Thoughts on the Hanna checkers

Acameron2

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I recently just ran out of alkalinity test and calcium test on my Red Sea test kits. Question is should I just buy more of the Red Sea kits or move on to the Hanna checkers? Looks like a more user friendly option on the checkers. I'd like to hear what people think of the calcium and alkalinity checkers as well.
 
I use the phosphate checker by hanna only because the red sea, salifert and nyos tests are very tedious and time consuming. As far as the others, I don't have much experience other than user reviews that always say that, salifert, red sea and nyos are more accurate for calcium, mag and alk.
 
I have the Hanna Ultra Low Phosphate and Alkalinity dKH checker right now. Just order the Calcium check today, should be delivered tomorrow. I love the hanna checkers, I have had no issues with them as of yet.
 
I have alk which is the best I've had, I have calcium which I don't particularly like because of the sensitivity to user error. I am also using Phosphorus ULR with success.
 
I have alk which is the best I've had, I have calcium which I don't particularly like because of the sensitivity to user error. I am also using Phosphorus ULR with success.

So the calcium checker is tough as in the steps to go through? I was you tubing it and some people say it gives different readings back to back.
 
I use my Hanna Alk checker pretty much every day. It's likely an overkill, but the solution isn't prohibitively costly and the actual test is easy. Based on the reviews from BRS, it's a pretty accurate reading, but I've not yet confirmed that.
I've got the Red Sea kit on the way (for Calc and Mag testing, mostly) and I'll be doing a few cross-checks as well (because why not). Other reviews I've seen gave the impression that the other testers (Cal, Mag, and Ph) were not as effective. I'll likely pick up the complete set at some point as they are easy enough to use and likely accurate enough to serve for "every day" use. I'll keep a more accurate/reliable test kit around so that if I get any numbers that seem strange, I'll use the kit as a "second opinion".
One thing that I would suggest if you're doing every-day testing would be to pick up a 10ml syringe. Filling the vial exactly to the 10ml line certainly is not hard, but it's a lot easier if you can just use a syringe to suck up just the right amount every time.

Note that I like the idea of testing every day. I'm a pattern/numbers kind of person, so I like to have lots of data points to help me figure stuff out. I'm sure that I'm doing way more measuring than is needed, so if I were following a more normal testing regime, the Hanna checkers would likely not have as much of a draw.
 
Well it's not tough to follow but it's not consistent as people are saying not because of the instrument but because it needs a much more attentive user. The two steps that are hurting it are a) needing to put 0.1 cc's of tank water with a 1cc syringe which is really hard and b) the packet reagent is cumbersome to deal with. I would not recommend that one. I would definitely recommend the alk and P ULR though...
 
I've experienced that some websites/retailers will filter negative reviews. Amazon and BRS are my two goto's for reviews.

Oh I believe it! It's business.

I'm looking at getting them from marine depot.
As I found they are map priced (whatever they do) can't get away from the $49.99 price at all.
 
Oh I believe it! It's business.

I'm looking at getting them from marine depot.
As I found they are map priced (whatever they do) can't get away from the $49.99 price at all.
That's one in particular i'm referring to lol :cool:
 
I use my Hanna Alk checker pretty much every day. It's likely an overkill, but the solution isn't prohibitively costly and the actual test is easy. Based on the reviews from BRS, it's a pretty accurate reading, but I've not yet confirmed that.
I've got the Red Sea kit on the way (for Calc and Mag testing, mostly) and I'll be doing a few cross-checks as well (because why not). Other reviews I've seen gave the impression that the other testers (Cal, Mag, and Ph) were not as effective. I'll likely pick up the complete set at some point as they are easy enough to use and likely accurate enough to serve for "every day" use. I'll keep a more accurate/reliable test kit around so that if I get any numbers that seem strange, I'll use the kit as a "second opinion".
One thing that I would suggest if you're doing every-day testing would be to pick up a 10ml syringe. Filling the vial exactly to the 10ml line certainly is not hard, but it's a lot easier if you can just use a syringe to suck up just the right amount every time.

Note that I like the idea of testing every day. I'm a pattern/numbers kind of person, so I like to have lots of data points to help me figure stuff out. I'm sure that I'm doing way more measuring than is needed, so if I were following a more normal testing regime, the Hanna checkers would likely not have as much of a draw.

And for me I've found to be testing way more alk and calcium more often then magnesium. My mag doesn't really fall short much. But I do use Red Sea coral pro salt which is pretty high in the big three and is a plus to use all the same brand stuff I guess. So you guys really got me leaning towards just the alkalinity checker and just replenish my calcium Red Sea kit. Good idea?
 
Alkalinity and Phosphorous ULR is a definite yes. Calcium, not so much. I use Salifert for Calcium, Magnesium and Nitrate.
 
I recently just ran out of alkalinity test and calcium test on my Red Sea test kits. Question is should I just buy more of the Red Sea kits or move on to the Hanna checkers? Looks like a more user friendly option on the checkers. I'd like to hear what people think of the calcium and alkalinity checkers as well.
Honestly, with every test kit you ahould always have a backup just incase. Ive not had one problem with my alk checker and i love it, but occasionally wip out the salifert just to double check
 
I've been digging the Nyos test kits lately. I use the Nyos Mag test and really like it as it seems easier to read for magnesium. I use salifert for calcium and alk, though. I want to try the red sea kit next for calcium and will most likely switch to hanna checker for alk.
 
Honestly, with every test kit you ahould always have a backup just incase. Ive not had one problem with my alk checker and i love it, but occasionally wip out the salifert just to double check

True! And good practice too

I swear I think I'm slight color blind though when it comes to these color tests as I hand over the chart to my wife and say yea what you think lol
 
So you guys really got me leaning towards just the alkalinity checker and just replenish my calcium Red Sea kit. Good idea?

Agreed. I don't know what replenishing your red sea will be but I really like the price point and accuracy of the salifert.
 

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