Hanna Checker Cuvette Mixer

[BaliReefBox]

I'll be there soon. Some soldering then some programming :)

this one will definitely mix it faster and more vigorously.....it's RED

 

[Seregus]

I was about to make my own, and I will have to, because I use different cuvette types, they are from Marine Master, but i like your design so I’ll adapt. Also I wanted to have like 5-6 buttons so I can select which test it executes and rotates for specific time and specific intensity.

Once complete share here probably

 

[Biff0rz]

I was about to make my own, and I will have to, because I use different cuvette types, they are from Marine Master, but i like your design so I’ll adapt. Also I wanted to have like 5-6 buttons so I can select which test it executes and rotates for specific time and specific intensity.

Once complete share here probably

I eventually switched over to a stirrer, works great and with different cuvette sizes. Just need some small pills. That said, this was still a fun project!

 

[Seregus]

This is exactly why i do not like them - magnetic stirrers. I mean i love them in general, but not for those little cuvettes… plus extra item to clean, make sure you did not put a dirty one from one test to another… nah not for me

 

[JulesH]

Hey Fellow Reefers,

I wanted to share a cuvette mixer I made to mix the dry Hanna Checker reagents. I use this for the phosphate checker (2 min mix time), and the Calcium checker (15s mix).

It runs off of 2 AA batteries, there is a voltage boost board to get the ~3V battery voltage up to the operating range of an Arduino nano. The nano is connected to a micro-servo which rotates the cuvette back and forth 180 degrees before stopping after 2 mins. Spend more time reefing and less time mixing!

Fantastic, great bit of innovation!

 

[Kooma]

Hey Fellow Reefers,

I wanted to share a cuvette mixer I made to mix the dry Hanna Checker reagents. I use this for the phosphate checker (2 min mix time), and the Calcium checker (15s mix).

It runs off of 2 AA batteries, there is a voltage boost board to get the ~3V battery voltage up to the operating range of an Arduino nano. The nano is connected to a micro-servo which rotates the cuvette back and forth 180 degrees before stopping after 2 mins. Spend more time reefing and less time mixing!

Thats cool! Only thing id say is swap the motor for a stepper motor to get rid of the noise.

 

[Biff0rz]

This is exactly why i do not like them - magnetic stirrers. I mean i love them in general, but not for those little cuvettes… plus extra item to clean, make sure you did not put a dirty one from one test to another… nah not for me

you're over-complicating it. Amazon sells tiny mag stirrer pills for cheap that fit inside the hanna (or other) cuvettes. They give you 6 or so at a time. And cleaning them is a simple rinse/wipe and move on. Cross contamination of tests could occur if you swap the magnetic stirrer but if they give you 6....why would you even do that? It's not realistic. I'm able to get no3, po4, ca, mg tests done in ~10m weekly.

amazon small pills that work in hanna cuvette: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHFLNZ8?th=1
cheap stirrer: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/smart-stir-magnetic-stirrer-for-test-kits-autoaqua.html

I've used both - the 3d printed on in this thread, and the stirrer. The stirrer direction is better.

 

[mmorrison55]

Cool… make it with a built in timer and I’ll buy one.

 

[Seregus]

you're over-complicating it. Amazon sells tiny mag stirrer pills for cheap that fit inside the hanna (or other) cuvettes. They give you 6 or so at a time. And cleaning them is a simple rinse/wipe and move on. Cross contamination of tests could occur if you swap the magnetic stirrer but if they give you 6....why would you even do that? It's not realistic. I'm able to get no3, po4, ca, mg tests done in ~10m weekly.

amazon small pills that work in hanna cuvette: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FHFLNZ8?th=1
cheap stirrer: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/smart-stir-magnetic-stirrer-for-test-kits-autoaqua.html

I've used both - the 3d printed on in this thread, and the stirrer. The stirrer direction is better.

I know they work, but Iwill be too much under stress about ‘have i cleaned it? Have i took a new one?’ And also its a fun project for me also with each button each test I will not have to remember how intense i should rotate and for how long (buzzer added). So individual timer for each test. Even including - leave it for 30 seconds for bubbles to go off.
I do not think one cheap magnetic one can do this?

 

[Biff0rz]

I know they work, but Iwill be too much under stress about ‘have i cleaned it? Have i took a new one?’ And also its a fun project for me also with each button each test I will not have to remember how intense i should rotate and for how long (buzzer added). So individual timer for each test. Even including - leave it for 30 seconds for bubbles to go off.
I do not think one cheap magnetic one can do this?

I just set a timer and mix. The instructions by hanna are strange -- "Shake gently for about 2 minutes" vs "Shake vigorously for 2 minutes". I've used both methods at the same time on both tests, the results were the same. The margin is so slim 1-5% that even if they are different, you're not likely to take a different action based on that difference.

The downside with the cuvette project here is the cuvettes leak at times (even w a tight cap) and causes you to re-clean them before getting the results. I found it quite annoying. With the stirrer, there's none of that.

 

[Seregus]

Cuvettes should not leak if you put a plastic white stopper as manual suggest, but I guess nobody does it because its makes the whole process much more complicated and difficult?

 

[bristleworm]

I'm going to build two, the second one I'm going to work on over the window to put a little screen on it so you can select agitation times.

 

[exnisstech]

Just in case someone stops by and wants an alternative. I use a Smart stir with a piece of 3/4 pvc inserted as an adapter and hanna cuvettes fit perfectly. Remove the pvc and salifert vials fit.
I did find my mine on clearance for $5 each. Retail price is a bit high but it is convenient especially if your running multiple N and P test as I usually do.

 

[Seregus]

I’m waiting for super fast servo. Will be 0.02s per 60 degree. 3d printed cuvette holder which is easy to put cuvette in it does not touch glass and does not rely on plastic pressure. Once all assembled will post all the details hope a couple of weeks

 

[bristleworm]

Question, I loaded up the body step file in my slicer and it's all in one piece and I dont see a way to get in for the electronics. Am I just not seeing a seam?