Hanna test questions

[Redbird5]

I have three Hanna tests, alkalinity, phosphate and nitrates. I also have salifert tests for magnesium, calcium and alkalinity and the api master reef kit. I had a little trouble with the phosphate test, but figured out how to use. I got the nitrates today and it works well. The alkalinity is a pain in the butt. It's not testing it accurately. I test alkalinity with the api this afternoon and I getting 2.6 and 3.4 something. My coral and fish are doing well. The hammers are puffed up and everything else is good.
I follow the instructions to the letter and I get whacky numbers. I test with my api kit and I get closer to the truth. What are some tricks y'all use to get accurate readings from the alkalinity.

 

[Idech]

I don’t use the Hanna for alk. I you want something very simple and accurate that takes 20 seconds, get the Red Sea Alkalinity test.

 

[Tahoe61]

I use Hanna and Salifert for alkalinity and typically the results are very close.

 

[Redbird5]

I use Hanna and Salifert for alkalinity and typically the results are very close.

I think I'm not doing something correct with the test. I'm not sure what though.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Don't follow instructions for hanna, best is to go to youtube and watch a demo video. IMO

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I have three Hanna tests, alkalinity, phosphate and nitrates. I also have salifert tests for magnesium, calcium and alkalinity and the api master reef kit. I had a little trouble with the phosphate test, but figured out how to use. I got the nitrates today and it works well. The alkalinity is a pain in the butt. It's not testing it accurately. I test alkalinity with the api this afternoon and I getting 2.6 and 3.4 something. My coral and fish are doing well. The hammers are puffed up and everything else is good.
I follow the instructions to the letter and I get whacky numbers. I test with my api kit and I get closer to the truth. What are some tricks y'all use to get accurate readings from the alkalinity.

I use hanna and it's really simple. fill the vile to the line. turn on colorometer, put vile in, press button, when you see C1, take vile out, draw into syringe until the bottom of the plunger gets to the 1mil line, put that into the vile, invert it like 5 times, then put in the colorometer and press the button.

 

[Redbird5]

I use hanna and it's really simple. fill the vile to the line. turn on colorometer, put vile in, press button when you see C1, take vile out, draw into syringe until the bottom of the plunger gets to the 1mil line, put that into the vile, invert it like 5 times, then put in the colorometer and press the button.

That's exactly what I do. I'm getting lower readings. Today I got 6.7 or something. My coral are puffed up and happy.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

That's exactly what I do. I'm getting lower readings. Today I got 6.7 or something. My coral are puffed up and happy.

Hmm, I have never had a problem. Maybe bad reagent? I honestly don't know. Have you tried comparing it to another test? Like maybe Salifert?

 

[Redbird5]

Hmm, I have never had a problem. Maybe bad reagent? I honestly don't know. Have you tried comparing it to another test? Like maybe Salifert?

Yes, salifert is inline with api. I do have a new bottle of reagent I got from brs.

 

[castellanamattia]

I am using the Hanna Alk checker, and I've never had problems. When do your reagents expire?

Maybe first suck up the reagent and immediately put it back into the vial to resuck it into the syringe. Sometimes bubbles can be trapped in the tip.


To this, try to avoid bubbles as much as possible during calibration as well as reading out the colourimetric sample. How to avoid bubbles when using a syringe and vial:

1. Clear bubbles from the syringe tip
   Draw the reagent into the syringe, then immediately push it back into the vial. Repeat this draw‑and‑eject cycle once more. This helps remove any bubbles that may be trapped inside the syringe tip.
2. Avoid bubbles during calibration and colorimetric reading
   Bubbles can interfere with both calibration and the final reading of the colorimetric sample. Keep bubble formation to a minimum throughout the process.
3. Remove existing bubbles from the vial
   Gently tap the vial against a solid surface. Then rotate the vial carefully so that the liquid inside does not come into contact with any bubbles that rise to the top. This prevents bubbles from interfering with the measurement.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Yes, salifert is inline with api. I do have a new bottle of reagent I got from brs.

Try the new one. I would. I have always found Hanna to be very reliable. But I do still occasionally check against Salifert to be sure.

 

[Shirak]

make sure are cleaning the outside of the vial with microfiber. Orient the vial in the same direction every time you put it in the checker. I mark the top of the vial so I can see it. Swirl the reagent before drawing into the syringe and make sure you have the tip completely submerged when filling the syringe tip.

I have Salifert and Red Sea and all 3 are consistent with each other.

Personally I wouldn’t use api as my reference.. and Salifert make sure you are reading correctly. It’s easy to misinterpret which way to read the syringe.

 

[exnisstech]

I've been using Hanna alk for years. I don't know how it could get any easier. I've tested it against salifert several times and it's always close, the last time it was identical. I always test my new reagents against my previous bottle when it's almost empty and never had any concerning difference. I do refrigerate and shake my reagnet before each use.

 

[mook1178]

That's exactly what I do. I'm getting lower readings. Today I got 6.7 or something. My coral are puffed up and happy.

How old is the tank? Do you do water changes? Do you dose?

6.7 is low, but can be a realistic reading. IF you do multiple tests in a row do you get wildly different numbers or all arounfd6.7?

 

[mook1178]

Yes, salifert is inline with api. I do have a new bottle of reagent I got from brs.

What does the salifert read?

Oh wait API is 2-3 dkH and salifert agrees? Unless your salinity is extremely low, I would believe the 6.7 over 2-3

 

[Redbird5]

How old is the tank? Do you do water changes? Do you dose?

6.7 is low, but can be a realistic reading. IF you do multiple tests in a row do you get wildly different numbers or all arounfd6.7?

I get wildly different numbers every time. I am sure that I'm doing something wrong.

 

[Peer.Boerner]

API tests are notoriously inaccurate with saltwater. Use the Hanna or quality test kit like Salifert or Red Sea as a basis for comparison. I do realize that all of these test kits are not like a laboratory test and variation s to be expected.

 

[Uncle99]

I have three Hanna tests, alkalinity, phosphate and nitrates. I also have salifert tests for magnesium, calcium and alkalinity and the api master reef kit. I had a little trouble with the phosphate test, but figured out how to use. I got the nitrates today and it works well. The alkalinity is a pain in the butt. It's not testing it accurately. I test alkalinity with the api this afternoon and I getting 2.6 and 3.4 something. My coral and fish are doing well. The hammers are puffed up and everything else is good.
I follow the instructions to the letter and I get whacky numbers. I test with my api kit and I get closer to the truth. What are some tricks y'all use to get accurate readings from the alkalinity.

Is the result in Meq/l?
2.9 meq/l is approx 8 dkh, or 140ppm. (Ish)

Three different scales are out there.

Just checking. Math works.

 

[Redbird5]

I did another Hanna DKH test this morning and the results were 6.9. It's more believable than the results I was getting and my coral are telling me they're happy. There's a learning curve to Hanna tests I'm learning about. Whenever i touch the cuvette I wipe it off.

 

[Redbird5]

I did another Hanna DKH test this morning and the results were 6.9. It's more believable than the results I was getting and my coral are telling me they're happy. There's a learning curve to Hanna tests I'm learning about. Whenever i touch the cuvette I wipe it off.