Hannah checker, worth it?

[match69]

Hi all,
I use the Phosphorus ulr and Alkalinity Hanna checkers. I have thought about the Calcium checker but it is the equivalent of a buck fifty per test here in the uk compared to 50¢ for Alk and Phos.

 

[yarddoctor123]

If that is the case, then it's conductivity may also read higher than the web site claims for current models, allowing other uses.

Thank you. I'll find out that model's range on Monday.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Or triton
Really there is nothing wrong with hanna.
if there was they would be out of business.
people just don't know how to properly use them

So what is the problem?

How exactly do people misuse them.

Please elaborate.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

My Hanna Alkalinity Checker is seriously one of the best purchases I ever made in this hobby.

 

[helldiver]

My Hanna Alkalinity Checker is seriously one of the best purchases I ever made in this hobby.

I have Alk Ca and phos
Agreed Alk is the best by far,Phosphorus ulr is great also gives good reading,I do not like the CA one though for the test per use and I find it to trick to use so I use Red Sea Calcium much more accurate to me .I think the red sea and hanna CA use the same reagents

 

[twilliard]

So what is the problem?

How exactly do people misuse them.

Please elaborate.

Each checker has its own area of user error.
Now the ALK checker is known to have a bad batch of reagent out there and have not heard if Hanna is resolving that.
The calcium has several areas where user error may occur.
Tank water measurement and micro bubbles are the two worst areas for this one.

 

[sawdonkey]

Each checker has its own area of user error.
Now the ALK checker is known to have a bad batch of reagent out there and have not heard if Hanna is resolving that.
The calcium has several areas where user error may occur.
Tank water measurement and micro bubbles are the two worst areas for this one.

My alk checker was very accurate for multiple years. Then I got a batch of the bad reagent you spoke of. Hannah sent me a new reagent for free, but didn't really answer my questions about the problem and if it has been resolved. The new reagent is spot on with my salifert, but it will be a while before I fully trust my checker again.

Also, I assume aquarists are very small portion of their business. They seem to do most of their business with laboratories by looking at their website.

 

[twilliard]

My alk checker was very accurate for multiple years. Then I got a batch of the bad reagent you spoke of. Hannah sent me a new reagent for free, but didn't really answer my questions about the problem and if it has been resolved. The new reagent is spot on with my salifert, but it will be a while before I fully trust my checker again.

Also, I assume aquarists are very small portion of their business. They seem to do most of their business with laboratories by looking at their website.

Ya I noticed that and the crazy equipment they sell.. scared of the prices! Lol

 

[Damon]

Woe hold on there bud.. plenty pay attention to me
I feel enough information has been provided about this to come to a solid conclusion.
I haven't degraded you so please don't degrade me.
I have a solid reputation.

You disappeared on the topic months ago (it's all there in bytes and black and white), with me and others that would have loved to hear an "insight".. Not someone ego tripping saying" oh, your doing it wrong, but I'm not going to tell you how, so I'm so smart"..

And let me just clarify, that is not a big deal to me at this point personally(as i said before, I knew it was bunk with the user error jargon, but i played along to see if you would "produce the goods", which you didn't!) , but others that read this in the future, hopefully won't fall into that little verbal "ego trap". I have other test kits(including Hanna), testing equipment, hobbies, career etc, that i never have or had the problems with them/it that i have had with this one kit.. So, I take it seriously when someone says "user error"..

Truth is the truth and on this, you came up short.. It was once said "if your not part of the solution, your part of the problem", and your part of the problem on this topic and test kit..
No one degraded you, but your degrading intelligent people taking your stance and not proving anything..

I am sure, and know there are tons of people like myself that used this kit and had issues (hence, is general standing pretty much across the board when you read or experience anything about them), so i err on the side of the kit..

I still welcome any "helpful" insights, but hollow and non backed up "forum chatter", that's one of the unfortunate things about the net.. And my stance still stands on anyone to not even listen to you about this kit, because you've not proven anything besides saying others are doing something wrong..

 

[twilliard]

You disappeared on the topic months ago (it's all there in bytes and black and white), with me and others that would have loved to hear an "insight".. Not someone ego tripping saying" oh, your doing it wrong, but I'm not going to tell you how, so I'm so smart"..

And let me just clarify, that is not a big deal to me at this point personally(as i said before, I knew it was bunk with the user error jargon, but i played along to see if you would "produce the goods", which you didn't!) , but others that read this in the future, hopefully won't fall into that little verbal "ego trap". I have other test kits(including Hanna), testing equipment, hobbies, career etc, that i never have or had the problems with them/it that i have had with this one kit.. So, I take it seriously when someone says "user error"..

Truth is the truth and on this, you came up short.. It was once said "if your not part of the solution, your part of the problem", and your part of the problem on this topic and test kit..
No one degraded you, but your degrading intelligent people taking your stance and not proving anything..

I am sure, and know there are tons of people like myself that used this kit and had issues (hence, is general standing pretty much across the board when you read or experience anything about them), so i err on the side of the kit..

I still welcome any "helpful" insights, but hollow and non backed up "forum chatter", that's one of the unfortunate things about the net.. And my stance still stands on anyone to not even listen to you about this kit, because you've not proven anything besides saying others are doing something wrong..

I'm sorry.
You feel you have been let down. I have let the community discuss this topic.
While releasing your frustration with "me" and not reading through the pages of information about this topic I have no choice but to report this post as it is slander to my demeanor
I hope you find the information needed to help you make a precise decision on this product.
I mean no harm or miss information to our community.
I feel the information has been covered by the numerous pages in this thread.

