Magentic Stirrer for Hanna Checker

[Plandauesq]

Hi All,

I just purchased an AutoAqua Smart Stir that I plan to use for my Hanna checker vials. Do I need to remove the magnet before placing the vial in the checker? Will the magnet affect the test at all?

 

[paul01609]

I would of thought you would have to remove it so it can read it through the bottom

 

[Dan_P]

Hi All,

I just purchased an AutoAqua Smart Stir that I plan to use for my Hanna checker vials. Do I need to remove the magnet before placing the vial in the checker? Will the magnet affect the test at all?

The magnetic stir bar will not interfere with the reading.

 

[ingchr1]

Do you have the stirrer in hand or did you just order it?

Asking since I don't think the stir bar is going to fit or work in a Hanna vial.

 

[Dan_P]

Do you have the stirrer in hand or did you just order it?

Asking since I don't think the stir bar is going to fit or work in a Hanna vial.

Tiny stir bars or stir fleas can fit

 

[ingchr1]

Tiny stir bars or stir fleas can fit

I guess a stir bar does fit. I have the SR Aquaristik stirrer and the stir bar for it just barely fits.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As Dan notes, you can buy almost any size stir bar. The make tiny sizes for tiny situations. I see one listed online that is only 2 mm long.

 

[Plandauesq]

As Dan notes, you can buy almost any size stir bar. The make tiny sizes for tiny situations. I see one listed online that is only 2 mm long.

Yes, it came with a tiny stir bar. Do you think it has any effect on the test reading?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, it came with a tiny stir bar. Do you think it has any effect on the test reading?

I've not seen the Hanna setup to know exactly how it works. If it in any way changes with pathlength of the light beam through the liquid, yes it will have an effect. If it is not physically blocking the light path and does not change the path length in other ways, then it will be fine.

 

[rwb500]

Consider a vortex mixer instead of a magnetic stirrer:

https://www.scientificindustries.com/vortex-genie-2.html

 

[infinite0180]

It should be fine to leave it inside. The “eyes” on the Hanna checkers are about 3/4 the way up from the bottom...

 

[ingchr1]

Consider a vortex mixer instead of a magnetic stirrer:

https://www.scientificindustries.com/vortex-genie-2.html

While I'm sure it's nice, it's over 10x the price of the magnetic stirrers mentioned in this thread.

 

[rwb500]

While I'm sure it's nice, it's over 10x the price of the magnetic stirrers mentioned in this thread.

I didn't mean to suggest that it be purchased from the manufacturers website. Used ones are ~$30 on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VWR-Scient...628202&hash=item2f4e7d2ff9:g:dBwAAOSwPitfrylD
This is the tool widely used in laboratories to mix small vials.

 

[Spieg]

Have not seen every Hanna Checker on the market, but all that I have seen read sample through the side of the vial, so the stir pill on the bottom should not affect the reading.

 

[Tori]

Did you end up trying either method for mixing liquids in the Hanna vials? I'm curious what the results were.

 

[Malcontent]

I bought a Heathrow Scientific vortex mixer new for $74 last November.

 

[Tori]

I just ordered something similar off Amazon. How has it worked out for you?

 

[Malcontent]

I just ordered something similar off Amazon. How has it worked out for you?

I've been happy with it so far.

 

[Malcontent]

I just ordered something similar off Amazon. How has it worked out for you?

Yesterday, it seemed to suddenly stop working as well. I popped the rubber piece off and it looked like a little "foot" that inserted into the rubber piece became disengaged. I put it back the way it seemed like it should go and it was working again.

 

[Tori]

Yesterday, it seemed to suddenly stop working as well. I popped the rubber piece off and it looked like a little "foot" that inserted into the rubber piece became disengaged. I put it back the way it seemed like it should go and it was working again.

Good to know, thanks! The one I got was only $56 on Amazon so probably not long until I need to utilize that info