Hanna High Range reading 0

[KentuckyKobra]

Has anyone had any issues with the HR tester testing at a consistent 0?
I’ve had this tester for a year now and ever since, it’s always tested 0.

I don’t have my old salifert or Red Sea test kits any longer to double check and I would like to avoid going back to them. But that may change if my tester is faulty.

For a little background, the tank is a year and a half old. It’s a 150 gallon with 15 fish of assorted sizes. Before the Hanna tester, I was usually between 5-10 nitrates. My only filtration is a filter sock and Bashsea skimmer.

I have no hair algae, Dino’s, cyano, or anything like that. In fact, the tank is doing pretty great; Corals and coralline are growing and healthy and the fish are well I should also add that I feed quite often.


I’ve never had a tank with no nitrates before. Especially a semi mature tank like mine currently is. Do I even need to worry, or should I spend the money and get a different tester?

If so, which kit does everyone recommended these days?

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Are you diluting it? Or full strength? Or both?

 

[KentuckyKobra]

I didn’t realize that you could dilute it? I just follow the directions to a T.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I didn’t realize that you could dilute it? I just follow the directions to a T.

I misread anyway I thought it was the low range.

 

[KentuckyKobra]

Are you diluting it? Or full strength? Or both?

I was concerned that the test packets were expired and bought a new box. Still tested 0.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Has anyone had any issues with the HR tester testing at a consistent 0?
I’ve had this tester for a year now and ever since, it’s always tested 0.

I don’t have my old salifert or Red Sea test kits any longer to double check and I would like to avoid going back to them. But that may change if my tester is faulty.

For a little background, the tank is a year and a half old. It’s a 150 gallon with 15 fish of assorted sizes. Before the Hanna tester, I was usually between 5-10 nitrates. My only filtration is a filter sock and Bashsea skimmer.

I have no hair algae, Dino’s, cyano, or anything like that. In fact, the tank is doing pretty great; Corals and coralline are growing and healthy and the fish are well I should also add that I feed quite often.


I’ve never had a tank with no nitrates before. Especially a semi mature tank like mine currently is. Do I even need to worry, or should I spend the money and get a different tester?

If so, which kit does everyone recommended these days?

I like the high range tester. Maybe you’re actually zero.

 

[Cool Ethan]

Maybe I'm too new, but if literally everything is healthy and growing without any of the "bad stuff", than who cares what your actual number is?

Maybe it's 0 maybe it's 30 but your tank is doing what it's supposed to be doing.

 

[taricha]

Many systems (mine is one) run consistent zero NO3 (0.1ppm or below) unless I dose it.
If you care to know whether your no3 is really zero or just ~1ppm and not getting picked up by the high range checker, you'll need another test kit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Maybe I'm too new, but if literally everything is healthy and growing without any of the "bad stuff", than who cares what your actual number is?

Maybe it's 0 maybe it's 30 but your tank is doing what it's supposed to be doing.

The risk of dinos is higher with undetectable nutrients, and it can be a serious problem that folks usually want to avoid rather than try to fix after the fact.

 

[KentuckyKobra]

The risk of dinos is higher with undetectable nutrients, and it can be a serious problem that folks usually want to avoid rather than try to fix after the fact.

That’s what I’m worried about. I’ve been in the hobby for a long time and have battled Dino’s before when I had 0 nitrates. I’d like to avoid that problem this time around.