Reef Chemistry - Salifert vs. Hanna Instruments

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Salifert vs. Hanna Instruments

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46319
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Topic: Salifert vs. Hanna Instruments

Posted By: go2sleep
Subject: Salifert vs. Hanna Instruments
Date Posted: January 25 2011 at 7:51pm

I just got the Hanna Instruments Checker for phosphates and alkalinity. Salifert shows my Dkh at 9 and the Hanna shows it at 6.6. I know you have to convert the Hanna measurement to get Dkh and believe me I have checked my math over and over. Also the phosphates on Salifert show 0 and the Hanna shows 0.09. I have been fighting some red slime so it is making me wonder if the Hanna is correct. My Ph is stable at 8.25-8.4 so I think my Dkh is Ok. I have always trusted the Salifert test kits but now I'm wondering. Anybody else have experience with these electronic testers. I know I'm too much of a gadget freak. Should never have bought them. Ignorance is bliss. Thanks

Steve

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Steve

Replies:

Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: January 25 2011 at 7:59pm

I've never used those Hanna checkers but how old is the Salifert test kits? They do expire and will give false readings as they get older.

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None at the moment
Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront

Posted By: go2sleep
Date Posted: January 25 2011 at 8:03pm

Alkalinity is 8 months old but nowhere near the expiration date on box and the phosphate is 6 months

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Steve

Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: January 25 2011 at 8:25pm

Unfortunately I don't know which I'd believe.

Adam

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Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: January 25 2011 at 8:25pm

is your hannah alk kit powder or liquid reagent? they just updated their line with all liquid reagent..

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Posted By: go2sleep
Date Posted: January 26 2011 at 12:58am

liquid

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Steve

Posted By: Nick801
Date Posted: January 26 2011 at 1:35am

I was honestly about to order one of these tonight =) but now I don't know if I would,

guess I'll just stick with the salifert

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Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: January 26 2011 at 8:49am

The Hanna Instruments are pointless for Alk. Sorry to say that but they have had problems since day one.

There is nice thread over on RC all about it. They under read by quite a bit, just like your is doing. Hanna says they don't have the problem but will try to fix it. The big chemistry gurus on RC all said that you can't test Alk they way Hanna is trying to. We don't have the technology for it.

The phosphate checker I would believe though. Powder test kits like the Salifert have a very hard time reading numbers that low. You need a Hanna to check where your phosphates really are.

Posted By: Davidwillis
Date Posted: January 26 2011 at 10:16am

That is good to know. I was thinking about getting one. I got a phosphate one because I could not tell what my phosphate was by reading my color chart. I knew it was somewhere between 0 and 0.5 (using an api test kit) the hanna phosphate says 0.18. I really like seeing a number.

Posted By: jcom
Date Posted: January 26 2011 at 6:49pm

I got the ALK test awhile back and never even opened it due to bad reviews. Hanna has since corrected everything and will send you a new kit free of charge (not a new checker) The new kit has all new reagents, cuvets, and a nice box for your checker and all items. I just called them and they sent it to me UPS within a few days....havent' had a chance to test it out yet.

I am happy with the Phos checker.

Posted By: go2sleep
Date Posted: January 27 2011 at 12:31am

So here is my scientific study. The Salifert kit comes with a test sample that is 7.1 Dkh. I tested that sample with the Hanna Alk checker and got a reading of 4.9. Guess I wasted my money. Hopefully this thread might help everybody else not waste theirs. I agree that the phosphate kit is probably pretty accurate. I can't ever see the color changes with the color chart either. At least it will give me a number that I can use to follow the trends in my phosphates. Might help me know when I need to change my phosban.

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Steve