Using Hanna checker

[Sophie"s mom]

Good morning everyone! So I have been using Hanna for awhile now, and I have a question. I got results from a couple last night that just don't seem realistic to me. So my question is when you guys here use them, do you just dump the packet in the vile when ready, or you dump, then tap on the packet to get any excess still in there? I ask this because I have done both, and of course get different readings. My calcium has been a little high ( 519 on June 21st) so I disconnected it from the doser to get it to come down. Checked again on Monday and it was down to 475. Great! So I checked it last night thinking I would be able to reconnect to the now adjusted doser. Well last nights reading was 533! How can this be? Doser was disconnected on June 21. I am thinking about just doing the initial shake of the packet and dumping in without trying to get any residual from the packet. I do have a Salifert test kit as well. I will try it against the Hanna tonight. I just wanted to see what others here are doing.

 

[RoanokeReef]

For the Hannas I use I tap the pack, however I think it's more important to be consistent in the way you test vs getting everything out. I don't use theirs anymore for Calcium as it was never consistent, I have much better luck with Salifert.

 

[56longroof]

I have the phosphate checker. I tap on the packet to get all of the powder out I can.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

For the Hannas I use I tap the pack, however I think it's more important to be consistent in the way you test vs getting everything out. I don't use theirs anymore for Calcium as it was never consistent, I have much better luck with Salifert.

I agree consistency is key, I just do not at all understand how it can go up like that while not receiving any calcium addition.

 

[RoanokeReef]

I agree consistency is key, I just do not at all understand how it can go up like that while not receiving any calcium addition.

It was all over the place for me even with back-to-back readings. Just wasn't worth the hassle.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

It was all over the place for me even with back-to-back readings. Just wasn't worth the hassle.

Yeah, I have always like it until now. I may have to start using my Salifert instead.

 

[exnisstech]

I bought a Hanna calcium checker and it was more hassle than it was worth so i sold it. I use salifert for calcium but i don't test calcium very often.
As to the packets I hold them in one hand and flick the packets several times so the powder settles into to corner before opening. I also tap the packets with a plastic ink pen to remove as much as possible. I use a magnetic stirrer also so I don't have to sit and shake the vials. 2 minutes shaking each test gets old when I'm testing N and P on 5 tanks.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I bought a Hanna calcium checker and it was more hassle than it was worth so i sold it. I use salifert for calcium but i don't test calcium very often.
As to the packets I hold them in one hand and flick the packets several times so the powder settles into to corner before opening. I also tap the packets with a plastic ink pen to remove as much as possible. I use a magnetic stirrer also so I don't have to sit and shake the vials. 2 minutes shaking each test gets old when I'm testing N and P on 5 tanks.

% tanks!? Yeah that would definitely get old. I just have one so I don't mind. I have seen a lot of people complain about the Hanna test for calcium. But until now, I have been fine with it. I do periodically check against it with Salifert, but I like the speed and accuracy of Hanna. Takes the guess work for color out of the equation

 

[rishma]

Randy has said the exact amount of reagent should not impact the results much with color tests. I tap the packet but don’t worry much about it.

I’ve been using the phosphate checker since it first came out. Maybe 10 years? I find the 3 Hanna checkers I have to be repeatable. Sure, I get an occasional squirrelly reading, but over hundreds of tests I find them to be good tools.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Randy has said the exact amount of reagent should not impact the results much with color tests. I tap the packet but don’t worry much about it.

I’ve been using the phosphate checker since it first came out. Maybe 10 years? I find the 3 Hanna checkers I have to be repeatable. Sure, I get an occasional squirrelly reading, but over hundreds of tests I find them to be good tools.

I couldn't agree more! I personally LOVE the Hanna checkers! I just know there is no way that my calcium went UP! So it makes me question things. I did not have the time last night to do a repeat test. Tonight I will do 2 hanna tests, and check it against Salifert.

 

[rishma]

Randy has said the exact amount of reagent should not impact the results much with color tests. I tap the packet but don’t worry much about it.

I’ve been using the phosphate checker since it first came out. Maybe 10 years? I find the 3 Hanna checkers I have to be repeatable. Sure, I get an occasional squirrelly reading, but over hundreds of tests I find them to be good tools.

I couldn't agree more! I personally LOVE the Hanna checkers! I just know there is no way that my calcium went UP! So it makes me question things. I did not have the time last night to do a repeat test. Tonight I will do 2 hanna tests, and check it against Salifert.

