Hanna Alk reagent issues

[twilliard]

I'm glad you showed us how to used the Hanna kit properly. That should solve all of out problems. Oh wait, it didn't. the reason why it didn't is because there is clearly an issue with the reagent as it nears the end of the bottle. Perhaps it settles a bit and needs to be shaken more then normal, perhaps it something else. Either way this is an issue that has occurred with different people at different times and with different reagent Lot#'s. If this was 1 person sure I'll give the benefit of the doubt, but at least 3 here has had this issue and on the other site there are several more with the exact same problem. Heck, apparently even Hanna has acknowledged the issue.

That said, I invite you to read this whole thread again and ask yourself at what point did your teaching us seem warranted.

Wow testy!
Calm her down cowboy
Anger or outrage solves nothing.
I show a process and this is what I get? Then tell me to go back and read the thread?
Please don't underestimate my knowledge

 

[tcoyle]

Twillard, your explanation of how you test was helpful, but not in this context. It's not a problem of our procedure, but something with reagents. What lot number are yours from?

 

[twilliard]

Thank you the lot numbers are 5489, 5341
At times I do find that stuff starts to accumulate at the bottom and never figured out what it is

 

[jduck]

Your reagent is brown/orange?

 

[twilliard]

Your reagent is brown/orange?

Who is this directed to?

 

[jduck]

Who is this directed to?

 

[tcoyle]

Yeah Twillard, what color is your reagent? I just got off the phone with Hanna and he had the same question regarding your picture.

 

[twilliard]

Yeah Twillard, what color is your reagent? I just got off the phone with Hanna and he had the same question regarding your picture.

Sorry that was shot with my sigma 90mm macro and got a slight angle change on it.
I can re shoot the reagents if you want me to but they are the same color

 

[tcoyle]

For the record… My last email with Hanna was responded to very professionally. They are sending me 2 new reagents and want me to send back my half used bottle for testing. They have not been made aware of any issues like this in the past, but seem to have had a bad lot of reagents out there. That is why he asked about the color of the reagent. If you have a light green (lime green) color and NOT the usual dark green (forest green) color then you might want to contact them. They are also sending me out the calibration kit when they get more in to verify that my checker is within spec.

 

[leocom2000]

Don't store the reagent bottle on its side. I used to store it in the Hanna container and it always leaked. Even if you store it upright for a long time, the concentration changes. That is just something Hanna has to address.

 

[twilliard]

Don't store the reagent bottle on its side. I used to store it in the Hanna container and it always leaked. Even if you store it upright for a long time, the concentration changes. That is just something Hanna has to address.

I learned this early on.
There is a solution to this.
Cut out the inside rim of the bottle and leave the rest of the plastic on the rim.
This solves the evaporation issue and solves storing it horizontal

 

[jgraz]

For what its worth here are my findings and pics from my old and new test.
New on the left, old on the right. the old reagent has been opened for at least 3 months now and is just about out. Drawn up reagent colors appear identical.

Both mixed with tank water. Color still appears to be dead on.

Reading on old reagent

Reading on new reagent

Well, I'm happy. That's not to say I still believe there is/was an issue out there as it did happen to me with my last change of reagents. One things that I do now though is to give the bottle a little shake to mix it up before each use. Nothing vigorous just a little swish. That is something I did not do prior to this bottle.

On the leaking bottle issue, Hanna does really need to address that. to not have a bottle that can't seal shut is really unacceptable. The case for the checker is built to store the bottle on its side and its just not worth it.

 

[schooleyosis]

One thing to also check is the battery... I know I've heard of people getting strange readings when the battery has gone low. I don't think that is your case here but something to keep in your back pocket.

 

[tcoyle]

I will see what happens when they send me the new reagent, which should be from a different lot. I and them think the lot I have might have issues.

 

[schooleyosis]

I will see what happens when they send me the new reagent, which should be from a different lot. I and them think the lot I have might have issues.

Keep us posted.

 

[jduck]

I store my bottle on the side in the testing kit. Only a few more tests left in this bottle, have 2 new bottles coming. Haven't seen an issue.

 

[rovster]

Guys you are not crazy. There is definitely an issue with the reagents. I've been using my Hanna checker for almost two years and it's been money until recently. I am super anal and can produce the same result with consecutive tests all day long.

Recently I had an issue with my sps declining but numbers were good. Just before that I hit s growth spurt and my alk was dropping according to my checker, which made sense because my corals were sprouting nubs and growing like crazy. Well over the course of a month chasing what I thought was a declining alk I was increasing the crap out of it in my ulns.

This also happened to a VERY experienced reefer on another forum. I called Hanna and my lot # matched one of those that were called in having issues. I was going crazy trying to figure out what was going on with my corals. I also experienced a "funk" s couple months ago that looked EXACTLY to what I'm seeing now.

I love my Hanna checker and it's incredibly consistent but lately it's been consistently wrong. The change is so gradual it's almost impossible to pick up on until you open a new bottle and wham, your alk is not 8, it's 9.5 lol.

I'm going to go to Salifert until I get my tank back on track and will go back to my checker eventuallybecause I love it and lends itself to colorblind people like me. I do plan on spot checking with another kit going forward.

Forgot to mention the way I found out it was bad is my corals looked like they were getting alk burn despite perfect parameters. I went to the store and bought a Red Sea kit which I hate and my wife helped me read it and it agreed with the freshly opened reagent.

I did talk to Hanna which actually pointed me to this thread lol. Just thought I'd share my experience. I hope they figure it out.

 

[rovster]

Oh and fwiw I got the bad reagent on Amazon.

I also bought the calibration kit and checker is spot on.

 

[pickupman66]

I need to order new solution. Is it the current amazon inventory that is giving issues?

 

[schooleyosis]

I have a newer bottle from Amazon and I compared it against my Red Sea Pro kit and they were identical. I think Tim just got a bad batch and/or needs to start shaking it up before each use...