Hanna allalinity checker

muggle0981 · 2024-10-20T17:22:35-0400

I use hanna for phosphate and nitrates

I use salifert test kits for everything else

Is hanna alkalinity checker worth it?

Frags 2 Fishes · 2024-10-20T17:24:41-0400

It certainly makes it easy to get an exact number for you alkalinity. If you like using the other testers you will probably like the ALK checker

EricR · 2024-10-20T17:31:00-0400

I love it (Hanna Alk dKH checker),,, but I'm color blind.
Beyond that, to me, it's still faster/easier than titration tests and mine has matched well with other tests when compared.

edsbeaker · 2024-10-20T17:45:36-0400

Hanna alkalinity test is the easiest of all the Hanna testers, and seems VERY accurate. Push button to get C1, place cuvette with 10 ml. Tank water, push button to get C2 add reagent to cuvette, push button one last time to get instant result. 3 quick steps, 30 sec. and you are done! I love mine!

ScottJ · 2024-10-20T17:50:42-0400

The only Hanna tester I have is Alk. Very, very easy! Totally worth it!

bitstream · 2024-10-20T17:51:04-0400

It’s the best all tester on the market… but one lesson I learned is to make sure you keep the lid on the reagent TIGHT! I apparently didn’t and eventually got wonky readings because it went bad. That little reagent lid liner is in the box for a reason!

ScottJ · 2024-10-20T17:55:01-0400

bitstream said:
It’s the best all tester on the market… but one lesson I learned is to make sure you keep the lid on the reagent TIGHT! I apparently didn’t and eventually got wonky readings because it went bad. That little reagent lid liner is in the box for a reason!

I read someplace on here that you should keep the reagent in the fridge. I think it may have been Lasse who did a wright up.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 2024-10-21T09:00:06-0400

edsbeaker said:
Hanna alkalinity test is the easiest of all the Hanna testers, and seems VERY accurate.

How do you know it is very accurate?

edsbeaker · 2024-10-21T10:36:15-0400

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
How do you know it is very accurate?

Hi Randy, I’m truly scared of you!

You are a person with a lot of knowledge and it’s scary being called out by you.
Please be easy on me!!! I’m not joking…I’m serious!

In my defense I did say “seems to be very accurate” not a definitive “know it is very accurate”!

In my experience the checker matches up really well with my Neptune Trident, and the results are also in line with the alkalinity that my salt is supposed to mix up to. When numbers seem off I feel it is my error if I didn’t wipe smudges off cuvettes or there are air bubbles in the sample. When I redo the test the new results seem in line with what I would expect.

exnisstech · 2024-10-21T10:41:24-0400

Hanna hr nitrate ulr phosphate and alk. Salifert for calcium. I love the alk tester especially when I'm dialing in a system and testing a lot. I can't attest to its accuracy as it's the only alk test I have but it sure is easy to use to keep things consistent which is more important than the actual number IME.
I too refrigerate the reagents.

EricR · 2024-10-21T10:51:28-0400

Dr. Randy, sir:
In your opinion, is the Hanna Alkalinity (dKH) Checker less accurate than titration tests?
If you have any write-ups on this posted anywhere, I'd be interested.
*just curious based on personal inference from some of your posts

For me, mine (Hanna) has compared well to other tests, like Red Sea and Salifert, when I've (occasionally) compared same sample.
*I also check (same sample) when I send ICP tests (2-3 times/year)

BriDroid · 2024-10-21T10:58:27-0400

I ended up selling my Hanna alkalinity and calcium checkers. I replaced them with Salafert. My main reasons for the alkalinity is the cost and the issues with the reagent going bad. The calcium was just a pain. Worked well with distilled water, but too much going on.

thedon986 · 2024-10-21T11:02:56-0400

BriDroid said:
I ended up selling my Hanna alkalinity and calcium checkers. I replaced them with Salafert. My main reasons for the alkalinity is the cost and the issues with the reagent going bad. The calcium was just a pain. Worked well with distilled water, but too much going on.

I had an open alk reagent kept in the refrigerator for many months that reads the same as one I just opened. The cold storage mitigates the issue with it going bad I believe.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 2024-10-21T11:19:42-0400

edsbeaker said:
Hi Randy, I’m truly scared of you! You are a person with a lot of knowledge and it’s scary being called out by you.
Please be easy on me!!! I’m not joking…I’m serious!

In my defense I did say “seems to be very accurate” not a definitive “know it is very accurate”!

In my experience the checker matches up really well with my Neptune Trident, and the results are also in line with the alkalinity that my salt is supposed to mix up to. When numbers seem off I feel it is my error if I didn’t wipe smudges off cuvettes or there are air bubbles in the sample. When I redo the test the new results seem in line with what I would expect.

Lol. Don’t de afraid. I meant it as a legit question. I just wondered if you checked it against a known standard or something like that.

I think it is a perfectly acceptable tool for reefers, but I’d also put user issues into the list of things that give off answers, such as old reagents, cuvette scratches, etc.