Hanna Checkers: Would you buy them?

[jaws789832]

I have all 3 and love them. Consistent results and easy to use. Calcium is a little more complex but once you get used to it its a breeze. I was thinking about getting the copper one for my qt tank as well. I am not a fan of trying to match colors and both copper tests I have make me do this. Some might say they are more expensive.... well if you are in it for the long haul they aren't. Up front cost is more but then all you have to do is buy reagents, wheras the others you have to buy a new kit. the glass curvettes In the hanna's pretty much last forever wheras the plastic things tou get in other kits are usually done (all cloudy) after you finish the kit.

 

[SaltMan]

I like the Alk with the liquid reagent, it's easy to use and I have consistent results. However there has been a bad Alk reagent problem but the manufacture is doing free replacements, I'm still waiting for my replacement though. The other Hannas that use powder reagents, it's harder for me to get the full packet contents into the little bottle.

 

[reefknight]

I have had the Low range PO4 and the Alk meters for awhile now and love both of them. Have very consistent results out of both. Even with the recent hiccup out of the Alk meter, I trust it more than the majority of the test kits on the market. Since the reviews of the Ca meters have always been so hit or miss, I've not attempted one. If you're a thorough person though with any training in laboratory science, I don't see where it should be that difficult. I just haven't felt like purchasing the water from them to run the test properly.

 

[fishbrain]

Alk is rock solid consistent and easy to use. Po4 is fairly accurate but definitely more of a pain to use. Skip the calcium it's junk.

 

[jonneyb]

I just ordered the ALK and phosphate, waiting for delivery. After reading this I'm glad those were the only ones I got.

 

[paraletho]

I like the Alk with the liquid reagent, it's easy to use and I have consistent results. However there has been a bad Alk reagent problem but the manufacture is doing free replacements, I'm still waiting for my replacement though. The other Hannas that use powder reagents, it's harder for me to get the full packet contents into the little bottle.

Amen on the small opening and then once you learn to cut the packet with scissors ( I see they have put this on the packets now). Always handle the vial with paper towel or tissue. I have the old LR Phosphate unit that shuts off after three minutes so you have to pull it out get all the reagent in, get it mixed, make sure there aren't any bubbles on the inside glass and put it back in before it shuts off. all in all I like the Phosphorus and the Alkalinity. Not for every day I use Salifert.

 

[esolo16]

I have had all 3. Sold the phosphate for phosphorous and hate the calcium, however I do like the alk and phosphorous. If you still want the calcium, I'll sell you mine for cheap and even include the Hanna water (with the caveat that's i found it to be terribly unreliable)

 

[Mjl714]

I've had the alkalinty one for about a month, and I like pretty easy and accurate.

 

[Ebone]

I have the ULR phosphorus and the Alk... Love them both.... alk is super easy and stays consistent.... if you empty the reagent packet for the ULR phosphorus onto some weighing paper before putting it in the vial those results stay pretty reproducible... at least for me

 

[sea dragon]

I own all three and would not give them up for all the gold in Fort Knox. When you need something so simple and you get your results in three minutes. And not trusting your eyes as not one of us see the same shade at the same time.
with Hanna at least you can forget about the color cards and the guess work.

 

[Electrobes]

I just bought the new dkH Alk Checker.. I'm looking forward to it, especially using the liquid reagents. I love my phosphate checker, though!

 

[chefjpaul]

They are like any test. Some get bad reagents. It happens.

My theory is any test is only as accurate as the users patience, no different than any other.

 

[shornik]

I use the Phos and Alk, and love them. The Alk is so easy, Phos is pretty easy but you need to get that powder into the vial. I purchased some tiny funnels at a home store and use that to make the process pretty simple.

 

[Damon]

Same as the others here.. I have use phos and alk. I love them too death! Even with the reagent issue recently.. And the key that I use for mixing and getting the reagent in the phos, is, like hanna suggested, cutting the packet (after tapping it good) at a 4 5 degree angle.. Then making that opening into a little funnel with a decently sharp crease. Do this before you even begin the test, and you will have plenty of time to add the reagent and shake it easily..

The calcium, ugh, yuck.. That's all I can say about that one!

 

[Dunnman39]

I have had all 3. Sold the phosphate for phosphorous and hate the calcium, however I do like the alk and phosphorous. If you still want the calcium, I'll sell you mine for cheap and even include the Hanna water (with the caveat that's i found it to be terribly unreliable)

Id be interested..

 

[feh]

I have all 3. I wouldn't take anything for them. The Calcium kit is the main one people complain about. The trick to that one is making sure you measure everything to the T since it uses such a small sample. The PO4 kit isn't so bad. Some use 2 viles for testing, but I've heard the difference in the glass can skew the results. I'd take that as a grain of salt. The Alk kit is the easiest.

One gripe I will mention. The reagents all used to be the same price if I recall. The CA reagent refills are now around $21 - $22 while the other 2 are still reasonable.

 

[WindeyD]

I am very happy with my Alk and phosphate checkers. I have double checked the Alk checker with the Red Sea test and consistently get accurate results. I would definitely buy these again.

 

[spacetime]

Love hate relationship. Hate the po4 testing but hate trying to distinguish colors even more. The alk is easy because of the liquid but I was affected by the recall. If there is new powder then idk. Is the old alk still good with new reagent?

 

[Robthorn]

I use the alk with consistent results double checked against my salifert kit. Even with the so called bad reagents. I check 4 to 7 times a week at the moment.
I also use the ppb phophorus checker. Again with consistent results. I only check this every couple weeks.
Maybe something some people getting poor results can do is after you get your sample put the cap on and rinse the vial with tap water. This is very sime since I test in the kitchen a lot anyway. It only takes a couple extra seconds. Dry it with a towel and then use a paper towel to kind of finish the drying and polish it for lack of better words. Keep all finger prints off the glass. After rinsing the vial keep it wrapped in the paper towel while handling it and only install it into the checker holding the cap.
This sounds a lot like common sense but I have watched people use the checkers and its not as common as one would think.
I can check several times in a row and get very consistent results.
As for the powders my friend showed me to use a tooth pick to dig the powder from the corners. This made my phosphorus checker spot on several tests in a row.

Good luck and hopefully this helps someone.

 

[Robthorn]

I am trying to find info on the Alk tester changing to powder to see if our current 755 checkers work with the powder. Can you post a link?
Only information I could find was a picture of the chlorine checker on the Alk checker page showing powder being dumped in a vial. This appears to just be a stock photo. Not actually for the Alk checker.
Any thoughts?