Labeling hanna phosphate vials

Volcmreefer · 03/20/2017, 06:50 PM

Hello RC,

I have a Hanna phosphate tester and want to label the vials to ensure no contamination between sampling. Does anyone know how the meter reads the samples? Reason that I am asking is because I have to use both vials due to the meter shutting off after 2 minutes. In the instructions it states that you must mix the powder in the vial for 2 minutes, so I just use two vials instead of one. One with the blank, or standard, and the other with the sample to be analyzed. Would a label made by a label maker with "S" for sample and "B" for blank work if I put the label towards the top of the vial? I will label the caps as well to ensure no contamination there.

Not sure if anyone has had experience with this or not. Thanks in advance RC.

-Jon

bertoni · 03/20/2017, 07:27 PM

You need to use the same vial for zeroing and for testing, otherwise the calibration might not be correct. I haven't used that meter, so I don't know where the light beam is directed, personally.

morgank · 03/20/2017, 09:06 PM

I have the ulr one, and it is indeed a tight window....I find if I have the packet cut open and timer app open it is doable though. Definitely frustrating, but doable. I don't know for the life of me why they didn't make that shutoff longer.

Dan_P · 03/21/2017, 12:13 AM

I timed the shut off window for the ULR Checker at close to three minutes. Dissolution of the reagent takes about one minute. You might find using a blank will give an incorrect zero no matter how hard you try.

One solution for quickly getting the reagent into the test vial is to open the reagent packet before you start zeroing as someone has already suggested. To speed up the addition of the reagent to the vial, use a small funnel or what I do is to dump the reagent onto a two inch square of wax paper. When it is time to add the reagent, I pick up the opposite sides of the square to form a narrow "trough" and pour in the powder, tapping gently to get the powder flowing. I have gotten the time down to about 1.5 minutes for reagent addition plus one minute of shaking to dissolve the reagent.

I found the procedure a little fussy and the shut off window a bit tight, but oversll I like the Checker.

air2mag · 03/21/2017, 06:47 AM

I do the same as morgank. I have the reagent package cut open and shaped into a funnel before I start the test. I also did numerous test mixing for two minutes and 1.5 minutes. I got the exact same test results.

Volcmreefer · 03/21/2017, 09:09 AM

Yeah, that's what I do. It is frustrating that it turns off so quickly. I might hit up Hanna to see what their take is on it. Thanks

Vinno · 03/21/2017, 09:17 AM

2mins? Did you get the early model?

Mine is 3mins on both low range phosphate and ultra low phospahate.

air2mag · 03/21/2017, 11:56 AM

I just purchased my UL checker in January and the instructions say two minutes. I haven't ever timed it though. Maybe it's three.

Mohammed · 03/21/2017, 01:23 PM

Hi,
Have the sachet cut open and ready to go as most said. Open your stop watch on your phone and switch on the unit. Add C1 appears. Place vial with the 10ml facing you and start the stopwatch as soon as C2 appears. Remove vial and add contents of sachet. Gently tilt the vial to mix the powder and once 1min 50 sec is reached on your stopwatch, long press the button on the unit to start a 3 minute count down. I usually mix for another 20 sec and then return the vial to the unit with the 10ml mark facing me. Now just wait for the countdown and your phos reading will appear in ppb if u habe the ulr checker. Multiply the amount to 3.066 and divide by 1000 to gt ppm.

HTH

jd371 · 03/21/2017, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mohammed

Hi,
Have the sachet cut open and ready to go as most said. Open your stop watch on your phone and switch on the unit. Add C1 appears. Place vial with the 10ml facing you and start the stopwatch as soon as C2 appears. Remove vial and add contents of sachet. Gently tilt the vial to mix the powder and once 1min 50 sec is reached on your stopwatch, long press the button on the unit to start a 3 minute count down. I usually mix for another 20 sec and then return the vial to the unit with the 10ml mark facing me. Now just wait for the countdown and your phos reading will appear in ppb if u habe the ulr checker. Multiply the amount to 3.066 and divide by 1000 to gt ppm.

HTH

Exactly how I do it, I invert and swirl until the timer reaches 20 sec and then just give the vial a gentle tap on the bottom to dislodge any bubbles and wipe it down before putting it in the tester (10ml facing me).

