Hanna Instruments Marine Calcium Checker

[ricwilli]

I noticed that a few people purchased Hanna Instruments Marine Calcium Checkers in the group buy. Has anyone tried it yet? I did a little research and the outcome is not good. It is not consistent. I haven't opened mine up yet.

 

[mnat]

Will have mine on Saturday, have salifert test kits on hand and plan on testing side by side for a little while just to make sure.

 

[JRWOHLER]

Will have mine on Saturday, have salifert test kits on hand and plan on testing side by side for a little while just to make sure.

+1

 

[TanksNStuff]

Interested to hear the results, so please post here if there are any problems with them.

Haven't bought one yet, but was planning on it.

 

[Daniel]

Interested to hear the results, so please post here if there are any problems with them.

Haven't bought one yet, but was planning on it.

Same here!

 

[mnat]

So finally got around to testing. My levels are a bit low but don't want to go crazy raising them.

Hannah alk 7.11
Salifert alk 7.00

Hannah calc first test 559
Hannah second test 438
Salifert calc 400

So alk is right in line calc you need to be careful when testing as getting a high reading is very easy. The second test was within the margin of error so that is good

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

That calc test is sure in a big range?

 

[mnat]

The margin of error is + or - 6% and Salifert is probably around the same so it is close enough. I will do some more testing over the weeks and keep you guys updated.

 

[downbeach]

Are these brand new - calibrated or brand new - uncalibrated?

 

[ricwilli]

So finally got around to testing. My levels are a bit low but don't want to go crazy raising them.

Hannah alk 7.11
Salifert alk 7.00

Hannah calc first test 559
Hannah second test 438
Salifert calc 400

So alk is right in line calc you need to be careful when testing as getting a high reading is very easy. The second test was within the margin of error so that is good

Are you using Deionized Water when checking calcium?

 

[mnat]

I did not calibrate them, I did not see any directions for calibration but I will check that tonight.

We used RODI water when checking calcium, don't know if that makes a difference.

 

[redfishbluefish]

What did you do differently between the first and second calc test? That is, what do you have to be “careful” about?

 

[mnat]

What did you do differently between the first and second calc test? That is, what do you have to be “careful” about?

The last step is to add a powdered reagent and shake it up, if you don't wait long enough and there are any air bubbles it will give you an artificially high reading

 

[ricwilli]

I did not calibrate them, I did not see any directions for calibration but I will check that tonight.

We used RODI water when checking calcium, don't know if that makes a difference.

I think it does. Step two specifies to use deionized water. The very little bit of calcium that passes through the rodi is being picked up by the calcium checker. This will give inaccurate readings all the time.

 

[NikkiT]

Ah, thank you. We will have to get pour hands on some DI and run the test again.

 

[TanksNStuff]

I thought Mike said you ran the tests on RODI? Did he mean RO only?

 

[mnat]

No RODI water is what we used.

 

[TanksNStuff]

OK, then you did the test on DI then.

 

[ricwilli]

OK, then you did the test on DI then.

Might not be enough according to Hanna.

 

[Fish Brain]

What about Distilled water?