Hanna phosphate checker SUCKS

blazedbeef · Feb 28, 2022

I got the Hanna ULR Phosphate test kit awhile back ,and every time I test it gives me an error or an insanely high number. I just tested 3 times and the tests came out to be .25, .54, and .45. I gave up on the test awhile ago, and I just bring a sample of my water for my LFS to test. It always comes back at 0 or I have a little bit of phosphate. My LFS uses the same phosphate checker, but results are completely different. I’ve gone through 2 things of reagent with mine and still get inconsistent results. Could I have gotten a faulty checker? I’m wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem with their Phosphate ULR? I thought these were supposed to be the best!

blaxsun · Feb 28, 2022

I test with Nyos and the Hanna ULR. The hanna always comes out higher. Not sure why either, but the last batch of 3 tests I ran with the Hanna came out 1.2, 1.4 and 1.0 - and the Nyos was 0.05-0.075. Go figure.

I've read that if the vial isn't completely clean, there are tiny micro bubbles or even if the vial isn't placed back facing the same way can all influence the outcome.

AnyNameYouWish · Feb 28, 2022

Not sure if it’s your issue but I know that if you have micro bubbles in the vial or if the outside of the vial is not sparkling clean ie water spots or Fingerprints it can give issues

AnyNameYouWish · Feb 28, 2022

blaxsun said:
I test with Nyos and the Hanna ULR. The hanna always comes out higher. Not sure why either, but the last batch of 3 tests I ran with the Hanna came out 1.2, 1.4 and 1.0 - and the Nyos was 0.05-0.075. Go figure.

I've read that if the vial isn't completely clean, there are tiny micro bubbles or even if the vial isn't placed back facing the same way can all influence the outcome.

Beat me to it haha

Kfactor · Feb 28, 2022

what helped me is a magnetic stirrer best 35 dollers i have spent lol

LOVEROCK · Feb 28, 2022

finger prints or any sort of smudge will give you crazy high readings, personally i take a microcloth, for washing cars, and give it a good wipe down, and make sure the meniscus is correct at eye level and always face 10 ml to me . it has been more consisent reading like this for me

Macdaddynick1 · Feb 28, 2022

blazedbeef said:
I got the Hanna ULR Phosphate test kit awhile back ,and every time I test it gives me an error or an insanely high number. I just tested 3 times and the tests came out to be .25, .54, and .45. I gave up on the test awhile ago, and I just bring a sample of my water for my LFS to test. It always comes back at 0 or I have a little bit of phosphate. My LFS uses the same phosphate checker, but results are completely different. I’ve gone through 2 things of reagent with mine and still get inconsistent results. Could I have gotten a faulty checker? I’m wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem with their Phosphate ULR? I thought these were supposed to be the best!

Take your tester and give it to your LFS guy so that he can test it. Also, make sure you are using the correct reagent for the correct Phosphate checker. There are multiple different ones. Once you made sure it is not a user error, then contact hanna.

ColoredRock · Feb 28, 2022

blaxsun said:
I test with Nyos and the Hanna ULR. The hanna always comes out higher. Not sure why either, but the last batch of 3 tests I ran with the Hanna came out 1.2, 1.4 and 1.0 - and the Nyos was 0.05-0.075. Go figure.

I've read that if the vial isn't completely clean, there are tiny micro bubbles or even if the vial isn't placed back facing the same way can all influence the outcome.

Nyos.. .. color match does not do it for me anymore.. Titration or digital for me

I store all my vials and cuvette qith RODI water in them after rinsing them out. When testing
I dump the into a cup .. rinse them out with tank water... shake them out.. and then test.

blaxsun · Feb 28, 2022

ColoredRock said:
Nyos.. .. color match does not do it for me anymore.. Titration or digital for me

I store all my vials and cuvette qith RODI water in them after rinsing them out. When testing
I dump the into a cup .. rinse them out with tank water... shake them out.. and then test.

I just wait 5min and slide the vial...

blazedbeef · Feb 28, 2022

blaxsun said:
I test with Nyos and the Hanna ULR. The hanna always comes out higher. Not sure why either, but the last batch of 3 tests I ran with the Hanna came out 1.2, 1.4 and 1.0 - and the Nyos was 0.05-0.075. Go figure.

blaxsun said:
I've read that if the vial isn't completely clean, there are tiny micro bubbles or even if the vial isn't placed back facing the same way can all influence the outcome.

Thank you! I always wipe down the vials and make sure there’s no prints or water on em before testing but I’ll check next time for bubbles.

SeaworthyAquatics · Feb 28, 2022

I've gotten results like this after dropping one. My guess would be it went through rough shipping or something of the sort.

SchrutesReefs · Feb 28, 2022

Also, if you don’t hold the button down for the 3:00 countdown the results are different than if you just do a quick press of the button after adding the packet IME. The latter being worse of the 2 numbers.

blazedbeef · Feb 28, 2022

AnyNameYouWish said:
Not sure if it’s your issue but I know that if you have micro bubbles in the vial or if the outside of the vial is not sparkling clean ie water spots or Fingerprints it can give issues

I always wipe down my vials, but I never really looked out for the micro bubbles. Thanks for the help!

LOVEROCK · Feb 28, 2022

anyone use the reference from hanna to compare before?

blazedbeef · Feb 28, 2022

Macdaddynick1 said:
Take your tester and give it to your LFS guy so that he can test it. Also, make sure you are using the correct reagent for the correct Phosphate checker. There are multiple different ones. Once you made sure it is not a user error, then contact hanna.

I definitely got the right reagent, but I’ll definitely let my LFS give it a look. Thanks for the input!

gbroadbridge · Feb 28, 2022

I just received a Triton ICP back this morning for a sample I took on Friday which says 0.058. A test I took from the same sample with the Hanna Phospahate ULR said 0.09.

Given the stated accuracy of the Hanna which is +- 0.03ppm it compares very favourably and is within the measurement limits of the device.

As others have said, you need to be merticulous with the test procedure to obtain repeatable results.

If you are receiving different results when testing the same sample there must be a procedural error or the device is faulty.

BrianReefer · Feb 28, 2022

My ULR always reads about 50% higher than ny titration tests and my ICP results. So I usually assume that whatever ny ULR reads, that the actual is likely 30% less. Could be phosphate degrades in the mail to ICP but that doesn’t explain the titration test difference. So I’ve stopped trying to reconcile and just know the ULR is likely a bit high…

ColoredRock · Feb 28, 2022

blaxsun said:
I just wait 5min and slide the vial...

age sucks!.. I have a nyos nitrate test kit.. The range is not ideal to start but.. me 53 ish.. wife 52 ish .. son .. 26, daughter 21 .. all look at it subjectivly and come to a different color conclusion.

blaxsun · Feb 28, 2022

ColoredRock said:
age sucks!.. I have a nyos nitrate test kit.. The range is not ideal to start but.. me 53 ish.. wife 52 ish .. son .. 26, daughter 21 .. all look at it subjectivly and come to a different color conclusion.

Hey, I'm not that far behind you...