Volcmreefer · 03/21/2017, 01:32 PM

Thanks Mohammed! Just wanted to use one vial for the "blank" and the other for "sample" (one that has powder) from now on. I might just get a marker and mark the top and vial to differentiate the two vials.

Going to print out your instructions and put them in the box for future reference, thanks! :-)

hkgar · 03/22/2017, 02:37 PM

Only somewhat related, but I am going to ask

Does anyone experience that sometimes it can take 30+ seconds for the ULR unit to read the sample water and switch to C2? Usually it is just a couple of seconds.

Khazmodain · 03/22/2017, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Only somewhat related, but I am going to ask

Does anyone experience that sometimes it can take 30+ seconds for the ULR unit to read the sample water and switch to C2? Usually it is just a couple of seconds.

My LR tester will occasionally do that. No clue why it sometimes takes longer.

RAMABAMA · 03/22/2017, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khazmodain

My LR tester will occasionally do that. No clue why it sometimes takes longer.

Mine does sometimes

Mohammed · 03/23/2017, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Only somewhat related, but I am going to ask

Does anyone experience that sometimes it can take 30+ seconds for the ULR unit to read the sample water and switch to C2? Usually it is just a couple of seconds.

Yes mine does it as well, i notice on subsequent test the wait is much shorter though.

bnumair · 03/23/2017, 04:36 AM

using 2 different vials will not be a correct reading. one vial can have more iron in glass second less making the color transparent to us but a minor difference will cause the unit itself to read incorrectly.
i always have the packet opened and ready while unit sits at C2 for 3 min before turning off then u can press the button and it will have a 3 min timer start. you can still mix gently and place the vial back in. thats over 5 min to mix and get it inside the unit.

Optionman · 03/23/2017, 06:02 AM

Before starting, take a business card or piece of paper, crease it, and dump the contents of reagent packet on it. This saves time and makes it easier to pour powder into vile. I shake for solid 90 seconds and then tap away any bubbles before putting back in unit and starting 3 min countdown.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

air2mag · 03/24/2017, 09:16 AM

Mine does the same thing. It seems to be completely random when it does it.

jh2pizza · 03/26/2017, 06:03 AM

Are the Vials always going to be off? I have always used two vials, but when I first started I tested the results by reversing their roles and it was the same. My thoughts were that if it was slightly of, it would be a repeatable difference so if it was off .005 due to glass variation, it would always be off 005.

Am I missing something?

bertoni · 03/26/2017, 02:55 PM

If calibration with one vial and testing with the other is working for you, the only issue is keeping the vials equally clean over time. I'd probably do a few more tests to be sure, at the very least, though.

03/20/2017, 06:50 PM	#1
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Labeling hanna phosphate vials Hello RC, I have a Hanna phosphate tester and want to label the vials to ensure no contamination between sampling. Does anyone know how the meter reads the samples? Reason that I am asking is because I have to use both vials due to the meter shutting off after 2 minutes. In the instructions it states that you must mix the powder in the vial for 2 minutes, so I just use two vials instead of one. One with the blank, or standard, and the other with the sample to be analyzed. Would a label made by a label maker with "S" for sample and "B" for blank work if I put the label towards the top of the vial? I will label the caps as well to ensure no contamination there. Not sure if anyone has had experience with this or not. Thanks in advance RC. -Jon

03/20/2017, 07:27 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You need to use the same vial for zeroing and for testing, otherwise the calibration might not be correct. I haven't used that meter, so I don't know where the light beam is directed, personally. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/22/2017, 02:37 PM	#12
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Only somewhat related, but I am going to ask Does anyone experience that sometimes it can take 30+ seconds for the ULR unit to read the sample water and switch to C2? Usually it is just a couple of seconds. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

03/23/2017, 04:36 AM	#16
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	using 2 different vials will not be a correct reading. one vial can have more iron in glass second less making the color transparent to us but a minor difference will cause the unit itself to read incorrectly. i always have the packet opened and ready while unit sits at C2 for 3 min before turning off then u can press the button and it will have a 3 min timer start. you can still mix gently and place the vial back in. thats over 5 min to mix and get it inside the unit. __________________ 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

