Hannah checker, worth it?

[twilliard]

But of course! ;) Really though, I already stated that I think the calcium checker sucks.

Your faulty checker could have been any one of the checkers.



If these were included in the kit then the kit would be better. :)

No need for the .1
Just think like a "chemist"

 

[Myka]

Have you tried using 25% more liquid volume and seeing if that gives an error?

FWIW, while I agree that I have seem claims that you need to measure the powder exactly, the fundamental method the calcium checker uses should not be very dependent on critical measurement of either the water volume or the amount of powder (if they designed it correctly). The powder is present in excess already (or should be), and the scale of the volume of liquid is unimportant as long as there is enough for the light to fully pass through sideways.

Why the test seems inconsistent to many people, however, I do not know. Perhaps it is a complication of the zero point determination (the blank)

I'll have to go buy some fresh reagent. ..stupid stuff leaked out of the bottle. I'll report back.

 

[glb]

I like the Hanna for alk and phosphate. I use salifert for Ca, no3 and mg. this combo works for me.

 

[jasonandsarah]

My first Calcium Hanna checker was a dud and wouldn't even turn on after only one use. They quickly sent me a new one and it's worked perfect ever since. I cross check it with my redsea kit occasionally, just because...

 

[vm70]

Does anyone know if Hanna has any plans for more checkers?
I'd love to see Mg, NO3, Sr and K(last two usually very hard to test by Salifert or others).

Their newest reef checker(Ca) seems to have been released about 3-4 years ago, nothing came after it...

 

[NicksMixedReef]

I would think they'd update the old ones first. But who knows, with more competition coming out I'm sure there will be a lot of new technology with it!

 

[jasonandsarah]

I would think they'd update the old ones first. But who knows, with more competition coming out I'm sure there will be a lot of new technology with it!

They already came out with some new technology awhile ago. The Edge... http://shop.hannainst.com/products/benchtop-meters.html
Really cool but also very expensive imo. I hope they update the colorimeters soon as well.

 

[reefwiser]

They already came out with some new technology awhile ago. The Edge... http://shop.hannainst.com/products/benchtop-meters.html
Really cool but also very expensive imo. I hope they update the colorimeters soon as well.

Not really new. Just lab meters. I take care of a whole lab at work with them. Keeping them calibrated.

 

[Damon]

Right on glad to hear that!

Ok, question, and I haven't gone through the thread, but with the tip, on the 1ml syringe, are you say, taking out 1ml of tank water, and then, just using the tip to get the 0.1ml accurately? I have a calcium, but I haven't used it in so long, simply because, even with the Hanna water, it was all over the place. And I tried a ton with that meter. Lol,I have never had an issue with a kit or meter besides that one.

I'd really like to use it, as both I invested in it, and also, I love the other meters I have by Hanna..

 

[twilliard]

Yes take up some water and push out all the air in the tip till you get to your next .1 Ml mark.
pay close attention to the bottom of the plunger and put your .1Ml in. This is done not exactly will give small skewed readings

 

[Tyler Roth]

What is the best Calcium test kit or tester i have the API and its AWFUL the colors are so hard to really get a good reading for accurate number..

 

[twilliard]

A good one if you don't want to go the hanna route is the red sea cal test kit

 

[Tyler Roth]

I would love to have a Visual Digital red out of most of them but i have been reading on this thread that most of them arent accurate.. Witch one of the hanna Visual checkers are accurate and what do u have to make sure u do to help them stay accurate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes take up some water and push out all the air in the tip till you get to your next .1 Ml mark.
pay close attention to the bottom of the plunger and put your .1Ml in. This is done not exactly will give small skewed readings

I'm confused about what exactly is being done, but with any normal syringe and tip you should not try to get the air out of the syringe that is exactly the air volume of the tip. As long as the plunger of the syringe moves by 0.1 mL (or whatever volume is desired), the tip should start empty and finish empty and you will dispense 0.1 mL. :)

 

[twilliard]

All about the number of drops and this is how I have found it to be accurate.
lets not get too technical with this but thanks Randy

 

[twilliard]

I will have my son help me make a video on how to use this cal tester properly.
This horse has been beaten to death lol

 

[Damon]

I will have my son help me make a video on how to use this cal tester properly.
This horse has been beaten to death lol

that probably will be best, because I just tested with it 3x, using that procedure. It always came out 100 higher than my red sea results(i tested back to back, simply because I honestly do want to use the Hanna). Every test was pretty consistent, but, it was consistently 100 ppm higher. I could simply say, "ok, just take 100 off". But I paid money for accuracy with it, so I'd rather not..

But I look forward to your video.. And yes, this indeed had been beat to death over the years with this particular checker.. I purchased mine when they first came out, so I've tried and tried with this thing. Lol, I'm willing to burn all the reagents up getting it(i have 50 extra that I purchased that I have never used)! Honestly,I don't care. It's basically just sitting there anyhow..

 

[twilliard]

I will have a video up shortly. I have never made and posted one in my life so my son is helping me out.
it is a common USER error to read 100PPM to high and with my video I hope to put the Hanna calcium issue to rest

 

[Wiz]

Great info :)

 

[Damon]

I will have a video up shortly. I have never made and posted one in my life so my son is helping me out.
it is a common USER error to read 100PPM to high and with my video I hope to put the Hanna calcium issue to rest

Ok, so what exactly is the cause? I'm waiting fir the video, but I still would like insight to kind of know what to expect..

But we will see, if it helps. It would be great if it did.. Everyone has their expertise and different backgrounds. So, I welcome it..