Time testing water

[RickLRMS]

My least favorite things to do in this hobby is water testing, and part of the reason is how long it takes (though mostly it's the monotony). I test for salinity (Milwaukee), nitrate (Hanna), phosphate (Hanna), alkalinity (Hanna), calcium (Salifert), and pH (API), and will be adding Mg. It currently takes me well over an hour to test one tank, which includes setting up a folding table (couple of minutes), getting out the kits (couple of minutes), then testing one by one and rinsing vials in RO/DI water, then storing the kits (couple of minutes), and then cleaning off and putting up the table (five minutes). It doesn't seem as if it should take well over an hour but it consistently does. One slowdown is the &($*! Hanna reagent packets. I have a block of wood that I have drilled to hold the vials upright but getting out all the powder is still difficult, I invariably stick my fingers in to spread the packet or push out a wrinkle, so have to wash my hands after getting it in. I guess I need to wear gloves but that would likely make me more clumsy, plus I'd probably still need to wash my hands to avoid cross contamination.

Anyway, anyone have tips or tricks to speed up the process? Or is that about the norm? Thanks.

 

[FiddlersReef]

It always takes me about 40 minutes. But it's some nice quiet time for me on a Sunday morning, so it doesn't bother me. However, I have a work bench in the basement where I have everything (all hanna) I need right there within reach. Plus a squirt of RO water, a dump-jar, etc. So I just sit down and go through them one by one, finishing with Nitrate and Phosphate, because the Nitrate sits for 7 minutes and I can normally get the Phosphate going (3 minutes) so they both finish up within a few seconds of each other.

I did buy a couple 3D printed screw-on funnels for the hanna curvettes that I use for the Nitrate and Phosphate, because they're the only ones so powdery that I have trouble tapping it all out of the packet sometimes. The funnel makes it much simpler and I don't accidentally miss.

I do use scissors to cut open the reagent packets per the directions. Some people try to tear them, and that would be a PITA. Usually just tap them a couple times, cut them open, and expand and everything flows right out.

So if you can set up a permanent little Dr. Science station somewhere it's a big help. Makes it easier for me to actually do it on schedule.

 

[RickLRMS]

It always takes me about 40 minutes. But it's some nice quiet time for me on a Sunday morning, so it doesn't bother me. However, I have a work bench in the basement where I have everything (all hanna) I need right there within reach. Plus a squirt of RO water, a dump-jar, etc. So I just sit down and go through them one by one, finishing with Nitrate and Phosphate, because the Nitrate sits for 7 minutes and I can normally get the Phosphate going (3 minutes) so they both finish up within a few seconds of each other.

I did buy a couple 3D printed screw-on funnels for the hanna curvettes that I use for the Nitrate and Phosphate, because they're the only ones so powdery that I have trouble tapping it all out of the packet sometimes. The funnel makes it much simpler and I don't accidentally miss.

I do use scissors to cut open the reagent packets per the directions. Some people try to tear them, and that would be a PITA. Usually just tap them a couple times, cut them open, and expand and everything flows right out.

So if you can set up a permanent little Dr. Science station somewhere it's a big help. Makes it easier for me to actually do it on schedule.

I have thought about using the seven minutes to get another started; may try that. Any link to the funnels? On the packets, I haven't been folding them and I'll try that next time.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Snoopy 67]

With powdered reagents in a sealed bag I cut the top & shape it into a "V" on 1 side & pour out there, then I split the pack open & tap out any powder left.

 

[FiddlersReef]

I have thought about using the seven minutes to get another started; may try that. Any link to the funnels? On the packets, I haven't been folding them and I'll try that next time.

Thanks for the reply.

Funnels were from Granite State Aquatics (Joshua Sakash) on Facebook. He makes several things related to Hanna checkers. Here's the link

 

[FiddlersReef]

So I’m sitting here doing my Sunday morning tests and I thought of a couple other things that might help you:

1. On the phos and nitrate checker, I wrote “HOLD” with a black marker right below the button. Because I too many times and just clicked it out of habit instead of holding it.
2. I have a microfiber cloth hanging right here so I can quickly wipe the curvette before putting it in.
3. I grab about a cup of tank water before starting, and the syringe I use to grab water from that jar is never used for anything else.
4. An old piece of acrylic on the table top makes drips easy to clean up.

Hope that’s helpful.

 

[RickLRMS]

So I’m sitting here doing my Sunday morning tests and I thought of a couple other things that might help you:

1. On the phos and nitrate checker, I wrote “HOLD” with a black marker right below the button. Because I too many times and just clicked it out of habit instead of holding it.
2. I have a microfiber cloth hanging right here so I can quickly wipe the curvette before putting it in.
3. I grab about a cup of tank water before starting, and the syringe I use to grab water from that jar is never used for anything else.
4. An old piece of acrylic on the table top makes drips easy to clean up.

Hope that’s helpful.

Very helpful, thanks. I do use a jar and syringe dedicated to the the tank, but I like the other tips as well.

 

[homer1475]

Half hour to do Hanna ALK, HR nitrate, and ULR phosphorus. I use salifert for calcium and magnesium.

It helps to have everything in one place(as opposed to all those hanna boxes). Something like this helps:

My regiment is:
Hanna ALK
salifert calcium
Salifert magnesium
Fill both cuvettes for the nitrate and phosphate kits. Start the nitrate kit, shake for 2 minutes, put in egg. The start the phosphate kit. By time the phosphate kit is done, I have about 2 minutes left on the nitrate kit.


AND FWIW.....
You don't need to make sure very drop of reagent is out of the packet. Hanna has stated there is extra in the packet, and not every grain is needed.

