Which test kit should I believe

[IvanW]

I recently bought some Hanna test kits. I have just tested the calcium 3 times using the Hanna which gave me a reading of a blinking 600, which means the calcium is over that level. I still have an in date Salifert kit so I tested twice with that one gave me a reading of 375. I would like to think that 375 is about right. Anyone else getting weird readings using Hanna. I did reach out to them a few weeks ago,still haven’t heard back from them. Good thing RAP is around the corner me and the Hanna rep going to have a pow wow.

 

[Jimbo327]

Contact Hanna. Have the test lot number and product number, and they can verify if it is a bad batch. There has been known bad batches and they will tell you if it is. They will replace if it is.

• Phone: 401-765-7500
• Email: tech@hannainst.com

Oops, saw you already did. Call them, may be faster...unless you want to wait until RAP, but they probably won't have any answers at the show.

 

[IvanW]

Just did a quick search online for issues with this test kit. According to a few online posts you are supposed to use distilled water, Hanna’s online instructions tell you to use either RO/DI or distilled water. There are apparently differences in the two. We still going to pow wow.

 

[IvanW]

Contact Hanna. Have the test lot number and product number, and they can verify if it is a bad batch. There has been known bad batches and they will tell you if it is. They will replace if it is.

• Phone: 401-765-7500
• Email: tech@hannainst.com

Oops, saw you already did. Call them, may be faster...unless you want to wait until RAP, but they probably won't have any answers at the show.

Thanks I will call in the morning.

 

[ndrwater]

Hanna Calcium is tough. You need to be 1000% perfect or the results will be off. Calcium is the only one this seems to be a common problem with.

 

[Jimbo327]

I use Salifert as my calc test.

 

[drexel]

When I tested mag and ca, I only used Salifert, the other 3 N, P and alk are all Hanna. Btw, 375 isn't bad, especially considering NSW is around 380 on most reefs. Maybe have a friend test your water to see if it's user error?

 

[tritonpower]

I tried so hard with the hanna calcium for years. Never could get it to work consistently no matter how precise. Same with the alk. Finally gave up. I use salifert for everything but phosphate, still use the hanna for that.

 

[joseserrano]

The Hanna one is known to have issues. I only use Hanna for nitrate and phosphate now. Was using the salinity pen, but it resets itself all the time, gives me all over the place readings on the battery life .

 

[IvanW]

I tested again yesterday, Salifert gave me a reading of 380. I used distilled water with the Hanna and it gave a reading of 530. There is still too big a discrepancy between the two.

 

[Xaznkewlguyx]

Just follow the salifert kit unless you want to send out an ICP but I can tell you that I keep my ca at 420 on salifert. The last 2 ICP tests were 426 and 427 so I would say it’s pretty accurate.

 

[Jimbo327]

I use Salifert as well for calcium.

 

[Greaser9999]

I usually use distilled water, works well. I've compared to my salifert test kit and get similar results. Some people say to get distilled water from rite aid, but iget it at the grocery store and seems to work just as good

Hanna Calcium is tough. You need to be 1000% perfect or the results will be off. Calcium is the only one this seems to be a common problem with.

 

[Dooly]

calcium: salifert
alk: hanna
no3: hanna high range
po4: hanna ultra low range
salinity: tropic marin hydrometer
these are the only hobbyist grade testers I use and they are in line with my icp ms results

 

[Jimbo327]

calcium: salifert
alk: hanna
no3: hanna high range
po4: hanna ultra low range
salinity: tropic marin hydrometer
these are the only hobbyist grade testers I use and they are in line with my icp ms results

Same. Except I've also switched over to Salifert from Hanna on alk. More economical.