Hanna marine checkers

[randy4083]

I want to buy some of these but don't know which ones to get because there's low range one's and high range one's so what is best for a saltwater tank

 

[HiddenUser]

The end goal would be to get to the point where you're using the low range checker.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you mean phosphate, I recommend the HI736 over the HI713. The 736 tests up to 0.6 ppm phosphate (200 ppb phosphorus), which is plenty high enough.

The calcium checker doesn't get especially good reviews from users.

Folks seem to like the alk checker, although I'm not sure one needs to spend that sort of money to get as good of results.

Here's a thread from the past week:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hanna-checkers.229039/

 

[randy4083]

My phosphate are at about. 036 right now and I'm running chemipure elite right now and I was using city water and I'm switching to rodi water now so I'm trying to get it down but when I saw the hanna checkers they all have a low range and a high range and do I need a nitrite one if the tank has been running for over a year and a half

 

[randy4083]

And what is the phosphorus tester for because I was just gonna get the phosphate tester but what does this tester do and there are iron testers and everything so which testers do I need to get if I have corals and anemones and fish

 

[mcarroll]

Phosphorus is the low range kit that Randy was talking about. Check the model numbers to be sure.

Calcium is a good test, but fairly difficult compared to a liquid drip test. If you are colorblind, it is an excellent choice.

Alkalinity is simpler but as Randy alluded it's still more complicated to run then a standard liquid drip test.

Nitrate is not typically a problem in saltwater tanks, but it does depend on how you run it. I would probably hold off on getting the nitrate tester.

 

[randy4083]

Will the phosphorus tester work if my phosphate are at. 036

 

[dewboy1127]

I also wondering about some of these and which ones are accurate. .was think alk and nitrate i already have the phosphate ...calcium would be nice but lot bad reviews

 

[tdo]

The alk one is really easy to use. I recommend it just for the ease of use. I have the ulr phos reader which is nice but I ultimately don't use it much.

 

[mcarroll]

I also wondering about some of these and which ones are accurate. .was think alk and nitrate i already have the phosphate ...calcium would be nice but lot bad reviews

As I said Ca tester is difficult to use. Lots of steps, and not similar in process to the test people are used to. So that explains 99.9% of the bad reviews. Honestly unless you're colorblind (lots of folks are), it very well may not be worth the effort and expense vs a liquid/drip test

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Will the phosphorus tester work if my phosphate are at. 036

Yes, I mentioned that it runs up to 0.6 ppm phosphate when I recommended it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I also wondering about some of these and which ones are accurate. .was think alk and nitrate i already have the phosphate ...calcium would be nice but lot bad reviews

There is no nitrate checker, and there's no need for a nitrite checker unless you really want to monitor cycling tanks a lot. It is never a concern in an established system.

 

[randy4083]

I didn't think so and thanks for all the information

 

[dewboy1127]

Shows what i know lol...i just assumed there may be since had the others...i have phosphate but wanted nitrate as well so i could dial them in better or actually try get some in my tank and alk would just be nice as i check that almost every night ...thnks for the info