Hanna testers :-/

[afboundguy]

I picked up Hanna test kits for LR phosphate, HR nitrate, silicates, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium as I liked the idea of "easier" testing.

Well my "alkalinity" has been steady at 7-8 dKH for since Dec 2023 but my calcium has been above 500 and at one point above 600. When it tested at 600+ in April I checked it with my Aquaforest test kit and it read even higher so I have been slowly lowering my calcium on my dosing pump.

I did a water change last week when it tested at 524 and lowered the calcium to 3-5 mg total a day (about 60 gallons total) and then today I tested and it was higher at 585 and alkalinity was 7.5 dKH and magnesium was 1060. I have had some LPS corals start to shrivel and die/release polyps so I was concerned since before with the "high" calcium readings the tank was doing well.

I took out the Aquaforest test kits and after testing calcium 2 times it was 350. That prompted me to test the alkalinity and it was 10.4-10.7 and magnesium was 1250. Needless to say I was rather upset and plan to ditch the Hanna calcium, alkalinity and magnesium kits and just test with Aquaforest.

I adjusted the calcium based on the Aquaforest tests and while 350 isn't too low I want it a bit higher. I kept increasing the alkalinity for dosing and manual adjustments based on the Hanna and I am sure the tank didn't appreciate the adjustments.

So booooh to Hanna test kits and make sure you periodically test with another test kit to verify!

 

[GobyWanKenobie]

I like Hanna because I'm not good at seeing the colors on the tests, however, I don't chase the numbers. I go for consistency. If my tank looks good at a certain number, that's where I try to stay. Truth is, I probably don't even know what the real numbers should be, I only know my Hanna numbers.

 

[afboundguy]

I like Hanna because I'm not good at seeing the colors on the tests, however, I don't chase the numbers. I go for consistency. If my tank looks good at a certain number, that's where I try to stay. Truth is, I probably don't even know what the real numbers should be, I only know my Hanna numbers.

I am of the same notion. The numbers appeared out of wack but tank looked good. It wasn't until recently that tank started to not look good which led me to realizing how completely out of whack the Hanna kits were when the changes I was making based on their results were making tank look worse which led me to using the Aquaforest kits.

 

[Chris.Reef]

Are the reagents not expired?

 

[TPhan]

Hanna phos ulr and nitrate hr have always been reliable and consistent for me. The mag and calcium was all over the place.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

I like their high range nitrate and ulr phosphorus and then use the conversion. Aquaforest for mag, Salifert for the rest orRed Sea Pro's

 

[afboundguy]

Are the reagents not expired?

I think I bought the phosphate and silicate brand new and the rest used. I believe they all had expired reagents but I bought all new reagents before using them.

Hanna phos ulr and nitrate hr have always been reliable and consistent for me. The mag and calcium was all over the place.

While I don't have a second test kit for phosphate I have heard nothing but good things and figured that is accurate. The nitrate HR I check with an old school API test kit. Mag and calcium and now alkalinity have been WAY off...

I like their high range nitrate and ulr phosphorus and then use the conversion. Aquaforest for mag, Salifert for the rest orRed Sea Pro's

I think I will just be sticking to the ULR phosphate, HR nitrate and silicate kits and ditch the rest. Too bad as I just bought brand new reagents as I have been running out of the first batch of new reagents I purchased....

 

[Chris A.]

I’ve been using the Hanna HR nitrate and ULR phosphorus and love them. I do every once in a while get a packet or 2 that’s completely off of what my ranges are and it’s usually the reagent that’s bad but not expired. The rest I use salifert.

 

[Chris.Reef]

Pillow packets at bottles should have expiration dates stamped on them. If they are really old and past expiration that might be your problem

 

[spongebob]

just think.....
trident test Hanna and salifort test all different?
not much difference with Hanna and salifert. but the trident is not close to either of them..
try the Hanna again and salifert every other test. and check the dates it does make a difference I test Hanna Alk with a reagent that was a year old then a new one. it does matter. throw away the old stuff

 

[Reefried]

The Hannah calcium has a history of being terrible. I use the nitrate phosphate and alk. I frequently check the alk against a salifert and they are usually close. I feel that there are issues with all hobby grade test kits. I use them more to spot trends than to pinpoint a true number.

 

[afboundguy]

just think.....
trident test Hanna and salifort test all different?
not much difference with Hanna and salifert. but the trident is not close to either of them..
try the Hanna again and salifert every other test. and check the dates it does make a difference I test Hanna Alk with a reagent that was a year old then a new one. it does matter. throw away the old stuff

All the reagents are good. I will double check the alkalinity with the new reagent I just got and see if there is a difference between the two reagents.

The Hannah calcium has a history of being terrible. I use the nitrate phosphate and alk. I frequently check the alk against a salifert and they are usually close. I fell that there are issues with all hobby grade test kits. I use them more to spot trends than to pinpoint a true number.

I would be open to keeping the alkalinity and I am curious if there will be a drastic difference between the old but still good reagent vs the brand new stuff that just arrived a few days ago.

Calcium tester is dead to me and plan to get a salifert or another brand kit to go along with my Aquaforest kits.

 

[GiannisK]

I've had consistent results with the alkalinity test but the hanna calcium and magnesium tests are notoriously bad unfortunately. Maybe double check you are properly rinsing everything with RO water and that the alk reagent isn't starting to have floating chunks.

 

[jayteerq]

My salinity Hanna pooped the bed 1 month after warranty ended. Go figure

 

[nickng]

Adding my experience to the mix. I use salifert for Alk, Mg, Ca. For phosphate and nitrates my go to will be the Hanna ULR phosphate 774 and HR nitrate 782. I have found that the Hanna ULR phosphate is only accurate when phosphate levels are above the 0.08ppm. Occasionally double check with red sea phosphate pro and Tropic Marin nitrate test kits