I don’t have the Hanna calcium, in fact, I don’t test calcium! It’s unnecessary if you’re using one part alk/Ca additives like kalk or AFR.

 

[BriDroid]

Like everyone has said, consistency is the key! I have adjustable pipettes from Amazon. That way I know I’m always getting the exact measurement of sample and liquid reagents. I also use a magnetic stirrer so that I don’t introduce a bunch of air in the sample, which will cause inconsistent readings.

Basically, pick a method and follow it every time you test. My results are always very consistent.

 

[mmorrison55]

Hannah calcium checker is notorious for being one of the more difficult to get accurate results. I have one, but I also added a Red Sea pro calcium checker and do both tests at the same time, and if they are close, I will go with the average of the two. If they are way off, then obviously retest.

I then calibrate my Neptune trident using my tank waters average as my “calibration solution” and now I just let the trident do the testing. I will check it monthly or every few months to make sure it’s close to what the trident is reporting.

 

[Tangdora]

Randy has said the exact amount of reagent should not impact the results much with color tests. I tap the packet but don’t worry much about it.

I agree the being off a tick with reagent consistency amounts does not affect the color. However I think for the calcium test I think alot of weight is put into the tank water draw of the 0.1ml pipette it’s important to draw it slow and not exceed the first stop.

For good consistency with any test I following

1) an adjustable pipette as other as suggested.
2) I store my vial with rodi water in them to prevent build up on the walls.
3) most important imo, never mix pipette tips. I have a case of 24 for my adjustable and each is assigned for a different purpose.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I don’t have the Hanna calcium, in fact, I don’t test calcium! It’s unnecessary if you’re using one part alk/Ca additives like kalk or AFR.

Yeah, right now, I am using 2 part. I use Brightwell aquatics Reef complete and Reef Carbonate. I really, REALLY want to make that switch to All for Reef! But honestly, I am extremely nervous about it. I am not good at do the math part at all, and I just recently got my tank pretty much dialed in with the 2 part. So I am concerned about figuring out how to switch to AFR without making things haywire again. I have just a couple SPS in the tank and they are loving life. So I am nervous about changing things up. I know ultimately it will be better.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I agree the being off a tick with reagent consistency amounts does not affect the color. However I think for the calcium test I think alot of weight is put into the tank water draw of the 0.1ml pipette it’s important to draw it slow and not exceed the first stop.

For good consistency with any test I following

1) an adjustable pipette as other as suggested.
2) I store my vial with rodi water in them to prevent build up on the walls.
3) most important imo, never mix pipette tips. I have a case of 24 for my adjustable and each is assigned for a different purpose.

I like your idea of storing with RO water! Currently I rinse mine several times with RO water after each use, then store upside down to dry. Yes I agree using their micro pipette and stopping at the first stop is key. I make sure to do that every time. I have never had a problem before with this kit. Maybe I was in too much of a hurry and did something different last night.

 

[rishma]

I don’t have the Hanna calcium, in fact, I don’t test calcium! It’s unnecessary if you’re using one part alk/Ca additives like kalk or AFR.

Yeah, right now, I am using 2 part. I use Brightwell aquatics Reef complete and Reef Carbonate. I really, REALLY want to make that switch to All for Reef! But honestly, I am extremely nervous about it. I am not good at do the math part at all, and I just recently got my tank pretty much dialed in with the 2 part. So I am concerned about figuring out how to switch to AFR without making things haywire again. I have just a couple SPS in the tank and they are loving life. So I am nervous about changing things up. I know ultimately it will be better.

2-part is good too.

Lots of math help available here. We can tell you the equivalent AFR dose.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

2-part is good too.

Lots of math help available here. We can tell you the equivalent AFR dose.

I may take you up on that! I will et you know how much of the 2 part my tank is using. I really do want to make that switch. Do you use the AFR that is a powder that you mix?

 

[rishma]

2-part is good too.

Lots of math help available here. We can tell you the equivalent AFR dose.

I may take you up on that! I will et you know how much of the 2 part my tank is using. I really do want to make that switch. Do you use the AFR that is a powder that you mix?

My tank is small so I buy the liquid pre-mixed. Not as cost effective but I don’t use much.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

My tank is small so I buy the liquid pre-mixed. Not as cost effective but I don’t use much.

I gotcha! My tank is 90 gallons, and when taking into account the rockwork and sand, it probably has an actual volume of between 75 and 80 gallons.