Had something similar happen with my Hanna. Got a new bottle as old bottle was low and had leaked a tiny bit and had some crystallization in the case under it. Got my new bottle and did 2 tests back to back and got 8.4(old bottle) and 8.7(new bottle) consistently. (Double tested, exact same results both times) I'm gonna do one more test tomorrow and fill up a icp test while I do it to confirm which is off. I assume the older one but who knows. It isn't expired but maybe it's concentrated a little bit with a loose cap or something?
Well, if it's solely a reagent issue then absolutely not. Keep an eye on it. If your new reagent keeps consistent results, then that's what really matters. If it continues to rise, potential issues. I think .5-1.0 dkH is the safe maximum increase range. If your corals seem happy still, and your tests keep coming back around 9.1, i'd bet it's a reagent skewing results
True, I suppose I was too precise in labeling the reagent vs the test kit as a whole having many variables that could cause issues. I was thinking more along the lines with my Hanna where the only thing I have changed was my reagent and I'm getting different results consistently and can recreate results based on which reagent i use
If the old bottle of reagent was open more than a couple of months it is probably reading low.
I think thats incredibly likely. I have a icp test ready to fill and mail out sitting at the house. I'm planning on testing parameters and filling my test this afternoon with the same bucket of water so I'll be able to confirm numbers
Yep, the Hanna reagents have been known to go bad if they've been open for a while (> 3 months)
