Thoughts on the Hanna checkers

[DLHDesign]

So you guys really got me leaning towards just the alkalinity checker and just replenish my calcium Red Sea kit. Good idea?

Seems like a good start to me.

I'd caveat that I'd only change up the testing method if/when the tank is stable. If the tank is going through swings, then introducing a potentially different testing result could confuse things. The best option, I'd say, is to overlap the two types of tests enough so that you are familiar with any differences between the two. But that might not be worth buying a whole 'nother round of test kits if you're already out...

 

[Acameron2]

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

I'm on marine depot website and I guess the Red Sea calcium test doesn't have a replacement? Wow...

Never mind I fount it lol

 

[Acameron2]

Seems like a good start to me.

I'd caveat that I'd only change up the testing method if/when the tank is stable. If the tank is going through swings, then introducing a potentially different testing result could confuse things. The best option, I'd say, is to overlap the two types of tests enough so that you are familiar with any differences between the two. But that might not be worth buying a whole 'nother round of test kits if you're already out...

Yea that's my thinking right now. I don't want to mix and match all these test up. I'm just going to replace my Red Sea regiments and snag one of those Hanna alkalinity checkers.

 

[shred5]

I always use two types of checkers. Right now I use Hanna and I use Redsea.
If I get a odd reading I use my other test kit to check the results.
I also do double check once in a while to verify regiments are working, I have had test kits go bad.
I also have had regiments bad when purchased especially Salifert so testing a new test kit against your old test kit is advisable. Redsea has been the best for me so far.

I always have at least two test kits for Calcium, Alk, magnesium. Sometime I have three kits.

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

I've tried both. Hanna calcium is worthless. I repeat, do not buy, waste of money.

For the alk checker, it's ok, but I find tropic marin's alk test to be nicer. You use 5ml of water, then each drop of the reagent is 1 dkh. That's it, it takes about 15 seconds to do an alk test and by the way the drop dilutes, you can see the color change, so you can tell 'between 9 and 10' or once you get used to it 'between 8.5 and 9'.

Don't think I'll ever use anything else for alk. (calcium is a salifert win)

 

[jd371]

Hanna ALK and ULR Phosphate is what I use and are really good. Salifert for Ca, Mg and No3. Although I have the Hanna Calcium tester (bought it before I knew better) I don't use it because it uses such a small sample of testing water I never know if I'm putting enough in and the reading I would get was 100 ppm over what I would get compared to Salifert or Red Sea, not to mention that it's a PITA to use compared to the other two.

 

[Acameron2]

I'm glad I asked my r2r people's first.

 

[BCSreef]

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 have 4 of the Hana checkers. They are much easier to run and quantify than most other kits. The Achilles's heal is the use of 1 ml syringes to measure o.1 ml of reagents and/or sample. I have been developing an validating immunological tests for the last 33 years. It is difficult to accurately measure 0.1 ml with a 1 ml syringe. I would run the Hana test 3 times and get +/- 10-20%. Do yourself a favor and buy an inexpensive pipettor or two. I bought two of these from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IOHL60O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and my reproducibility improved tremendously. They are cheap Chinese knockoffs of what are used in a biomedical labs, but work well in a light duty environment.

 

[mwilk19]

I have been using the Hanna Alk and PO4 low res checkers for a few years now and like them a lot. I got the Calcium as a gift this year. As has been stated earlier, the Calcium is fine but you have to be precise with your measurements and your process. If you are it works fine. Really, that's true with any test kit.

 

[Rick.45cal]

I like the Hanna ULR phosphorus and the Alkalinity checker.

The Hanna Calcium test is WAY too sensitive. The sample size from the aquarium is just 0.1ml. Too small of a sample, any miniscule difference in volume results in HUGE reading differences. They really need to address that fundamental problem with the test. It is the reason why it is nearly impossible to get repeatable results. Don't waste your money.

 

[DMan]

I like the Hanna ULR phosphorus and the Alkalinity checker.

The Hanna Calcium test is WAY too sensitive. The sample size from the aquarium is just 0.1ml. Too small of a sample, any miniscule difference in volume results in HUGE reading differences. They really need to address that fundamental problem with the test. It is the reason why it is nearly impossible to get repeatable results. Don't waste your money.