 

[Damon]

I'm sorry.
You feel you have been let down. I have let the community discuss this topic.
While releasing your frustration with "me" and not reading through the pages of information about this topic I have no choice but to report this post as it is slander to my demeanor
I hope you find the information needed to help you make a precise decision on this product.
I mean no harm or miss information to our community.
I feel the information has been covered by the numerous pages in this thread.

Like i said, no big deal.. And report as you must. I just call it like i see it. No frustration at all(I had gone on, until someone came telling another person they were doing something wrong, once again with no conclusions or evidence)..

After reading though, "and" employing all of the solutions suggested on this thread, forum, other forums, dealing with Hanna on this kit(them sending me a gallon of hanna water, and even having one of their techs advise me something about these kits years ago, thus my letting mine sit) , dealing with brs and Marine Depot(both, when they first came out with the kits), i feel completely comfortable with my stance.

I would say anything to anyone selling the same thing, and going the same route. I suppose i am one to "help" and not just cast negatives.. It saves time, effort and frustration..

But once again, no big deal to me.. And there is a difference between demeanor and a stance on someone not giving information on a forum, that they claim they have (sorry, but isn't that the purpose of a public forum) that may help others,but that same person is quick to say someone(or individuals, many) is(are) doing something wrong.. Sorry you don't get that.. But oh well..

We'll see how this plays out. If they delete my post, so be it.. But, that will speak volumes as to the approach and sharing of information..

 

[Captainfishy]

Totally worth it. The phosphate one is very accurate just make sure to get it in ppb not ppm. The other ones I would recommend are calcium and alkalinity. I wish they had a magnesium for saltwater. Just get them your never want to go back to guessing colors again.

 

[sawdonkey]

Sorry twillard, but I'm also not a believer in user error with these things. This isn't rocket science. Just fill the vial to the line, put in the right amount of reagent, and make sure the glass is wiped clean between each step. Not too hard.

I would guess that very few of the problems reported are due to user error. Mine surely weren't.

And by the way, I in the "worth it" camp.

 

[jasonandsarah]

Each checker has its own area of user error.
Now the ALK checker is known to have a bad batch of reagent out there and have not heard if Hanna is resolving that.
The calcium has several areas where user error may occur.
Tank water measurement and micro bubbles are the two worst areas for this one.

Hanna has always been very helpful to me whenever I even suspect I got a bad batch of regents. They even sent me a couple freebies when I bought my Cal checker and it stopped working on the first use.

 

[twilliard]

Hanna has always been very helpful to me whenever I even suspect I got a bad batch of regents. They even sent me a couple freebies when I bought my Cal checker and it stopped working on the first use.

The calcium checker is the worst for consistent readings with the equipment they supply. It does have solutions with consistent measurements.
Thank you for adding this!

 

[jasonandsarah]

You disappeared on the topic months ago (it's all there in bytes and black and white), with me and others that would have loved to hear an "insight".. Not someone ego tripping saying" oh, your doing it wrong, but I'm not going to tell you how, so I'm so smart"..

And let me just clarify, that is not a big deal to me at this point personally(as i said before, I knew it was bunk with the user error jargon, but i played along to see if you would "produce the goods", which you didn't!) , but others that read this in the future, hopefully won't fall into that little verbal "ego trap". I have other test kits(including Hanna), testing equipment, hobbies, career etc, that i never have or had the problems with them/it that i have had with this one kit.. So, I take it seriously when someone says "user error"..

Truth is the truth and on this, you came up short.. It was once said "if your not part of the solution, your part of the problem", and your part of the problem on this topic and test kit..
No one degraded you, but your degrading intelligent people taking your stance and not proving anything..

I am sure, and know there are tons of people like myself that used this kit and had issues (hence, is general standing pretty much across the board when you read or experience anything about them), so i err on the side of the kit..

I still welcome any "helpful" insights, but hollow and non backed up "forum chatter", that's one of the unfortunate things about the net.. And my stance still stands on anyone to not even listen to you about this kit, because you've not proven anything besides saying others are doing something wrong..

Sometimes these things happen and fwiw I use nothing but my Hanna Cal checker to maintain the calcium in my tank. (Although I do have a Redsea pro to back it up)
I also think there's at least some merit to what Twillard is saying. I mean nothing negative by this at all, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the harder of the 3 most common Hanna checkers is the one people have problems with.
Have you ever tried the red sea potassium test? I've read lots of good and bad reviews on that one as well, but the overwhelming majority of people that write bad things about it also say it's a pita and can't get consistent results. It's a hard test to be consistent on.

 

[twilliard]

I am not here to be bashed on.
I am 40 and have been involved with chemistry since I was 10.
I have watched the community of R2R answer this thread. There was no need for me to post "another" how to for Hannas testers.
I support all we are about here at R2R

 

[twilliard]

Sometimes these things happen and fwiw I use nothing but my Hanna Cal checker to maintain the calcium in my tank. (Although I do have a Redsea pro to back it up)
I also think there's at least some merit to what Twillard is saying. I mean nothing negative by this at all, but I don't think it's a coincidence that the harder of the 3 most common Hanna checkers is the one people have problems with.
Have you ever tried the red sea potassium test? I've read lots of good and bad reviews on that one as well, but the overwhelming majority of people that write bad things about it also say it's a pita and can't get consistent results. It's a hard test to be consistent on.

Thank you

 

[twilliard]

Sorry twillard, but I'm also not a believer in user error with these things. This isn't rocket science. Just fill the vial to the line, put in the right amount of reagent, and make sure the glass is wiped clean between each step. Not too hard.

I would guess that very few of the problems reported are due to user error. Mine surely weren't.

And by the way, I in the "worth it" camp.

User error significant

 

[jasonandsarah]

The calcium checker is the worst for consistent readings with the equipment they supply. It does have solutions with consistent measurements.
Thank you for adding this!

Correct, I've told people many times they need the much smaller 0.5ml syringe for this test.