Spectrophotometers?

[Forty-Two]

Hi all,

I fell down this rabbit hole of heady nerdyness while looking for a reliable silica test (in attempt to save what's left of my reef ). Does anyone use one? Im very frustrated with hobby grade kits which return poor/inaccurate or false results. Is it practical to use for keeping a reef? Does it improve the reliability of results and give you some confidence in your parameters?

I see that Hanna has one which looks a little simpler to use. Has anyone tried it?
https://www.hannainst.com/iris-spectrophotometer.html

 

[blaxsun]

Holy batsh*t Robin - that's stupid expensive...

 

[Forty-Two]

Holy batsh*t Robin - that's stupid expensive...

ya but Im alerady justifying that stupid expense in my mind...."But it will be accurate!"

quick, someone help.

 

[blaxsun]

ya but Im alerady justifying that stupid expense in my mind...."But it will be accurate!"

quick, someone help.

Well above my pay grade...

 

[Woodyman]

Holy batsh*t Robin - that's stupid expensive...

For a hobby test absolutely!

For a spectrophotometers that's cheap! Had a new one ordered at work and it was 20k+ by the time it was purchased, added the required accessories/programming, and installed.

Lab equipment gets stupid fast. :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[blaxsun]

For a hobby test absolutely!

For a spectrophotometers that's cheap! Had a new one ordered at work and it was 20k+ by the time it was purchased, added the required accessories/programming, and installed.

Lab equipment gets stupid fast. :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

I'll stick to my Hanna for now. So does this need any special reagents or do you just add a water sample and it reads everything?

 

[Forty-Two]

I'll stick to my Hanna for now. So does this need any special reagents or do you just add a water sample and it reads everything?

I would assume it needs some reagents - but its not entirely clear to me. There are versions from other vendors that dont require reagents - but those start around $12k it appears to me.

I saw one that was reasonably priced that requires reagents that uses enzymes instead of chemicals - which would be a big benefit in my books.

 

[Woodyman]

I'll stick to my Hanna for now. So does this need any special reagents or do you just add a water sample and it reads everything?

I would assume it needs some reagents - but its not entirely clear to me. There are versions from other vendors that dont require reagents - but those start around $12k it appears to me.

I saw one that was reasonably priced that requires reagents that uses enzymes instead of chemicals - which would be a big benefit in my books.

More than likely chemical reagents, you'll need different reactions in order to read the values optimally.

I'd check into test methods for what your looking to analyze. Then you'll want to figure out the cost for ongoing supplies and determine if this route is worth it to you.

Another note, check locally for a used one. Plenty of manufacturing companies, food manufacturers, schools, universities all have old specs.

 

[Miami Reef]

Buy the Hanna silica lr checker. https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...4-egwYuAAxXakmoFHbLPCgAQwg8oAHoECAUQEQ&adurl=

What’s the issue with your tank?

 

[Forty-Two]

More than likely chemical reagents, you'll need different reactions in order to read the values optimally.

I'd check into test methods for what your looking to analyze. Then you'll want to figure out the cost for ongoing supplies and determine if this route is worth it to you.

Another note, check locally for a used one. Plenty of manufacturing companies, food manufacturers, schools, universities all have old specs.

This is good advice.

Is there a brand that you've come across that youd suggest I look at? Im not a lab so certainly the $20k range is out of what I want to spend, but if there is one you've seen that you think would work please let me know.

 

[Woodyman]

This is good advice.

Is there a brand that you've come across that youd suggest I look at? Im not a lab so certainly the $20k range is out of what I want to spend, but if there is one you've seen that you think would work please let me know.

For cheap units I have no idea.

If you can get a used shimadzu they are typically very nice and high quality, but unless you can find one locally that a company is offloading for cheap or free probably out of the price you'd want to spend.

Fisher Scientific while not top of the line will get the job done, and you could probably find those for significantly less. Hanna and Hach also make units as well.

There are plenty of other flavors and varieties to specs.

If you or anyone you know works or has access to a lab try to ask if they have old equipment they would be interested in getting rid of. You may score one cheap or even free.

If you find something report back I can go over the model/specs and give you my thoughts.

 

[Forty-Two]

Buy the Hanna silica lr checker. https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...4-egwYuAAxXakmoFHbLPCgAQwg8oAHoECAUQEQ&adurl=

What’s the issue with your tank?

Yes that will likely be the interim solution.

Its in the midst of a year long battle with Dino's as a result of a Mastertronic defect. There was a whole issue with their use of the API Nitrate test kit. My LFS told me to switch (as they were switching), and I was carbon dosing. Reef was nice and healthy but I wasnt aware my Nitrates were driven into the ground and everything blew up. As a result, almost everything died, and Ive been in an almost year long battle with Dino's. Im going to try Silicate and see if I can restabilize the tank that way.

if I did get a spectraphotometer it wouldnt just be for the silicate - but to counter the myriads of issues Ive had with crappy test kits. Ive already sunk money in the MT - but Id be willing to sell it off for something accurate.

 

[Miami Reef]

I don’t believe that an expensive spectraphotometer would solve the dino issue. I don’t think anybody in our hobby uses them, and many people have great, fantastic tanks.

Many people have beaten dinos without that test kit. It’s a matter of elevating your nutrients, and using a UV if you have ostreopsis.

 

[Woodyman]

I don’t believe that an expensive spectraphotometer would solve the dino issue. I don’t think anybody in our hobby uses them, and many people have great, fantastic tanks.

Many people have beaten dinos without that test kit. It’s a matter of elevating your nutrients, and using a UV if you have ostreopsis.

Exactly this, you don't need a spec. I'd say get the Hanna and call it a day, it should be plenty accurate for what you need.

If you do find one cheap or free it can certainly be used and as long as it's setup properly should be highly accurate compared to the handheld Hanna meters, but you don't have to go this route.

 

[Forty-Two]

I don’t believe that an expensive spectraphotometer would solve the dino issue. I don’t think anybody in our hobby uses them, and many people have great, fantastic tanks.

Many people have beaten dinos without that test kit. It’s a matter of elevating your nutrients, and using a UV if you have ostreopsis.

Its not to beat Dino's. Ive had a number of issues with crappy test kits which result in inaccurate results. Due to my location (4-5 hours to the closest LFS and back) I cant be running out to be buying additional test kits of different types to double check the results.

Its to get accurate results for the long term, and to have a one stop shop that I know is accurate and doesnt require me to bounce around to different vendors.

 

[Woodyman]

Its not to beat Dino's. Ive had a number of issues with crappy test kits which result in inaccurate results. Due to my location (4-5 hours to the closest LFS and back) I cant be running out to be buying additional test kits of different types to double check the results.

Its to get accurate results for the long term, and to have a one stop shop that I know is accurate and doesnt require me to bounce around to different vendors.

Just remember to figure out your methods/reagents for the tests you want to perform.

You'll be able to buy reagents in larger qtys but they are going to be significantly more expensive than a pack of Hanna reagents.