Hanna checkers

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rjcranor

rjcranor

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I am wondering how reliable these are. They look like they are easy to use. Right now I use a reef foundation pro kit for calcium, magnesium and alk. It's kind of a pain and not sure how reliable it is. My cal and alk usually read high and mag low.
 
Tidal Gardens
I like the alkalinity tester but the calcium checker not so much.
 
very accurate, i use the phosphate one, about $50 up front cost, but only comes with enough for 6 tests, be sure to buy extra reagents when purchasing!
 
AS
The alk checker is the only one i swear by. And hear too many mixed reviews on calcium to try it.
The low range phosphorous checker is much to finicky to give accurate results. If you don't knock three times, dance a jig, tug your left ear lobe, and pray to Allah while facing due west for 5 minutes then facing east for 3 minutes, you will test 3x in a row and get 3 different results. I've pretty much stopped testing for P04 now and just watch the tank.
 
d2mini said:
The alk checker is the only one i swear by. And hear too many mixed reviews on calcium to try it.
The low range phosphorous checker is much to finicky to give accurate results. If you don't knock three times, dance a jig, tug your left ear lobe, and pray to Allah while facing due west for 5 minutes then facing east for 3 minutes, you will test 3x in a row and get 3 different results. I've pretty much stopped testing for P04 now and just watch the tank.
Click to expand...

That is not my experience on the PO4 at all. I always get the same results (+/- 0.01) when I have checked multiple times. It is easy to use as well. I wish they made a Nitrate one.

Erik
 
Orphek OR3 reef aquarium LED bar
Calcium has bad reviews, I never tried it though.

I think the alk checker, HI 755, is great, but I think it reads just a little high. Product Review: Inexpensive Analytical Devices: Hanna Instruments' Checkers: Alkalinity and Phosphate ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
I suggest storing the reagent solution in the fridge. Mine gets bacterial sheets growing in it if I don't.

I use the HI 736 ULR Phosphorus checker for phosphate. Works great, repeatable, and low range of error. They have had bad lots of reagent, so I suggest testing across lots when switching to a new lot. Hanna doesn't post about bad lots (boo!), but they will replace them if you email them a receipt for the bad lot.
Hanna Checker HI-736 by Hanna Instruments - BeanAnimal's Bar and Grill

I use all the Red Sea tests (Reef Foundation, Algae Control, and Coral Colors) and like them, except for their phosphate pro test. Their Phosphate Pro test usually reads .08 for me, except the time other tests read .1, then it read .00!
 
Thanks for input, sounds like i need to find something else. I don't really care to add this and that. This was a brand new test kit but the ends that go on the ends of the syringe split right away so how accurate it is now I don't know.
 
Orphek OR3 reef aquarium LED bar
rjcranor said:
This was a brand new test kit but the ends that go on the ends of the syringe split right away so how accurate it is now I don't know.
Click to expand...

You don't need to use the syringe tips, but you can get more at a medical supply, Amazon or off eBay. RS will send you more if you ask, but they're busy with a lot of new products so you'll probably have to ask a few times.

The RS alk reagent is sensitive to oxygen, so don't return unused reagent to the bottle or the color will change. I was sucking air with a broken tip and then returning the reagent to the bottle so I could measure the right amount. My reagent changed color, and my test endpoint is now yellow. It's still pretty similar results when compared with Hanna and API tests.

If you're using Reef Crystals, your test results are probably accurate. I always had high calcium and alkalinity, but low magnesium with Reef Crystals.
 
I use the ALK checker but never used any other ones because of the reviews. I use red sea to check everything else
 
I have one that didn't split so I was using it for all of the tests. I've started doing weekly water changes. The last time I did calcium it was over 500. I didn't add more reagent to see just where it was.
 
I have hanna for alk and phosphate. The alk is great. The phosphate is ok, better than some other tests but finicky to do it right. Getting all the powder out of the packet and mixing it for two minutes before the three minute timeout on the unit is tricky. I sir salifert for mg, ca and nitrates. The refills for the hanna aren't very expensive at all IMO. I'll keep the two I have and wait to see if they come out with a nitrate one that's accurate.
 
These have excellent reviews although I personally use Milwaukee instruments. Not cheap but easy to use and VERY reliable.
 
All is fantastic, the other tests are ver hard to use and extremely finicky. If they would quit using powder for Phosphate/Phosphorus and powder for Nitrate/Nitrite they would be much easier and consistent. Unfortunately that is not the case so I quit using them for anything other than Alk.
 
Alk is fantastic, the other tests are very hard to use and extremely finicky. If they would quit using powder for Phosphate/Phosphorus and powder for Nitrate/Nitrite they would be much easier and consistent. Unfortunately that is not the case so I quit using them for anything other than Alk.[/QUOTE]
 
I have an alk and phos, while I like them I have first hand experience of alk reagents giving way different readings. Two bottles I currently have produce consistently 23ppm difference in results. Customer service is also non existent for the company. I have emailed and called multiple times and was basically told too bad. The bottles are consistent with themselves but not with other bottles so just be careful. If it wasn't a digital readout I would go with a different company simply for their customer service issues.
 
Tidal Gardens
mike007 said:
I like the alkalinity tester but the calcium checker not so much.
Click to expand...

I guess the calcium regiments had issues. They have now fixed it from what I understand.. They had actually stopped selling them for a bit to fix the issues.

rjcranor said:
I am wondering how reliable these are. They look like they are easy to use. Right now I use a reef foundation pro kit for calcium, magnesium and alk. It's kind of a pain and not sure how reliable it is. My cal and alk usually read high and mag low.
Click to expand...

The redsea test kits seem pretty good for calcium and alk.

I only use the hanna alk checker and it has been great, no issues at all..

The salifert test kits lately I have had nothing but problems with.. So much so I wont use them any more. I mean they are way off from each other, so far off they could crash a tank..

People need to remember these are hobby grade kits too. They are only supposed to be close, they are not lab grade kits.
 
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