Hanna checkers

[hurley12]

I got a couple Hanna checkers for my birthday and I am wondering what people think of them... I got one for alkalinity and phosphates... The phosphates are reading 0 (assuming I did it right) and the alkalinity was 139

 

[bknapp]

I really like the Hanna checkers. They're the ones I rely on for phosphates and alkalinity.

The phosphate test is done much differently than the alkalinity checker. Make sure to hold the button down after shaking the reagent in the vial until the timer shows 3:00.

The easy way to convert the alkalinity from ppm to dKH is by multiplying the result by .056.

So your dKH is:

139×.056=7.784

 

[hurley12]

Awesome thank you so much... So the alk needs to come up it sounds like... Yea I screwed up the phosphate the first two times I did it

 

[mike007]

I like the alkalinity tester but the calcium has issues.

 

[hurley12]

Yea I stayed away from the calcium tester after the reviews I read

 

[Dowtish]

Your alkalinity doesnt really need to come up. It just need to remain stable. I run my alk at 7.3dkh which is very close to natural sea water. There are folks that have zeovit SPS dominate tanks that run their alk as low 6.5. Not suggesting that, just putting it out there.

I love my hanna checkers for alk and phos. One tip. If you cut 2 sides of the reagent pack and bend it to form a funnel it is much easier. Cut on the dotted line provided and then cut another side adjacent to it, then you can bend the packet to form a spout or funnel shape and pour the reagent much easier.

 

[bknapp]

To add to what Dowtish said, stability is the most important thing you can do for the health and vitality of your coral. Finding the levels that work for your livestock and keeping them within range is the best thing we can do.