Hanna Checkers

[Sinkers]

Hi guys, new reefer here.

I am wondering which Hanna checkers you would use mostly and I should get first? I am thinking Nitrate, Phosphorus and Alkalinity?

I was hoping to get away with two or three for the time being.

Any others worth getting in the future or stick with other test kits for calcium, magnesium etc?

 

[VintageReefer]

Hi guys, new reefer here.

I am wondering which Hanna checkers you would use mostly and I should get first? I am thinking Nitrate, Phosphorus and Alkalinity?

I was hoping to get away with two or three for the time being.

Any others worth getting in the future or stick with other test kits for calcium, magnesium etc?

Those are the three I use most often

Calcium is good but it’s a precise test and you have to follow the steps exactly. Not one drop extra of anything or it can skew the whole thing.

Magnesium is an easy one but it fluctuates so slowly you probably only need to rest once every few months. I do like the test kit and it works well.

Start with the three you mentioned and then in a few months work on getting the other ones

 

[Duane family]

I would say you should add the salinity test kit to the ones you have already referenced as first round requirements.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi guys, new reefer here.

I am wondering which Hanna checkers you would use mostly and I should get first? I am thinking Nitrate, Phosphorus and Alkalinity?

I was hoping to get away with two or three for the time being.

Any others worth getting in the future or stick with other test kits for calcium, magnesium etc?

I've had all of them over the years, however the only one I still use is the Hanna Phosphate ULR.

I sold the rest and went back to Salifert which are faster, easier and cheaper - and just as accurate.

 

[Should I]

try buy them 2nd hand on ebay get them much cheaper and you could get like 6 for the price of 3

 

[Sinkers]

I would say you should add the salinity test kit to the ones you have already referenced as first round requirements.

I already have a milwaukee digital refractometer. Does the Hanna one work well?

 

[Duane family]

I already have a milwaukee digital refractometer. Does the Hanna one work well?

I have used from the best to the cheapest refractometers for the longest time. I recently purchased the hanna unit and it is a game changer. My refractometer is no use to me anymore.

 

[VintageReefer]

I already have a milwaukee digital refractometer. Does the Hanna one work well?

I have the Milwaukee and like it a lot. The other one is good but i read it needs to be calibrated often

 

[Sinkers]

try buy them 2nd hand on ebay get them much cheaper and you could get like 6 for the price of 3

Yeh I'm grabbing the three main ones for half price.

 

[Sinkers]

I have the Milwaukee and like it a lot. The other one is good but i read it needs to be calibrated often

I love the Milwakee, quick and easy to use. I was told to just use RODI to calibrate mine.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I already have a milwaukee digital refractometer. Does the Hanna one work well?

The Milwaukee is fine and easy to use. No need to get the Hanna as well.

 

[Bruttall]

This is what I do;
Hanna for Calc, Phos and dKH. API for Nitrate. text 2x weekly.
APEX monitors Temp, PH, ORP.
API Triton water test every 3 months.

 

[Pistondog]

Hanna for alk, phosphate hr, nitrate hr. Red sea for calcium, magnesium.
Aqua forest also good for magnesium.
Milwaukee for salinity, zeroed with rodi, then verified with diy solution. My milwaukee always reads 0.001 sg high.

 

[Gtinnel]

I have most of the commonly used Hanna checkers and the only ones I still use are the Phosphate ULR, Nitrate HR, and the Magnesium. The copper one is a must IMO, but only if you plan on quarantining fish in copper.

I already have a milwaukee digital refractometer. Does the Hanna one work well?

I have both and greatly prefer the Milwaukee digital refractometer.

 

[pwfess]

Hanna for Alkalinity, Phosphate ULR, and Nitrate. Extremely reliable in comparison with ICP. I use salifert for calcium. I don't test Mg because I send out ICP once a month.

 

[edsbeaker]

I use the Hannas for Phosphate, Nitrate and Alkalinity, as well. I like Red Sea for Calcium and Magnesium.

 

[Fritz05]

I use Hanna for alk once or twice a week, test Ca with API every couple of weeks, and Na and Po4 only because I bought test kits once (Inwill not buy new ones). Everybody has their own approach, and each tank is different, but I think there often is unnecessary testing.

 

[208reef]

I just bought the Ca, Alk (dkh), Magnesium, HR nitrate, LR nitrate, LR phosphate, and ULR phosphate, along with all of the associated calibration verification solutions.

I also bought a Milwaukee digital refractometer.

 

[Sinkers]

I just bought the Ca, Alk (dkh), Magnesium, HR nitrate, LR nitrate, LR phosphate, and ULR phosphate, along with all of the associated calibration verification solutions.

I also bought a Milwaukee digital refractometer.

Nice! How come you decided to get both ranges for nitrate and phosphate?

 

[apeshot]

I love the Milwakee, quick and easy to use. I was told to just use RODI to calibrate mine.

I wouldn’t calibrate to RODI if you can avoid it. 1.00 and 1.026 are pretty far apart for an accuracy range. Try to pick up 1.026 calibration fluid and calibrate to that.

But that’s also how this hobby goes. There’s always a “better” way and I’m sure plenty of people calibrate to 1.00 and are just fine.