phosphate test kit

[kga943]

what one should i get i have a hanna but i seem to get different readings every time i test so i would like to get something to test it against

[ksicard]

Keep the hanna. I'm a snob when it comes to test kits and hanna is the only phosphate test kit I'll use. All other test kits are next to impossible to read. Red Sea/Salifert the most popular and widely used test kits use a single color with different shades of the same color for their test results and if you were to change rooms or use different lighting while reading the test kit color card you would get different readings because something as small as a change in lighting will change the results for your eyes.

I would recommend learning how to properly use the hanna. For instance I test using a routine. I pre cut the reagant packet with scissors on two sides of the packet (top and one of the sides), this allows me to turn the reagent packet into a funnel making it much easier to get all the reagent out of the packet and into the curvette. If you don't get 100% of the reagent into the curvette it will skew the results. Next I keep a lint free cloth, much like the ones for cleaning eye glasses, on hand because finger prints or smudges on the curvette can also affect the results. Lastly, I google stopwatch and use a countdown clock to time myself so I can mix the reagent for as long as possible. When the hanna meter displays "add c2" you have 2 minutes before the device will shut off and if you don't mix the reagent properly it will also skew the results. As soon as "add c2" displays I start a count down clock for 2 minutes. I pre cut the package before this so I can just add the reagent immediately. I mix the reagent until the 10-15 second mark beofre the 2 minutes expires. Before inserting the curvette back into the device wipe it down thoroughly of all smudges and finger prints. I avoid fingerprints/smudges by holding the curvette by the black cap and making sure not to touch the curvette.

Try a routine such as this and you may get better accuracy and more consistent results.

[Bent]

Do u have the Hanna phosphate or phosphorous ULR?

[Buzz1329]

Hunh. I have tried for years to get consistent result from Hanna PO4 kit and have given up. Obviously, since so many others swear by the test, the fault is mine, but regardless, I can't coax consistent results from the thing. Salifert, Red Sea, and Elos kits all read zero whenever I use them, and so I have discounted them as useless.

The ONLY PO4 kit that given me consistent, plausible result is the Hach kit.

http://www.hach.com/phosphorus-ortho...d%3D7640214958

It ain't cheap, but it works for me.

Mike

[kga943]

i have the phosphate low range hi 713

[kga943]

Originally Posted by Buzz1329

Hunh. I have tried for years to get consistent result from Hanna PO4 kit and have given up. Obviously, since so many others swear by the test, the fault is mine, but regardless, I can't coax consistent results from the thing. Salifert, Red Sea, and Elos kits all read zero whenever I use them, and so I have discounted them as useless.

The ONLY PO4 kit that given me consistent, plausible result is the Hach kit.

http://www.hach.com/phosphorus-ortho...d%3D7640214958

It ain't cheap, but it works for me.

Mike

that is a expensive kit how low does it read i always hear that if it shows zero that the algea is hiding the reading

[Reef Frog]

Originally Posted by Buzz1329

Hunh. I have tried for years to get consistent result from Hanna PO4 kit and have given up. Obviously, since so many others swear by the test, the fault is mine, but regardless, I can't coax consistent results from the thing. Salifert, Red Sea, and Elos kits all read zero whenever I use them, and so I have discounted them as useless.

The ONLY PO4 kit that given me consistent, plausible result is the Hach kit.

http://www.hach.com/phosphorus-ortho...d%3D7640214958

It ain't cheap, but it works for me.

Mike

What makes this kit easy to read &'accurate in your opinion. Is the color disc easier to read? I see it requires filtering the sample,'that's interesting.

[Buzz1329]

Originally Posted by kga943

that is a expensive kit how low does it read i always hear that if it shows zero that the algaa is hiding the reading

0, of course, and then .02 ppm, which is good enough for me. Actually, now that I think about it, I can get a reading that is between 2 colors/shades on the color disc, which would allow for estimating the results at increments lower than .02.

Mike

[Buzz1329]

Originally Posted by Reef Frog

What makes this kit easy to read &'accurate in your opinion. Is the color disc easier to read? I see it requires filtering the sample,'that's interesting.

The filtration is only required if you're testing turbid water. I am finding it be increasingly easy to read the color disc. And if I do consecutive tests on the same water, the color of the sample is consistent. When I did consecutive tests with the Hanna I could get results that were off by as much as 1.5 ppm. Again, not knocking the Hanna kit, just being realistic about my ability to use the thing.

Mike