MI412 Photometer - Can I use different reagents?

[andrewkw]

I've been using a photometer for phosphates longer then most, but this means I have an older photometer. The hanna checkers did not exist back then. I have a Milwaukee MI412 . The reagents are getting harder to find. I see BRS still has them so if I have to use them I'll order from them, but unless I'm doing a big brs order I typically don't order from them anymore, not because I don't love them which I do but because the Canadian dollar hasn't been great in some time and after exchange I can usually do better at Canadian stores.

These reagents say potassium disulfate on them but the hanna ones do not. Are they the same?

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[andrewkw]

So I've tried using the Hanna reagent and got a reading of 0.10 (+ or - .04) so it seems that I get an accurate reading using this reagent or at least accurate enough. Since I only have expired reagent there is no point comparing results and the fact I can't locate the original reagent is the reason I am trying the hanna one to begin with.

Additionally I tested my new frag tank which has some hair algae and it reads 0.16 which is more evidence that it's accurate.

The actual packaging both list one ingredient potassium disulfate. Both are made in Romania so perhaps they even come from the same factory. I did not measure them out since as I'm sure you know it's difficult to get 100 out of the packets every time but they appear to be the same amount in both packets and the powder looks identical. This is not conclusive but probably good enough for me. I don't have a phosphate nor an algae issue but of course it is prudent to at the very least periodically test. I do carbon dose but at a relatively low level and keep nearly identical feeding / water change schedules on a week to week basis. I know most people probably have these hanna meters these days since they are way more common and also cheaper but still good information to have if you have a different device.