Hanna Checker Showing Tank Killing Results

[ShaggyRS6]

So I got Nitrite, ammonia and Phosphate test kits from Hanna and was nearly floored by a Nitrite Reading of 19 and Ammonia of 3! Now I now my tank is young but as you will see below things don’t look too shabby I tested with Red Sea kit and Salifert. Both Zero.

Anyone else had issues?

 

[ndrwater]

Sounds like a testing error. Go back and read the directions and follow them implicitly.
Also point of note, fingerprints on the cuvettes will throw off the readings.
Also.. check the reagent expiration date.
Hanna are usually very accurate.
Looking at your tank, which looks great, I would think at 3ppm ammonia, you'd see adverse effects

 

[ShaggyRS6]

Sounds like a testing error. Go back and read the directions and follow them implicitly.
Also point of note, fingerprints on the cuvettes will throw off the readings.
Also.. check the reagent expiration date.
Hanna are usually very accurate.
Looking at your tank, which looks great, I would think at 3ppm ammonia, you'd see adverse effects

I have been religiously cleaning the cuvettes before putting them in both the test sample and then the sample with the powder. I'll take a look at the expiration date

 

[ShaggyRS6]

Checked the powder dates. Exp 2023. To be clear the readings I quoted were the ones displayed on the machine. I did not do the multiplication was not sure I needed to do that? Also, each time I have done the Ammonia test it gives a 3.00 and is blinking.

 

[ShaggyRS6]

Ok so the Nitrite tester I have is PPB - if I do the conversation I have 0.06 Nitrites which I believe is well within limits. Randy’s suggested norm is 0.2.

The Ammonia there must be something because is keeps giving me 3.0 and flashes. I’ll try again tomorrow with that!

 

[Dan_P]

So I got Nitrite, ammonia and Phosphate test kits from Hanna and was nearly floored by a Nitrite Reading of 19 and Ammonia of 3! Now I now my tank is young but as you will see below things don’t look too shabby I tested with Red Sea kit and Salifert. Both Zero.

Anyone else had issues?

Would you confirm that the Hannah Checkers are satwater compatible?

 

[ShaggyRS6]

Would you confirm that the Hannah Checkers are satwater compatible?

I got them from Marine Depot so I had assumed they were!

 

[homer1475]

Just checked on @MarineDepot they do not even carry those hanna checkers. Even checked on @Bulk Reef Supply , no nitrate or ammonia kits for marine. They do have those kits for freshwater though.

 

[homer1475]

is your Ammonia checker yellow? If so thats a FW checker. I thought they had a nitrate checker, but can't seem to find it on either site.

 

[clm65]

is your Ammonia checker yellow? If so thats a FW checker. I thought they had a nitrate checker, but can't seem to find it on either site.

unfortunately they do not make a nitrate checker. Nitrite yes, but not nitrate.

 

[ShaggyRS6]

unfortunately they do not make a nitrate checker. Nitrite yes, but not nitrate.

Huh well then I f’d up and got a fresh water Ammonia Kit !! I had just assumed they were for salt water! Well that sorts that out then! I guess I should keep it as I will be building a fresh water nano at some point ! I’ll justify this stupidness as excellent forward thinking on my part

 

[dadnjesse]

The nitrite Hana checker is for fresh water I made the same mistake and bought one. Waste of money.

 

[ShaggyRS6]

The nitrite Hana checker is for fresh water I made the same mistake and bought one. Waste of money.

Are you sure? Hanna Checker HI764 Nitrite Ultra Low Range for marine water (saltwater). Contains Standard

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don’t believe the nitrite is that high, but assuming it is, it is not a tox concern and I’d ignore it.

the ammonia could be real, and if it is, is a serious problem.

 

[ShaggyRS6]

I don’t believe the nitrite is that high, but assuming it is, it is not a tox concern and I’d ignore it.

the ammonia could be real, and if it is, is a serious problem.

Seems the Ammonia tester is not for salt water Randy and that’s why it is giving me a flashing 3.0 result constantly. 2 other test kits show zero

 

[dadnjesse]

Are you sure? Hanna Checker HI764 Nitrite Ultra Low Range for marine water (saltwater). Contains Standard

No actually I thought I bought a Nitrate checker and got the Nitrite one sorry.

 

[taricha]

@ShaggyRS6 can you link us, or give model numbers for exactly which checkers you have?

There are several Hanna checkers that they claim are not for saltwater, but do well anyway (Silica, Iron) - just not within Hanna's stated uncertainties probably due to interferences.
I don't know if the ammonia test is one of these that "sorta works" or if the chemistry totally fails in saltwater.

 

[ShaggyRS6]

Yeah I only got the Nitrite, Pho’s and Ammonia. The first two are working, the issue I had with the Nitrite is it measures in Parts per Billion. So the 19 reading I get actually means a very low reading, and nothing to worry about, something a normal test kit would not even show up. I don’t think the Ammonia is meant for Salt water . Just gives me an error.

 

[rmurken]

Yeah I only got the Nitrite, Pho’s and Ammonia. The first two are working, the issue I had with the Nitrite is it measures in Parts per Billion. So the 19 reading I get actually means a very low reading, and nothing to worry about, something a normal test kit would not even show up. I don’t think the Ammonia is meant for Salt water . Just gives me an error.

IMO the good old API ammonia test is probably enough for most purposes: anything greenish means ammonia is present at a problematic level and either your cycle is not complete, or in an established tank, that something is very wrong and you need to take action.

 

[Lightspeed]

Lol, i have been wondering why i keep getting 3.0 flashing on LR checker, i even diluted my sample to 3/10ths to make sure it was working, and it was, and both Elos and API read zero, in my defense though i did not buy it new and purchased 7 checkers from a guy who had a brand new dislay he had shutdown, because he could not get his chemistry stable. Well i guess i can stop freaking out now, and that mystery is solved.

I guess i can keep it for testing my RO.