Hanna Low Range Testing Regents.

Batman222b · Mar 12, 2026

Is anyone else having issues when testing their phosphates? I use a Hanna Low Range checker, but my numbers are all over the place. One day I'm at .25 and the next .90. I've checked against the Sailfert test and that shows .25. I don't like those tests because the variation in color is hard for my eye to pick up on. I read somewhere that Hanna had a bad batch of regent, but I'd like someone to confirm they have heard the same.

Anyone use something different that you feel is good?

Matthew31 · Mar 12, 2026

Checking same time every day?

Also stupid question… are you holding down the center button and letting the checker count down? I only ask because I didn’t discover that for the first 4 months using it lol

Batman222b · Mar 12, 2026

Close to it. Usually around 9:00 or 10:00.

Matthew31 · Mar 12, 2026

Batman222b said:
Close to it. Usually around 9:00 or 10:00.

I use the Hannah because I also hate the color card. Looks like it can be every single color on the thing.

I shake the crap out of the vial with powder. If it’s already changing dark then I know the po4 is high.

I’m not sure how accurate that thing is over a certain ppm either.

Once I started doing that and holding the center button for the countdown mine seemed to work a little better.

Batman222b · Mar 12, 2026

I for the life of me cannot explain the swings.

I just don't trust my eyes enough ti feel good about the salifert

Matthew31 · Mar 12, 2026

Batman222b said:
I for the life of me cannot explain the swings.

I just don't trust my eyes enough ti feel good about the salifert

I also used the wrong reagent in the thing as well. My lfs gave me the h1774 and not the h1713.

Id try to maybe use a new cuvette and shake the crap out of it and make sure there are no finger prints.

If your been doing that, maybe your unit is bad or has low batteries?

Euphyllia098 · Mar 12, 2026

I've been using for years and have not had any issues. A few possibilities:

Not getting all of the reagent out of the package.
Not mixing it for long enough
Not running the 4 minute (I think) timer. After C2 you need to press and hold the button until the timer starts. If you just press the button your reading will be wrong.

slingfox · Mar 12, 2026

Batman222b said:
I for the life of me cannot explain the swings.

I just don't trust my eyes enough ti feel good about the salifert

Are you holding down the button so the Hanna sets off a countdown timer after you add the C2 sample?

I use one of these to stir samples for 2 minutes rather than trying to shake them. You can buy extra tiny stir bars on Amazon and there are 3D printed inserts which fit the Hanna vials perfectly: