Hanna checkers issues & reviews

bnumair · 03/23/2012, 10:21 PM

well guys i had read about hanna cal checker being off by 100.
So i got few related to this hobby of Hanna checker line. everything seems fine. units are nicely built and sturdy.
Here is my results of tests i did.

First Batch test on my 300gal tank
Salinity 1.026 (35)
Temp 78.5 F
API Test Kit Hanna Checker

Alkalinity 7 116 (6.5)
Calcium 500 504
Nitrite 0 0
pH 8.2 8.2
Phosphate 0 0

i did these tests twice on my tank and got same result. noticing that alk is low i used bulkreefsupply dose calculator to add sodium bicarbonate. it recommended that i should add 32 tsp to bring it upto 11. This is a new tank with no livestock cycle just ended yesterday. so i added 32 tsp to a gal to RO/DI water mixed it well and poured into the tank. I waited 8 hrs and took the same reading all over again.

Second Batch test on my 300gal tank
Salinity 1.026 (35)
Temp 78.5 F
API Test Kit Hanna Checker

Alkalinity 10.5 204 (11.3)
Calcium 500 600????
Nitrite 0 0
pH 8.2 8.2
Phosphate 0 0

Now suddenly hanna cal checker shows 600, i ran these tests again for the third time and i got all same results except Cal being exact 100 more than liquid tests. Also for control i used API,Salifert and Red Sea liquid tests and all show 500 except Hanna checker.

I wonder if raising Alk had anything to do with the Hanna checker.
I am making a new 5 gal saltwater with Red Sea saltmix, it naturally has alk at 7 and cal at 480. i am going to make the water tonight and run alk and cal test.
if liquid cal test matches hanna cal checker then it proves that raising Alk messes up the readings on Hanna cal checker.
Anyone else had similar results?

doctorgori · 03/24/2012, 02:12 AM

they got a long thread over in the Hanna section....
I think my take on these checkers is sorta close to universal, with a dissenter here and there, these are just guesses at the satisfaction rates loosely based on feedback here:

Alk checker: is fine...I'd say its positive rating is about 70%
Phosphate is Ok; I'd say 60%-70% with a good chunk preferring the Ultra low version
Ca checker: IMO needs re-worked... you can judge for yourself tho ... again; the thread over in the Hanna area is a interesting read

03/23/2012, 10:21 PM	#1
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	Hanna checkers issues & reviews well guys i had read about hanna cal checker being off by 100. So i got few related to this hobby of Hanna checker line. everything seems fine. units are nicely built and sturdy. Here is my results of tests i did. First Batch test on my 300gal tank Salinity 1.026 (35) Temp 78.5 F API Test Kit Hanna Checker Alkalinity 7 116 (6.5) Calcium 500 504 Nitrite 0 0 pH 8.2 8.2 Phosphate 0 0 i did these tests twice on my tank and got same result. noticing that alk is low i used bulkreefsupply dose calculator to add sodium bicarbonate. it recommended that i should add 32 tsp to bring it upto 11. This is a new tank with no livestock cycle just ended yesterday. so i added 32 tsp to a gal to RO/DI water mixed it well and poured into the tank. I waited 8 hrs and took the same reading all over again. Second Batch test on my 300gal tank Salinity 1.026 (35) Temp 78.5 F API Test Kit Hanna Checker Alkalinity 10.5 204 (11.3) Calcium 500 600???? Nitrite 0 0 pH 8.2 8.2 Phosphate 0 0 Now suddenly hanna cal checker shows 600, i ran these tests again for the third time and i got all same results except Cal being exact 100 more than liquid tests. Also for control i used API,Salifert and Red Sea liquid tests and all show 500 except Hanna checker. I wonder if raising Alk had anything to do with the Hanna checker. I am making a new 5 gal saltwater with Red Sea saltmix, it naturally has alk at 7 and cal at 480. i am going to make the water tonight and run alk and cal test. if liquid cal test matches hanna cal checker then it proves that raising Alk messes up the readings on Hanna cal checker. Anyone else had similar results? __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE Last edited by bnumair; 03/23/2012 at 10:32 PM.

03/24/2012, 02:12 AM	#2
doctorgori Moved On Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Simon Bar-Sinistar Posts: 1,097	they got a long thread over in the Hanna section.... I think my take on these checkers is sorta close to universal, with a dissenter here and there, these are just guesses at the satisfaction rates loosely based on feedback here: Alk checker: is fine...I'd say its positive rating is about 70% Phosphate is Ok; I'd say 60%-70% with a good chunk preferring the Ultra low version Ca checker: IMO needs re-worked... you can judge for yourself tho ... again; the thread over in the Hanna area is a interesting read