Issue with Hanna Alkalinity Checker?

ccwbank · 09/10/2012, 09:07 PM

Anyone had an issue with a brand new Hanna checker? I ran a test on my tank and each time get a reading of "0"...which is in ppm. I then ran a test on a fresh batch of seawater and got a reading of "1" ppm. 1ppm = 0.02 meq/L or 0.056 dkh.

I've seen all the online tips and videos about being very precise in your measurements and feel I'm at a dead-end with this unit.

As a cross reference I tested both tank water and a fresh batch of seawater with some API 5-in-1 test strips and get normal ALK readings.

tmulrney · 09/11/2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccwbank

Anyone had an issue with a brand new Hanna checker? I ran a test on my tank and each time get a reading of "0"...which is in ppm. I then ran a test on a fresh batch of seawater and got a reading of "1" ppm. 1ppm = 0.02 meq/L or 0.056 dkh.

I've seen all the online tips and videos about being very precise in your measurements and feel I'm at a dead-end with this unit.

As a cross reference I tested both tank water and a fresh batch of seawater with some API 5-in-1 test strips and get normal ALK readings.

I have three Hanna checkers and personally only experienced this once.....when I didn't do the test correctly. Trying to remember now what I did wrong, but I think I used RO instead of tank water by mistake. Make sure you are doing the test correctly.

bertoni · 09/11/2012, 03:58 PM

I can't comment much. Your meter might be bad, or there might have been some simple mistake made. I can't tell which, but people usually report better results than that for this meter, but I've never used one.

OKDOHK · 09/11/2012, 04:02 PM

i would agree. Likely you are missing a step somewhere. How much of the reagent are you adding? Are you calibrating (C1) with normal saltwater first before adding reagent for C2 step? Worst case, take the tester to someone that uses the same product and have them test with yours.

bnumair · 09/11/2012, 07:04 PM

not sure how ur performing the test but this is how i do it.
1. sample water from tank and C1 zero the meter.
2. add 1ml of reagent and shake it for few.
3. C2 reading should be ur result in ppm
multiply the reading with 0.056 to get dkh.

andyrm66 · 09/11/2012, 07:26 PM

I power on the meter, then when it blinks c1, add tank water, then wait then add 1ml reagent, then turn vial upside down 4 times,hold button until timer starts, then after countdown is done flip vial twice, them hit button and take reading.

taylorjonl · 09/11/2012, 07:41 PM

Here are the instructions for using this meter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO0XI...layer_embedded

taylorjonl · 09/11/2012, 09:26 PM

I just opened my alkalinity checker, got that along with the iodine tester today in the mail. I have to say I am impressed, measured 152ppm or 8.5dkh. I check this against my API test kit along with some test strips, all measurements supported each other.

I also own the phosphate and I have a calcium checker coming tomorrow. The only way to test IMO, I hate the color card comparisons with a passion.

taeto1 · 01/14/2021, 10:27 AM

I am having the same issue ith my Hanna Tester.
I do the test various times and it give me 0 as a result.
Only on 1 ocation did it give me the correct reading of 140
I will try to switch out the battery see if that helps

Sk8r · 01/14/2021, 01:05 PM

I prefer Salifert for alk-cal. You get a numerical result pdq. You do have to watch expiration date, but that's in years, not months.

Timfish · 01/15/2021, 10:15 AM

I like API alkalinity. I got a Hanna ALklinity and checked it agianst a freinds. Using both reagents in both testers with the same water sample gave 4 different numbers with .9 dKH between the high and low. Needless to say I wasn't impressed. It doesn't help that Hanna had some bad reagent that caused people t needlessly screw with their alkalinity. Other test kits are cheaper and simpler and multiple test kits can be used to increase confidance in the results. Another practice I do is always test new kits against old kits to make sure the old reagent hasn't degraded.

Sk8r · 01/15/2021, 12:37 PM

A good idea to write the expiration date in marker pen on the boxes of reef chemicals. You can really mess your tank up if you chase bad test results.

09/10/2012, 09:07 PM	#1
ccwbank Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 46	Issue with Hanna Alkalinity Checker? Anyone had an issue with a brand new Hanna checker? I ran a test on my tank and each time get a reading of "0"...which is in ppm. I then ran a test on a fresh batch of seawater and got a reading of "1" ppm. 1ppm = 0.02 meq/L or 0.056 dkh. I've seen all the online tips and videos about being very precise in your measurements and feel I'm at a dead-end with this unit. As a cross reference I tested both tank water and a fresh batch of seawater with some API 5-in-1 test strips and get normal ALK readings.

09/11/2012, 03:58 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I can't comment much. Your meter might be bad, or there might have been some simple mistake made. I can't tell which, but people usually report better results than that for this meter, but I've never used one. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/11/2012, 07:04 PM	#5
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	not sure how ur performing the test but this is how i do it. 1. sample water from tank and C1 zero the meter. 2. add 1ml of reagent and shake it for few. 3. C2 reading should be ur result in ppm multiply the reading with 0.056 to get dkh. __________________ 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

01/14/2021, 01:05 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I prefer Salifert for alk-cal. You get a numerical result pdq. You do have to watch expiration date, but that's in years, not months. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/15/2021, 10:15 AM	#11
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	I like API alkalinity. I got a Hanna ALklinity and checked it agianst a freinds. Using both reagents in both testers with the same water sample gave 4 different numbers with .9 dKH between the high and low. Needless to say I wasn't impressed. It doesn't help that Hanna had some bad reagent that caused people t needlessly screw with their alkalinity. Other test kits are cheaper and simpler and multiple test kits can be used to increase confidance in the results. Another practice I do is always test new kits against old kits to make sure the old reagent hasn't degraded. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

09/11/2012, 04:02 PM	#4
OKDOHK Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 277	i would agree. Likely you are missing a step somewhere. How much of the reagent are you adding? Are you calibrating (C1) with normal saltwater first before adding reagent for C2 step? Worst case, take the tester to someone that uses the same product and have them test with yours.

09/11/2012, 07:26 PM	#6
andyrm66 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 517	I power on the meter, then when it blinks c1, add tank water, then wait then add 1ml reagent, then turn vial upside down 4 times,hold button until timer starts, then after countdown is done flip vial twice, them hit button and take reading.

09/11/2012, 07:41 PM	#7
taylorjonl Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 36	Here are the instructions for using this meter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO0XI...layer_embedded

09/11/2012, 09:26 PM	#8
taylorjonl Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 36	I just opened my alkalinity checker, got that along with the iodine tester today in the mail. I have to say I am impressed, measured 152ppm or 8.5dkh. I check this against my API test kit along with some test strips, all measurements supported each other. I also own the phosphate and I have a calcium checker coming tomorrow. The only way to test IMO, I hate the color card comparisons with a passion.

01/14/2021, 10:27 AM	#9
taeto1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Eucador Posts: 9	I am having the same issue ith my Hanna Tester. I do the test various times and it give me 0 as a result. Only on 1 ocation did it give me the correct reading of 140 I will try to switch out the battery see if that helps

01/15/2021, 12:37 PM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A good idea to write the expiration date in marker pen on the boxes of reef chemicals. You can really mess your tank up if you chase bad test results. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.