One Hanna Checker to rule them ALL!!

[Pistondog]

Have had 2 hanna failures, 1 alk, 1 lr nitrate. Out $50 each time.
If this fails, out $400. No thank you.
All the eggs in one basket for more money.

 

[jacalhou]

Is this something a new reefer should consider? There are so many products out there it can get a bit overwhelming. My 40 gallon cube reef will be wet by next weekend.

Sure, you can consider it and weigh your options. Each individual checker is around 50 bucks. If you bought them individually, you would pay less than this. You would also have less to replace, should something happen to the individual units. With individual ones, you can also start multiple tests at a time while waiting for the timers, which you can’t really with this one. Individual ones let you spend less for ones you’ll use most, such as Nitrate, Phosphate, Calcium (many people dislike this one) etc. Those are some of the main benefits of buying individually.

The pros for the Marine Master would be saving space and clutter, step by step on-screen instructions for each test, storage of results (which the others don’t do), being waterproof (for those that might carelessly wet their checker), easier battery access without needing a screwdriver, a more solid method of securing the cuvette in place during testing and “supposedly” more accurate tests with less chance of human error. The big benefit IMO is being able to calibrate it with a standard solution which is apparently included.

Are those benefits worth the extra cash you’ll spend vs. just the ones you really need to use a lot? Only the individual can decide that for themselves. One thing is for certain: this hobby isn’t for the faint of heart when it comes to spending money.

 

[pelicansreef]

This may be a good idea for someone that does a lot of tank maintenance for customers. You have a small package to do multiple test types and can maintain a log on multiple tanks. It looks like a compact package that you can bring into customer's home or work location and preform your tests and log the results as well as look at tank test history to be able to spot trends.
For the average reefer with 1 or 2 tanks at home I don't see any benefit. Space for test eggs and logging test results is generally not a problem given all the other stuff necessary to keep a tank. The price doesn't seem out of line if you don't have any of the individual units but loss of testing ability in case of failure seems like a significant issue.

 

[DIYreefer]

I’d pay $800!

That was my number as well. Lol.

 

[Aquarist76]

Maybe if I didn't have any of those testers already but I do so this isn't for me. If it could test all those things off of one sample...now we're talking!!!

 

[jimo]

It's a great concept - I recently told my wife that they should make a universal checker, since they're all just colorimeters. They must have been eavesdropping. Downsides are... price compared to individual testers, including tests one doesn't do very often, not being able to do a bunch of tests at once that all need a 5 minute wait. Advantages: automatic data logging, less gadgets to deal with. I'd personally pass on this. A device that housed several colorimeters to speed testing would really be nice. Also one that could be updated to handle additional tests... again, just a colorimeter.

 

[FishyFishFish]

The big benefit IMO is being able to calibrate it with a standard solution which is apparently included.

You can't calibrate it and the standards aren't included. You can check the calibration but if it fails then you have to contact Hanna; it works exactly like the individual testers. I can't find the price of the standards but the other, similar, ones are $125 for the set.

It also only comes with 2 cuvettes, whereas the individual testers come with 2 each (so you would have 14 if you bought 7 of the individual testers) - a pack of 4 cuvettes for the multi tester is $33 including the caps. The benefit of the extra cuvettes is that you can use a clean, dry cuvette every time.

The only benefit that I can see is the data logging - for everything else it looks better (and cheaper) to stick with the individual testers.


Edited as I thought it did 8 tests when it only actually does 7, so the individual testers work out to be $50 cheaper And that is if you buy all of them. A lot of people won't need nitrite and both the low and high range nitrate (and maybe not even PH either).

I'll stick with my Alk, Phosphate and Nitrate HR, which cost me a total of $150. I'll put the $250 I've 'saved' towards something else.

 

[paparoof]

I test PH with a handheld meter that only requires nothing more than a button push.

Individual Alk, Calc, NO3, PO4 testers are $200.

So you're paying $200 for the advantage of three fewer things to put away (and the disadvantage of depending on a single point of failure)?

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I typically run nitrate and phos at the same time, shake both for 2 mins at the same time and the run them. This would actually increase time to run them. At 400, I think it’s best to just get the few things you need accurate results for. For me, alk, nitrate phosphate. API can cover the rest.

 

[bnord]

if you have those kits already in your kit as many of us do, then the “savings” are diminished further
having the data log is real nice

but 400 bucks and then unused kits in the drawer?

the videos from Minnesota used to feel more informative and helpful and are becoming more of a shill job since the new owners came in - that’s a fact jack

 

[jacalhou]

You can't calibrate it and the standards aren't included. You can check the calibration but if it fails then you have to contact Hanna; it works exactly like the individual testers. I can't find the price of the standards but the other, similar, ones are $125 for the set.

You can't calibrate it and the standards aren't included. You can check the calibration but if it fails then you have to contact Hanna; it works exactly like the individual testers. I can't find the price of the standards but the other, similar, ones are $125 for the set.

