How many Hanna Phosphate Packets have you wasted

[Crimsonvice]

Good tips in here.

 

[recess62]

I have been using the technique in the video for years but still manage to spill the reagent. I just have old shaky hands

 

[BlueCursor]

Hanna nitrate packets are worse. The powder is a finer grain and harder to get out of the packets. Phosphate test seems easy after doing the hana nitrate test.

 

[Tim Olson]

I would waste some powder, when I tried to pour the packet with one hand and hold the cuvette in the other. So I took a small piece of 2x4 and drilled a hole a little bigger than the cuvette. Then I can put the cuvette in the holder and use both hands to carefully pour in the powder. It really made the difference for me. Also, you could buy a cuvette holder if you'd like.

All the best!

 

[pscheel2]

I would waste some powder, when I tried to pour the packet with one hand and hold the cuvette in the other. So I took a small piece of 2x4 and drilled a hole a little bigger than the cuvette. Then I can put the cuvette in the holder and use both hands to carefully pour in the powder. It really made the difference for me. Also, you could buy a cuvette holder if you'd like.

All the best!

I actually made a cuvette holder with some pvc and acrylic. Works very well

 

[lion king]

Let's all email hanna and ask for vials and a spoon for all their powder reagants.

 

[Reef man 89]

Me personally I think when you order new regrets like the alk one it comes with a new syringe it should come with a new vials as well

 

[Mindi]

Terrible design but easily overcome. Don't try and pour from the packet, you cant get it all out nor will it all go in the vile. Fold a piece of paper in half and form a hard crease. Empty the entire packet contents on to the crease and simply tip it in. The point of the paper goes nicely into vile top so it cant get out.

Exactly what i do...and to stop some of the powder sticking at the top of the vial, dry the rim with the polishing cloth already in your hand. Then all the reagent will slide straight in ...works every time.

 

[BlennyKravitz]

Terrible design but easily overcome. Don't try and pour from the packet, you cant get it all out nor will it all go in the vile. Fold a piece of paper in half and form a hard crease. Empty the entire packet contents on to the crease and simply tip it in. The point of the paper goes nicely into vile top so it cant get out.

YES! Try wax paper or something plastic you can crease nicely. Definitely takes the headache out of this!

 

[puffy127]

What frustrates me the most is the timeout between C1 and C2 and also making you hold down the button after adding C2. I've wasted my share of packets because I waited too long before adding c2 and it timed out on me or forgot to hold down the button after adding c2. Really don't understand the rationale for this design.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

You get the powdered reagent ready before you test then you don't time out

 

[xjiang7]

Cut two sides then fold a line into the vial

 

[Urbanknight]

Use these and never spill any again! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009CZEQ36/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ditto! I use the same ones and haven't lost any yet.

 

[Breadman03]

Me personally I think when you order new regrets like the alk one it comes with a new syringe it should come with a new vials as well

Hanna does sell the vials separately.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

What frustrates me the most is the timeout between C1 and C2 and also making you hold down the button after adding C2. I've wasted my share of packets because I waited too long before adding c2 and it timed out on me or forgot to hold down the button after adding c2. Really don't understand the rationale for this design.

You get two curvetes with each tester. One for C1 and one for C2. Complete all steps up to C1 in the first curvete then do the steps for C2 in the second curvete. Turn on the meter and you have two curvetes ready to go as soon as your meter is ready.

 

[mcarroll]

You get two curvetes with each tester. One for C1 and one for C2. Complete all steps up to C1 in the first curvete then do the steps for C2 in the second curvete. Turn on the meter and you have two curvetes ready to go as soon as your meter is ready.

I usually do it that way too, but that's not the correct way to run the test on their meter:
http://hannainst.com/downloads/dl/file/id/1069/ist736_13_05_10.pdf

Using two separate cuvettes for testing opens up the test to variability in sample as well as variability in cuvette glass.

I believe our accuracy suffers for doing this easier routine. It's easier so I still do it, but with a fudge factor in mind.

Honestly I'm going to try some of the tips here for getting the powder ready quicker – like pre-loading it onto a folded piece of foil or paper.

I may also try filtering my samples somehow, given their remark in the manual about debris.....I always see little stuff in the sample water. Not sure how.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I usually do it that way too, but that's not the correct way to run the test on their meter:
http://hannainst.com/downloads/dl/file/id/1069/ist736_13_05_10.pdf

Using two separate cuvettes for testing opens up the test to variability in sample as well as variability in cuvette glass.

I believe our accuracy suffers for doing this easier routine. It's easier so I still do it, but with a fudge factor in mind.

Honestly I'm going to try some of the tips here for getting the powder ready quicker – like pre-loading it onto a folded piece of foil or paper.

I may also try filtering my samples somehow, given their remark in the manual about debris.....I always see little stuff in the sample water. Not sure how.

There is no way to test the ulr phosphate them. You have to mix the powder for 2 minutes between C1 and C2 and my meter turned off when I tried that making me waste a reagent packet.

 

[mcarroll]

It should have a 3 minute shut-off I think.

If you haven't used a stopwatch, that could help – 2 minutes can go by in a flash if you have to cut packets open and fiddle with getting powder out of the packet. I've done the stopwatch thing a number of times during testing to keep myself on-schedule.

 

[VP616]

DIY Post-It note funnel works pretty well.

 

[recess62]

You definitely need to prepare everything prior to turning on the unit. If not I also find it times out. I have modified my technique for pouring the reagent and so far no spills I ordered the funnels. I hope these will eliminate any additional human error. Lol