03/26/2017, 06:03 AM	#19
jh2pizza Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: zanesville, ohio Posts: 3,439	Are the Vials always going to be off? I have always used two vials, but when I first started I tested the results by reversing their roles and it was the same. My thoughts were that if it was slightly of, it would be a repeatable difference so if it was off .005 due to glass variation, it would always be off 005. Am I missing something? __________________ Joe and Jeni Friends don't give Friends kenya trees! Current Tank Info: Oceanic 180 in wall, 100 sump, Geo Kalk Reactor, Tunze 9415 skimmer, Geo Media Reactors, Geo 624 CA Reactor

03/20/2017, 09:06 PM	#3
morgank Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 44	I have the ulr one, and it is indeed a tight window....I find if I have the packet cut open and timer app open it is doable though. Definitely frustrating, but doable. I don't know for the life of me why they didn't make that shutoff longer.

03/21/2017, 12:13 AM	#4
Dan_P Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,432	I timed the shut off window for the ULR Checker at close to three minutes. Dissolution of the reagent takes about one minute. You might find using a blank will give an incorrect zero no matter how hard you try. One solution for quickly getting the reagent into the test vial is to open the reagent packet before you start zeroing as someone has already suggested. To speed up the addition of the reagent to the vial, use a small funnel or what I do is to dump the reagent onto a two inch square of wax paper. When it is time to add the reagent, I pick up the opposite sides of the square to form a narrow "trough" and pour in the powder, tapping gently to get the powder flowing. I have gotten the time down to about 1.5 minutes for reagent addition plus one minute of shaking to dissolve the reagent. I found the procedure a little fussy and the shut off window a bit tight, but oversll I like the Checker.

03/21/2017, 06:47 AM	#5
air2mag Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Indiana Posts: 56	I do the same as morgank. I have the reagent package cut open and shaped into a funnel before I start the test. I also did numerous test mixing for two minutes and 1.5 minutes. I got the exact same test results.

03/21/2017, 09:09 AM	#6
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Yeah, that's what I do. It is frustrating that it turns off so quickly. I might hit up Hanna to see what their take is on it. Thanks

03/21/2017, 09:17 AM	#7
Vinno Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 59	2mins? Did you get the early model? Mine is 3mins on both low range phosphate and ultra low phospahate.

03/21/2017, 11:56 AM	#8
air2mag Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Indiana Posts: 56	I just purchased my UL checker in January and the instructions say two minutes. I haven't ever timed it though. Maybe it's three.

03/21/2017, 01:23 PM	#9
Mohammed Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 104	Hi, Have the sachet cut open and ready to go as most said. Open your stop watch on your phone and switch on the unit. Add C1 appears. Place vial with the 10ml facing you and start the stopwatch as soon as C2 appears. Remove vial and add contents of sachet. Gently tilt the vial to mix the powder and once 1min 50 sec is reached on your stopwatch, long press the button on the unit to start a 3 minute count down. I usually mix for another 20 sec and then return the vial to the unit with the 10ml mark facing me. Now just wait for the countdown and your phos reading will appear in ppb if u habe the ulr checker. Multiply the amount to 3.066 and divide by 1000 to gt ppm. HTH

03/21/2017, 01:32 PM	#11
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Thanks Mohammed! Just wanted to use one vial for the "blank" and the other for "sample" (one that has powder) from now on. I might just get a marker and mark the top and vial to differentiate the two vials. Going to print out your instructions and put them in the box for future reference, thanks! :-)

03/23/2017, 06:02 AM	#17
Optionman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: NJ Posts: 774	Before starting, take a business card or piece of paper, crease it, and dump the contents of reagent packet on it. This saves time and makes it easier to pour powder into vile. I shake for solid 90 seconds and then tap away any bubbles before putting back in unit and starting 3 min countdown. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03/24/2017, 09:16 AM	#18
air2mag Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Indiana Posts: 56	Mine does the same thing. It seems to be completely random when it does it.

03/26/2017, 02:55 PM	#20
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If calibration with one vial and testing with the other is working for you, the only issue is keeping the vials equally clean over time. I'd probably do a few more tests to be sure, at the very least, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni