Help with Hanna Calcium Tester

Terry Mattson · Jan 31, 2020

I received as a gift the Hanna Calcium tester. Having difficulty understanding the instructions. I read them several times and the instructions never tell you to take a sample of the aquarium saltwater? The first part is mixing with deionize water with chemical then appears to have you place in tester as c1 then add reagent and go to co2. I know this cannot be but I put the test kit up until I understand those instructions. What am I missing?

ca1ore · Jan 31, 2020

I gave up .... almost impossible (for clumsy me anyhow) to get reproducible results. Went back to using the API kit.

If your eyes are old like mine, break out the magnifying glass .... one step calls for you to add 0.1 ml of tank water. Then the powder packet I think. Getting exactly 0.1 ml is not easy, and I always seemed to spill some of the powder. Punt!

boacvh · Jan 31, 2020

I had issues too. But it's actually not that difficult after I figured it out.
Put 1ml of the liquid reagent into the cuvette using the syringe. Then add the di water to 10ml line.
Press then wait until you see c2. Open and put the packet and also 0.1ml of tank water in and then press button again.

To get the 0.1ml of tank water you need in the step above you use the special pipette. If you press the plunger you will notice it has 2 "stops". Basically what you do is you out in the tank and press to the first stop. Then put into the cuvette and press until the second stop. That will dispense exactly .1ml of tank water into the cuvette.

If I am not mistaken, according to @Randy Holmes-Farley the design is pretty poor. It is open to major fluctuations.

madlos123 · Jan 31, 2020

Here's I do it

Prep:
Grab WHITE syringe fill it to 1ml with Reagent A
Grab GREEN syringe fill that to 0.1 ml with your tank water (Fill to max then expel the extra until u get to 0.1 ml) make sure you get all of the syringe tip and connection submerged to prevent extra air
Grab a cup of RO/DI water
Cut your Powder Packet (Reagent B) on the cut line

Testing:
Step 1: add WHITE syringe to Vial
Step 2: add RO/DI to 10 ML mark of the vial with the clear pipette (lowest curve of the water meniscus aligning the 10 ml line)
Step 3: Cap and mix 5 times
Wipe Vial with micro fiber cloth & no smears!
Step 4: Press Button on reader wait until C1 will appear on the screen
Step 5: Place vial
Step 6: Press Button wait until C2 will appear on the screen
Step 7: Remove vial add GREEN Syringe to the vial
Step 8: Add Powder Packet to the vial
Step 9: Cap and Mix for 15 Sec or powder or until completely dissolved
Step 10: Wait till bubbles disappear or tap on it
Wipe Vial with micro fiber cloth & no smears!
Step 11: Put in the Vial
Step 12: Press Button
Step 13: Reading

I hope my guide will help

with COLORS!

krash7172 · Jan 31, 2020

I'm a fan of Hanna checkers in general. Calcium is is a bit confusing at first but not really bad. It's a preference thing. I've found that their checkers are pretty consistent if you take the time.

dank reefer · Jan 31, 2020

I stick to Salifert for Calcium. But Hanna Alk, and ULR Phosphate are great.

gotmesalty77 · Jan 31, 2020

boacvh said:
I had issues too. But it's actually not that difficult after I figured it out.
Put 1ml of the liquid reagent into the cuvette using the syringe. Then add the di water to 10ml line.
Press then wait until you see c2. Open and put the packet and also 0.1ml of tank water in and then press button again.

To get the 0.1ml of tank water you need in the step above you use the special pipette. If you press the plunger you will notice it has 2 "stops". Basically what you do is you out in the tank and press to the first stop. Then put into the cuvette and press until the second stop. That will dispense exactly .1ml of tank water into the cuvette.

If I am not mistaken, according to @Randy Holmes-Farley the design is pretty poor. It is open to major fluctuations.

Yes it is, ive been able to produce repeatable numbers finally! After i dont even know how much reagent and frustration. This kit is much to sensitive to to be considered a hobby grade kit. I at hannas recommendation also started to use vapor distilled water. You could actually probably boil it too and you would leave even more calcium out test water. I also have noticed that it helps almost immeasurably to wear some latex gloves to ensure you do not get any finger prints on the cuvette. Also i line up where the 10 ml part of the cuvette is and line that up in the front with a line you draw with a sharpie. It is a colorimeter and the imperfections in the glass could alter results. On top of all that b.s rinse out the cuvette several times and fill the thing with Distilled and leave it in the kit until you test again. Hanna sells their own line of water as well as recommendations for which water to use when your doing your testing. Once i started to follow the processes and procedures verbatim i started to immediatly see the huge swings and gaps start to close.

madweazl · Jan 31, 2020

Yea, I gave up on that rotten piece of equipment. I've had the most repeatable results with the Red Sea Pro kit when it comes to calcium. Hanna is nice for alkalinity and phosphates though.

Mical · Jan 31, 2020

Watch this ->

Terry Mattson · Jan 31, 2020

Mical said:
Watch this ->

Thanks. This video is awesome. Help a lot. Being a vissual learner.

Mical · Jan 31, 2020

Terry Mattson said:
Thanks. This video is awesome. Help a lot. Being a vissual learner.

me also

Terry Mattson · Jan 31, 2020

Mical said:
me also

Just ran test and it red calcium 434. This is close to the red sea I had been using. Thanks for all your guidance.

MichaelReefer · Jan 31, 2020

Terry Mattson said:
I received as a gift the Hanna Calcium tester. Having difficulty understanding the instructions. I read them several times and the instructions never tell you to take a sample of the aquarium saltwater? The first part is mixing with deionize water with chemical then appears to have you place in tester as c1 then add reagent and go to co2. I know this cannot be but I put the test kit up until I understand those instructions. What am I missing?

The instructions were confusing for me as well

Watch this video:

Mical · Jan 31, 2020

Terry Mattson said:
Just ran test and it red calcium 434. This is close to the red sea I had been using. Thanks for all your guidance.

Glad I could help.

madweazl · Jan 31, 2020

Replace artificial bacon with Hanna Ca checker...

ShelaghM · May 22, 2020

ca1ore said:
I gave up .... almost impossible (for clumsy me anyhow) to get reproducible results. Went back to using the API kit.

If your eyes are old like mine, break out the magnifying glass .... one step calls for you to add 0.1 ml of tank water. Then the powder packet I think. Getting exactly 0.1 ml is not easy, and I always seemed to spill some of the powder. Punt!

You need to use the special sgrunge that cones with the kit to get this sea water amount. There are some good YouTube videos showing his to use these kits. Wish they did one for magnesium as I find the ones in the market mire confusing than the Hanna ones.

West1 · Jun 24, 2020

Any updates using the pipette? Consistent numbers??

MichaelReefer · Jun 24, 2020

West1 said:
Any updates using the pipette? Consistent numbers??

I tossed it. Hate those little things. I just bought syringe off amazon.

Phil D. · Jun 24, 2020

Make sure to clean cuvettes with RO water as tap will leave Ca residue and mess up numbers. I have the Hanna Ca checker and love it, I get consistent readings.

West1 · Jun 24, 2020

MichaelReefer said:
I tossed it. Hate those little things. I just bought syringe off amazon.

You tossed it but purchased the hanna syringe?

Phil D. said:
Make sure to clean cuvettes with RO water as tap will leave Ca residue and mess up numbers. I have the Hanna Ca checker and love it, I get consistent readings.

I'm considering one since learning about the syringe. You own the syringe?