Hanna Checkers

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 6, 2016

I've been using Red Sea tests for nitrate, phosphate, magnesium, calcium and carbonate hardness. The issue I have is that I'm not very good at discerning which colors the test vial is closest to, especially on the low end of the test range.

I'm thinking about converting to Hanna checkers to increase precision as well as maybe decrease the amount of time I spend testing (it's about 20 minutes to perform just the phosphate and nitrates tests). What do you guys think about the Hanna checkers? Are there any that you would avoid and, if so, why?

Thanks in advance!

ermartin · Jan 6, 2016

I own a few but only use the ALK as they are a PITA in my opinion to use and they are easy to mess up based on the dry regents. I do like the alk a lot

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 6, 2016

As I don't own one, how are they a PITA? How are they easy to mess up?

kevindo123 · Jan 6, 2016

Hanna is great for Alk. Phosphate is hit or missed. Just found out my Hanna phosphate checker is a piece of c.r.a.p. Working with Hanna support for a replacement now. It gave me wrong readings out of the box and now stopped working . The Alk works great, just make sure your cuvette is clean or it gives you wrong readings too.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 6, 2016

There is no nitrate checker.

The Hi736 would be my choice for the phosphate checker.

You can do alk by a DIY pH titration, or you can use a kit and stick your pH meter into the solution to avoid having to look at colors for alk.

I've seen quite a number of folks not be too happy with the Hanna calcium checker.

jason2459 · Jan 6, 2016

I'm a big fan of the 736 ULR checker for phosphorous. I haven't use any of the other hanna checkers for different parameters.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 6, 2016

Right now, I think use ULR version is too low for my current phosphate levels.

ermartin · Jan 6, 2016

AllSignsPointToFIsh said:
As I don't own one, how are they a PITA? How are they easy to mess up?

well the regents use powder in some of the checkers and you need to get it all out of the little pouch and a little seems to get stuck in the corner so your never sure how accurate you are and you need to use rodi water in some of them The ALK checker is pretty straight forward and i test against a manual kit i have every so often and it always seems to come out pretty spot on with the manual kit.

Sabellafella · Jan 6, 2016

The alk checker and ulr phos are the best, the phosphate is OK but not much accurate, if you really want to be really really ontop of p03 p04 grab a elos processional , or just convert from the hannah ulr

chris31759 · Jan 6, 2016

Hanna Calcium Checker is terrible in my opinion. I have tried several different methods that are recommended and finally just gave up.
Alkalinity is great and very easy. I rinse all of my curvettes in tap water and then RO/DI water and allow to air dry on a rack. I hand wipe the outside with a towel to get any of the oil from my hands off. A cheap plastic socket rack from Harbor Freight works well or I went to a local Science Surplus store.
As Randy said the Phosphorous test kit is more accurate than phosphate. 736 ULR
I still use the Red Sea Pro for Calcium. Some people really like the new Nyos test kit.
I highly recommend buying the Alk and Phosphorous Hanna Checkers.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 6, 2016

AllSignsPointToFIsh said:
Right now, I think use ULR version is too low for my current phosphate levels.

Really? It is above 0.6 ppm?

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 6, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Really? It is above 0.6 ppm?

No, I didn't realize the ULR had that high of an upper limit. My phosphates are running 0.02-0.04 ppm. Nitrates are stuck around 1.5 ppm.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 6, 2016

AllSignsPointToFIsh said:
No, I didn't realize the ULR had that high of an upper limit. My phosphates are running 0.02-0.04 ppm. Nitrates are stuck around 1.5 ppm.

Their web site says it goes up to 200 ppb phosphorus which is a bit over 0.6 ppm phosphate.

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 6, 2016

I also saw that it said phosphorus, not phosphate. I presume it will measure either equally well?

That also explains my confusion. I thought I remembered seeing a 200 ppb number.

esolo16 · Jan 6, 2016

I use the ulr phosphorous and alk checkers. They are super easy and quick.

I also have the Calc checker and it is currently being used as door stop for my cabinet. Not only were the Calc measurements all over the place, it's a pain to use. I even ordered the Hanna water to make sure I was calibrating it accurately and it was still way off.

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 6, 2016

At least the red Sea calcium test is pretty simple and quick.

MAXreefer · Jan 6, 2016

I use also their Alk and ULR Phosphorus checkers and very happy with them.
I have the Calcium checker also but gave up on it... To difficult to use and always got different readings

zzzdiver · Jan 6, 2016

I use the alk and the ULR736 they have been spot on to all other test kit I've checked them with. According to your po4 and No3 above the ulr should be fine.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 6, 2016

AllSignsPointToFIsh said:
I also saw that it said phosphorus, not phosphate. I presume it will measure either equally well?

That also explains my confusion. I thought I remembered seeing a 200 ppb number.

It only measures inorganic phosphate by the same method as their other checker. The different units are just a marketing gimmick.

alin2 · Jan 7, 2016

I do use the Hanna ULR P checker and agree it's a PITA to get all of the powered reagent into the cuvette. How critical is it to get the entire amount of powder reagent in?