 

[RickLRMS]

Half hour to do Hanna ALK, HR nitrate, and ULR phosphorus. I use salifert for calcium and magnesium.

It helps to have everything in one place(as opposed to all those hanna boxes). Something like this helps:

My regiment is:
Hanna ALK
salifert calcium
Salifert magnesium
Fill both cuvettes for the nitrate and phosphate kits. Start the nitrate kit, shake for 2 minutes, put in egg. The start the phosphate kit. By time the phosphate kit is done, I have about 2 minutes left on the nitrate kit.


AND FWIW.....
You don't need to make sure very drop of reagent is out of the packet. Hanna has stated there is extra in the packet, and not every grain is needed.

Very nice setup, and good to know on the “not every grain” detail. Thanks.

 

[Drich5150]

I get everything out first. Small vial of tank water. I do hanna alk. Phosphorus ulr. Nitrate hr. Calcium. Salifert ph. I line up all checkers. Cut open all reagents. Fill all vials with tank water. I test ph first. Then phosphorus 7min wait time. Then do Nitrate 3min wait time alk next then Calcium. Calcium and alk done instantly phosphorus usually done in a few seconds after then nitrates about a min later. Set up takes longer thwn testing but usually have all tests done in 20 min or so.

 

[gbroadbridge]

It's pretty rare for me to test everything on the same day

Alk is twice a week, Phosphate/nitrate every couple of weeks, and Ca, Mg, K and Iodine once a month/6 weeks or so as they barely move.

Salinity, Temp and pH are watched by Profilux.

ICP twice a year.

 

[homer1475]

Very nice setup, and good to know on the “not every grain” detail. Thanks.

Yeah it is very handy. Saw someone post those boxes a while back in the lounge. Had to get one. Think it was like twenty bucks on harbor freight.

 

[olonmv]

I take about 10 minutes to test temp, salinity, alk, calcium, phosphates and nitrates in about ten minutes 15 tops. Thanks Hanna!!!

 

[elysics]

It seems like a big part of your trouble is that folding table. Can you not take a pitcher of tank water somewhere where you have a small table or cupboard or something where you never put the tests away? from your list it seems that would could cut maybe 15 minutes of that time

Also start the next test while in the waiting period of the previous one, you should be easily able to do the calcium and ph tests in the wait time for nitrate and magnesium and alk in the wait time for phosphate

 

[FiddlersReef]

AND FWIW.....
You don't need to make sure very drop of reagent is out of the packet. Hanna has stated there is extra in the packet, and not every grain is needed.

That's good to know! Although since I don't know where that "extra" ends and "at least this much" begins. So I'm probably still going to try to get as much as I can out of the packet. (Not that I've ever stressed about every grain caught in the cracks.)

 

[Someshmuk]

When you're doing testing, save a record on a spreadsheet so you can chart the changes in your system. If you've got programmable dosers, you can account for the drops in the major or minor parameters and maintain a stability that allows you to reduce your testing. I think I test usually every 3-4 weeks on alk and cal. Phosphate/nitrate is managed through an ats and skimmer so I haven't checked phosphate/nitrate in months. The only things I do for maintenance these days is filter sock changing, ato fill up, and glass scraping.

And even then im using hanna checkers for ulr phosphate and alk and red seas calcium tester with one of those mini stir platforms so it puts the time spend to like 10 minutes.

Spend more time working on the corals than working on the tank.

 

[RickLRMS]

However, I have a work bench in the basement where I have everything (all hanna) I need right there within reach. Plus a squirt of RO water, a dump-jar, etc.

Having the RO water at the testing table would certainly help. I already keep some RO in a squirt bottle, but have been taking each vial to the sink to rinse. I just need to use one of the bus tubs I bought for doing patio cooking as a dump tub. I could use the tub to store the test kits between test sessions.

So if you can set up a permanent little Dr. Science station somewhere it's a big help. Makes it easier for me to actually do it on schedule.

Can you not take a pitcher of tank water somewhere where you have a small table or cupboard or something where you never put the tests away?

I had a "testing station" set up in my shop, which houses my RO/DI filters and quarantine tanks and was doing my testing there. But I don't keep the temperature stable in the shop; it's heated and cooled but can vary from low sixties to upper seventies depending on outside temperatures and I was afraid it would impact test results. I'm pretty sure it was causing test errors on salinity checks, even though my test devices (standard refractometers and Milwaukee MA887) are supposed to be auto temperature correcting. So I moved the testing into the house and use the folding table.

I line up all checkers. Cut open all reagents. Fill all vials with tank water.

I use a block of wood drilled to hold a vial stable and use it for testing. I have a strip of UHMW that I now plan to drill to hold multiple vials so I can prefill all. Good suggestion!

The only things I do for maintenance these days is filter sock changing, ato fill up, and glass scraping.

I hope to make it to that point!

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

 

[shakacuz]

takes me about an hour to test water. set up, testing(waiting for the test [NO3 & PO4]), cleaning. it is tedious, but once you make a routine of what you do it kind of helps, imho.

 

[EricR]

New to Hanna checkers so the "HOLD" button thing has bit me. I like the label idea (and wife has a little label printer).

Don't remember which Hanna requires what right this second but it seems like one that I have has a built-in timer for one thing but not for another part of same test -- seems like it should have timer for both.

On the funnel for Hanna reagents thing,,, someone else posted this cheapie funnels so thinking about this (but haven't tried yet):

Small Funnels

 

[gbroadbridge]

It seems to be an annoying 'feature' they built into the hobby seawater testers.

The hold for timer is in copper HR, but not copper LR for example.

I just use a timer and ignore the hold for timer, as you can use the time to ensure the cuvette is clean and no bubbles have formed before hitting the test button.