No3 High per ICP vs Hannah Tester

[Sdoutreefer]

I got my results for my ICP test yesterday, and it’s showing my No3 at 37.0mg/l. A quick google search tells me mg/l = ppm. First question, is that conversion accurate?
Second, the same day as I sent in my sample water, I tested No3 at 12.7ppm. Has anyone had issues with inaccurate Hannah tests?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, that is the conversion. What testing company?

FWIW, icp cannot quantify nitrate so they must use a different method.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Yes, that is the conversion. What testing company?

FWIW, icp cannot quantify nitrate so they must use a different method.

Went through Moonshiners, which I believe they use Oceamo out of Europe.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Went through Moonshiners, which I believe they use Oceamo out of Europe.

I’d believe Oceamo over Hanna. It seems unlikely the nitrate rose that much in shipping.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I’d believe Oceamo over Hanna. It seems unlikely the nitrate rose that much in shipping.

Guess I'll have to get some calibrated solution and check my hannah... That's a bummer. It's maybe 4 months old, if that.

 

[Dan_P]

Guess I'll have to get some calibrated solution and check my hannah... That's a bummer. It's maybe 4 months old, if that.

I assume you are using the high range Checker. I have consistently found that when the reagent is not a free flowing powder, the results are low. The correlation is so strong that I throw away any reagent that isn’t free flowing.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I assume you are using the high range Checker. I have consistently found that when the reagent is not a free flowing powder, the results are low. The correlation is so strong that I throw away any reagent that isn’t free flowing.

Ya, I might have bad reagents. I ran the Salifert No3 last night and it was more accurate to the ICP test. I’ve got a fresh box of reagents and plan to check tomorrow and see what I get. Wish I would have known before raising my No3 while I fought dinos…

 

[areefer01]

I would not say inaccurate but maybe inconsistent. I've run into a few different challenges with Hanna's checkers be it the reagents, test cuvette, and even the caps and battery. I've done a couple different back to back tests recently for something else but I do not check against my ICP results.

My results below are from collecting two cups of water from my sump then running the tests below. Each test is using a new reagent pack and as consistent I can be. This is not lab grade, or lab paid staff Bob level. Just Biff the hobbyist...

Example:

 

[Dan_P]

I would not say inaccurate but maybe inconsistent. I've run into a few different challenges with Hanna's checkers be it the reagents, test cuvette, and even the caps and battery. I've done a couple different back to back tests recently for something else but I do not check against my ICP results.

My results below are from collecting two cups of water from my sump then running the tests below. Each test is using a new reagent pack and as consistent I can be. This is not lab grade, or lab paid staff Bob level. Just Biff the hobbyist...

Example:

Good job demonstrating the plus/minus 2 ppm variation with this test kit. I see the same behavior.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I would not say inaccurate but maybe inconsistent. I've run into a few different challenges with Hanna's checkers be it the reagents, test cuvette, and even the caps and battery. I've done a couple different back to back tests recently for something else but I do not check against my ICP results.

My results below are from collecting two cups of water from my sump then running the tests below. Each test is using a new reagent pack and as consistent I can be. This is not lab grade, or lab paid staff Bob level. Just Biff the hobbyist...

Example:

That’s interesting…

Excuse my small brain, but what’s the difference between the left column readings and the right column readings? Different reagent lots?

 

[areefer01]

That’s interesting…

Excuse my small brain, but what’s the difference between the left column readings and the right column readings? Different reagent lots?

Not a issue of a small brain but rather me just grabbing a screen shot and not explaining. Apologies. They are two different time frames. The one on the left was done on 1/10/2025 and the one on the right just recently on 2/25/2025. As mentioned earlier I collect 2 cups of water from the sump and then run the tests back to back doing my best to use the same process.

This is nothing scientific or to prove Hanna challenges but rather me getting a number to use for calibration elsewhere. Again, sorry about the lack of clarity on my part.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

Not a issue of a small brain but rather me just grabbing a screen shot and not explaining. Apologies. They are two different time frames. The one on the left was done on 1/10/2025 and the one on the right just recently on 2/25/2025. As mentioned earlier I collect 2 cups of water from the sump and then run the tests back to back doing my best to use the same process.

This is nothing scientific or to prove Hanna challenges but rather me getting a number to use for calibration elsewhere. Again, sorry about the lack of clarity on my part.

No need to appologize!!! My brain can actually be small at times

Gotchya. So basically just showing the inconsistency in Hannah tests?? I think my issue might be my reagents. Was gonna open a new box this evening and test against the old box but I’ve run out of time for the evening.

 

[Lavey29]

37 nitrates is fine depending on phosphate level. You want 100 : 1. Nitrates to phosphate for ideal ratio in a tank.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

37 nitrates is fine depending on phosphate level. You want 100 : 1. Nitrates to phosphate for ideal ratio in a tank.

I’m not too worried about the number, more so annoyed with the accuracy of the Hannah test. Bums me out because I can’t stand the other titration tests because my eyes aren’t great at seeing those red/pink colors when trying to tie it down to an amount.

 

[Lavey29]

I’m not too worried about the number, more so annoyed with the accuracy of the Hannah test. Bums me out because I can’t stand the other titration tests because my eyes aren’t great at seeing those red/pink colors when trying to tie it down to an amount.

I think they are pretty accurate. You may have just gotten to old or bad reagent.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I think they are pretty accurate. You may have just gotten to old or bad reagent.

That’s what I’m thinking too.. going to run tests tomorrow with the reagents I’ve been using, and a new box. We will see how it goes!