It also only comes with 2 cuvettes, whereas the individual testers come with 2 each (so you would have 14 if you bought 7 of the individual testers) - a pack of 4 cuvettes for the multi tester is $33 including the caps. The benefit of the extra cuvettes is that you can use a clean, dry cuvette every time.

The only benefit that I can see is the data logging - for everything else it looks better (and cheaper) to stick with the individual testers.


Edited as I thought it did 8 tests when it only actually does 7, so the individual testers work out to be $50 cheaper And that is if you buy all of them. A lot of people won't need nitrite and both the low and high range nitrate (and maybe not even PH either).

I'll stick with my Alk, Phosphate and Nitrate HR, which cost me a total of $150. I'll put the $250 I've 'saved' towards something else.

From their description and a video I saw somewhere, you can calibrate it. I did misspeak when saying it came with calibration standard, as it doesn’t appear that it does. See pic from the description on BRS site as well as Hanna’s site. Their wording says the unit will guide you through calibration. Now, I don’t have it, so I can’t guarantee it based on my usage, but it says what it says. ‍ https://www.hannainst.com/marine-master-waterproof-multiparameter-photometer-hi97105.html

 

[FishyFishFish]

Indeed. I saw that on the BRS site and wondered where they had got that from. Then I saw the exact same thing on the Hanna website.

However, the manual states:

With the CAL Check™ functionality, users are able to validate the performance of the instrument at any time.

When the CAL Check is complete, the display will show one of the following messages and the value obtained during the measurement: • “PASSED“: The measured value is within the accuracy specification. • “OUT OF SPECIFICATION“: The measured value is outside of the tolerance window. Check the certified value, expiration date and clean the outside of the cuvette. Repeat the CAL Check procedure. If this error continues, contact your nearest Hanna Instruments® Customer Service Center.

Nowhere in the manual does it state that it can be calibrated, only that the calibration can be checked. I don't have the unit either so make of that what you will.

 

[Max93]

Thanks for sharing this, I saw a video earlier on it. I genuinely thought it tested all parameters at the same time with one swing at it.

 

[Opus]

I’ll be staying with the individual test units. I like avoiding a single point of failure, and at this price point that’s what I see it as. As a product manager, I would recommend market research from your community members before bringing something like this to market. At minimum and at this price I would expect it have Bluetooth access to an app used on a smart device. And second, minimize the number of reagents needed to be used so I can get more test done in shorter period of time. I’d pay $800!

We had that and they went out of business. It was cloud based though.

 

[Kfactor]

It’s nice but if something messes up is it all messed up ?

 

[Elena Y]

I would definitely go with individual tests. It takes me about 10-15 min to perform all the tests simultaneously, but with this machine it will take about an hour to do them one by one. Read the manual on Hanna's website. Several tests have build -in 8-15 min count down timers. Also, if one of the little checkers breaks, I still have the others running and it is only $50 to replace.

 

[Key Largo]

Personally, I see no benefit over just getting the checkers you need.

The manual shows that each test is different chemicals used:

https://www.hannainst.com/hubfs/product-manuals/MAN97105_09_21.pdf?hsLang=en

Marine Master Waterproof Multiparameter Photometer - HI97105

The HI97105 is a compact and versatile Marine multiparameter photometer designed to accurately determine pH, Alkalinity, Calcium, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Phosphate levels in aquariums and marine biology applications.

www.hannainst.com

Each HI97105C is supplied with:

• Sample cuvette (2 pcs.)
• Sample cuvette cap (2 pcs.)
• Marine pH reagent, 30 mL dropper (1 pc.)
• Marine Alkalinity reagent, 30 mL (1 pc.)
• Marine Calcium reagent A, 30 mL (1 pc.)
• Marine Calcium reagent B starter kit (reagent for 25 tests)
• Marine Nitrate High Range starter kit (reagent for 25 tests)
• Marine Nitrite Ultra Low Range starter kit (reagent for 25 tests)
• Marine Phosphate Ultra Low Range starter kit (reagent for 25 tests)

I agree Randy, no benefit. As a matter of fact it may be a detriment. Like when you would buy an all in one vcr/tv/dvd combo. If you lost the TV you lost everything. In this case if the device goes bad, you test nothing.

 

[biecacka]

Would be more palatable if it tested everything with one test. But having it to run multiple tests for multiple parameters doesn’t excite me much.
Now, maybe if I had none of their equipment I would consider it to save clutter etc. but since I own a few already it doesn’t make much sense.

corey

 

[Cell]

If the market for this is existing reefers, well most already have the Hanna testers they want. If it's for new reefers, the price point is too high. I struggle to understand then just who the target audience is for this product.

 

[tharbin]

As I don't have any Hanna checkers yet, I was initially excited about this product. I wondered why there wasn't just one colorimeter for all the test already available. In looking at the details though, I'll pass on this. I like the logging and on screen instructions, ambivalent about the waterproof, easier battery access and single point of failure but totally completely and irreversibly put off by the price. It should be at least 50, if not 100 dollars, less than the individual tests it replaces. It feels like Hanna is just doing a money grab.