Test kits- should I get hanna

[Jonathan Troutt]

Hey guys. So I have been throwing around the idea of getting a Hanna colorimeter for phosphorus. Given that test kits don’t measure as low as the Hanna product.

But when it comes to other parameters like alk, calcium, nitrate, etc is there any benefit to using hanna colorimeters?

 

[Matt Carden]

My Salifert only goes to 0.03, I can increase sensitivity to 0.015 using twice the reagents.

 

[jrill]

Hey guys. So I have been throwing around the idea of getting a Hanna colorimeter for phosphorus. Given that test kits don’t measure as low as the Hanna product.

But when it comes to other parameters like alk, calcium, nitrate, etc is there any benefit to using hanna colorimeters?

Yes, you don't have to interrupt colors. The ALK is one I would not want to reef without.

 

[saltyhog]

Hanna ULR for phosphorus and alkalinity are great. Wouldn't be without them. Hanna calcium can also be good with proper procedures.

Everything else I use Salifert, RedSea or NYOS.

 

[cracker]

I like the hanna ulr & alk testers. The Ca kits seem as complicated . I use the REd Sea kits for Ca & mg .

 

[Special K]

love my hanna ALK plan to get the ULR phos next

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

For you guys that have them why do you like them better than regular kits like salifert.

I’ve only used salifert kits

 

[Salt1972]

We use Hanna for Alk, Ca, & PO4. I'm TERRIBLE at interpreting the colors on other tests - Red Sea, Salifert, API, etc... There are some threads questioning the accuracy of the Hanna tests, but we see very consistent results-- so, if they're off, they're consistently off which is what is important to us. We log results weekly and when corals change, we look for trends. Wouldn't go back. Having a definitive number gives us more confidence in the result.

We use NYOS for nitrate and mag. Though they rely on color interpretation, they do so with a color comparison that we've found much easer to discern.

 

[Matt Carden]

Yes, you don't have to interrupt colors. The ALK is one I would not want to reef without.

 

[Matt Carden]

I will be getting the phosphorus Hanna for the Ultra Low part of it.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

I can understand the issue with color interpretation of kits. But for instance the calcium and all kits from salifert rely on a color change.

So why replace salifert with Hanna for those?


I can totally agree with replacing the kits that require an interpretation of color. Salifert nitrate for example

 

[Special K]

the hanna alk is really easy to use that is why i like it. I do not like the ones where i have to figure out what color it is.

 

[Pmj]

The salifert alk is so easy to use. Hanna ULR for phos is great, but is a huge pain to use. I would hope their alk isnt anything like it.

 

[VR28man]

IMO it’s a wash.

I used the Hanna Alk for a year; when I ran out of reagent last I started using the saliferr because it was too late to go get more reagent.

I think the Hana is slightly easier to use. Neither of them are more accurate beyond 0.3 DKH, in my opinion, because the Hanna explicitly says so (The number it gives is there for a bit deceptive, if you’re not careful), and the Salifert titration method is kind of tricky.

 

[garbled]

The hanna is super easy to use, so I'm more likely to do it often, as opposed to obnoxious tests like nitrate that take 30 minutes and drive me nuts so I hate doing them...

 

[saltyhog]

Hanna alkalinity and phosphorus have been spot on with my ICP tests every time. Salifert seems to underestimate alk for me.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

Well I am gonna get a phosphorus one

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Well I am gonna get a phosphorus one

The new version RedSea Pro PO4 test is a low & high range test kit & especially easy & difinitive to read at LOW range. Far better than the salifert,its as accurate as any hobbiest needs, & so I'd never bother with a Hanna

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

The new version RedSea Pro PO4 test is a low & high range test kit & especially easy & difinitive to read at LOW range. Far better than the salifert,its as accurate as any hobbiest needs, & so I'd never bother with a Hanna

The review on BRS are not good for that test kit. I take reviews to heart when looking at products.

 

[cracker]

As mentioned above, they cut down steps & foul ups guessing colors .