Exactly. If you could find a way to get 0.1 ml more accurately it would be a great tester. I go between the hannas and Salifert is my favorite non checker tests.

 

[larryrick1]

I've tried Hanna, Salifert, Red Sea, Elos, and API. The following made the cut for me:
Hanna ULN phosphorus 5 stars
Hanna ALKALINITY. 5 stars
Salifert potassium. 5 stars
Red Sea Calcium. 5 stars
Nyos Nitrate. 5 stars
Salifert Magnesium. 5 stars

 

[Shellz]

I have used the low range phosphate for a couple of yrs now, it's spot on. As far as the powder packet, I got a set of funnels all sizes from Target for a buck. The smallest funnel will fit perfectly in the glass vial opening that comes with the test kit, no mishaps for me...works like a charm.

 

[K100286]

I have used all three, but discontinued the calcium checker. Was difficult to use. Red Sea is the one I would stay with. Seems accurate and refills are inexpensive.

 

[Bruce Burnett]

well I have the Hanna alkalinity, calcium and low phosphate they all work well follow the instructions completely. I also use red sea and salifert test kits. The color change can be hard to see but after my cataract surgery it was easier, also on these kits if it says swirl gently or shake that means mix gently or shake the hell out of it. Following the instructions, prepping, and cleaning gives consistent results. Always good to have backups incase a reading does not seem right. Many tests become less frequent when you have everything stable and you learn your tank.

 

[RobinsonReef]

I have 3 of them and here's my experience

Alkalinity - I know a lot of you have it and trust it and get good results but I follow instructions to a T and if I compare my reading to my Red Sea alkalinity test it's usually pretty low. Hannah will show 8.5 and alkalinity is really 6. I noticed sps not happy, bought Red Sea alkalinity and got 6 versus the 8.5. Had my local fish store use Api test and they got 6 as well so Red Sea and Api matched. Now I use Red Sea only. Why bother with Hanna when is 2.5 to 3 dkh high? Don't trust it or have another test to check against.

Phosphate- usually fairly accurate in comparison to Red Sea phosphate

Phosphorous ULR- super handy and accurate at really low levels for me

I won't bother with any more of them. Sure the nyos and Red Sea are somewhat step heavy and take a little longer but they seem to be more reliable and accurate for me. Also the powder reagents that Hanna uses in other tests is a pain to get out of packet and get all into tube. I'd much rather do 3 steps and wait for my results when thousands of dollars of coral and fish rely on the results. Also read all of the tollernce levels and most of them say + or - as much as 3 dkh or ppm tolerance range, that's a big tolerance range for such fine tests. The 3 could mean dead tank. Just my two cents and experience.

 

[jonb154]

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 have the alk, calc and ulr phos the the calc is very easy to get a false reading and requires special water the all is just as accurate as salifert I have checked them against each other, and the ulr phosphate is the only one I have found that reads unbound phosphorous not just phosphate and reads in a much more accurate range, I would go with the Hanna's for the ones besides calcium it's quicker and is just as accurate as the titration tests

 

[jonb154]

I have 4 of the Hana checkers. They are much easier to run and quantify than most other kits. The Achilles's heal is the use of 1 ml syringes to measure o.1 ml of reagents and/or sample. I have been developing an validating immunological tests for the last 33 years. It is difficult to accurately measure 0.1 ml with a 1 ml syringe. I would run the Hana test 3 times and get +/- 10-20%. Do yourself a favor and buy an inexpensive pipettor or two. I bought two of these from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IOHL60O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and my reproducibility improved tremendously. They are cheap Chinese knockoffs of what are used in a biomedical labs, but work well in a light duty environment.

This just changed my life lol I thought I was gonna have to throw the calcium checker away lol

 

[Salty1962]

I use Hanna for Kh,, Ca, and PO3 and they're very good. I do a comparison with RS when a test is weird but for 99% of the time it's pretty spot on.

 

[twreefer]

While I get what seems to be expected results on my Red Sea tests for Ca and Mg, my Alkalinity test is way off the charts. It comes back about 25 dKH every time. Went to my LFS for backup tests, and confirmed all my readings were good, except they were getting 10.6 dKH for my Alk. I don't know what is screwy with my Red Sea alk test, but it is insanely off base.