liked em all though.)

Hope this helps!

-Matt

 

[glb]

I have quite a bit. I liked it.

In case you didn't already figure this out in research before buying....

If it's your first optical meter, don't waste materials in testing before you read directions and watch their videos on using the kit properly. There are some very different considerations for the user in a kit like this (some even specific to this particular test) vs drip tests. Especially keeping the vials absolutely spotless and scratch-free. Unless you have something similar, buying one of their cleaning cloths isn't a bad idea if you want to favor the longevity of the glass.

Luckily, due to the liquid reagent, alkalinity may be the easiest of their kits to operate so it's a great one to start with IMO! (Out of the common ones, phosphate meters would be next hardest with calcium being the most difficult to operate correctly. With practice, I liked em all though.)

Hope this helps!

-Matt

Yes it did! Thanks so much! One other question. I watched videos on YouTube about how to use it. Some used the pipette on the 1ml syringe and some didn't. I tried it both ways and my results were 5ppm apart, which is within their accuracy parameters. Any thoughts?

 

[DSP]

Nice! Good to have a quality alk test kit like that.Let us know how you like it

 

[mcarroll]

That piece might take a little doin'.

Mine came a little squished so it didn't make a good, airtight seal on the syringe.

I thought they changed the inner tray to prevent this on newer kits, but if your is even slightly misshapen (out of round) form it back to a circle with your hands and/or us plenty if force to mount the tip on the syringe to assure an airtight fit. Any air leakage will throw off your reading.

Once you get it working right (shouldn't be too hard once you see what's wrong), it does work better than a plain syringe or tip - I believe due to the non-wetting nature of the type of plastic it keeps virtually no reagent residue yielding a very precise measurement. (If you can't get it to work, call Hanna to see if they'll ship an undeformed tip.)

Hope this helps!

-Matt

 

[Jay6363]

Following

 

[glb]

That piece might take a little doin'.

Mine came a little squished so it didn't make a good, airtight seal on the syringe.

I thought they changed the inner tray to prevent this on newer kits, but if your is even slightly misshapen (out of round) form it back to a circle with your hands and/or us plenty if force to mount the tip on the syringe to assure an airtight fit. Any air leakage will throw off your reading.

Once you get it working right (shouldn't be too hard once you see what's wrong), it does work better than a plain syringe or tip - I believe due to the non-wetting nature of the type of plastic it keeps virtually no reagent residue yielding a very precise measurement. (If you can't get it to work, call Hanna to see if they'll ship an undeformed tip.)

Hope this helps!

-Matt

Thanks. I figured the pipette would expel all the reagent so I'll use it. I can't believe how easy this test is. I love it! I bought alk first because that's the thing that fluctuates the most in my tank and I also found the liquid tests hard to read. Next I may buy phosphates. Do they have a hanna tester for nitrates yet. I know they have a bigger one but it is very expensive. That one I'd definitely buy.

 

[glb]

Does the pipette screw on or just push it on?

 

[mcarroll]

Mine is slip fit. Looks like yours is too from the pic.

-Matt

 

[glb]

Well today I'm going to do an experiment. I'm going to test alk with API, Red Sea and Hanna and see how different they are. Results to follow!

 

[glb]

Ok here are the results.

Hanna: 172ppm=3.44meq/l=9.6dkh
API: 161ppm=3.2meq/l=9dkh
Red Sea: 115ppm=2.3meq/l=6.4dkh

Very interesting. I assume the Hanna is the most accurate but I'm surprised that API was closer than Red Sea. I think it's because you have to guess along a color range for Red Sea. I'd be interested in everyone's thoughts!

 

[mcarroll]

Well, of course comparing kits isn't really the point, and can be like comparing apples and oranges.

Having said that, I was able to match results with my Salifert kit very closely once I got good with the Hanna kit.

I would use the other kits not as a 1:1:1 comparison, but just as a sanity check to make sure you are getting consistent results with the Hanna.

I'm a little suspicious about the large gap in results of the API and Red Sea (Pro or old school?) kits too, FWIW. I think that gap is too large to be explained only by the difference in the kits....is one old maybe?

-Matt

 

[glb]

Well, of course comparing kits isn't really the point, and can be like comparing apples and oranges.

Having said that, I was able to match results with my Salifert kit very closely once I got good with the Hanna kit.

I would use the other kits not as a 1:1:1 comparison, but just as a sanity check to make sure you are getting consistent results with the Hanna.

I'm a little suspicious about the large gap in results of the API and Red Sea (Pro or old school?) kits too, FWIW. I think that gap is too large to be explained only by the difference in the kits....is one old maybe?

-Matt

I agree. I just did the comparison out of curiosity. The Red Sea wasn't the pro one and you have to guess on a range, so my guess is I read it wrong. The API is older than the Red Sea. I'm just glad I have the Hanna now because it's precise and I can closely monitor now. I'll buy the hanna phosphate one next. I really want to take my husbandry skills to the next level and having reliable tests is part of that.