Is the Hanna Phosphate Checker worth $50?

cherubfish pair · 09/14/2012, 10:55 PM

How many tests can you make with it? Can you buy replacement reagents?

It's either Hanna or Red Sea. Any thoughts?

bnumair · 09/14/2012, 10:59 PM

hanna phospahte in my opinion is not worth any money but hanna low range phosphurus is. it comes with 6 tests but u can buy refills of 25 tests for a cheap price of 8-12 dollars.

Sleepyhead · 09/14/2012, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

hanna phospahte in my opinion is not worth any money but hanna low range phosphurus is. it comes with 6 tests but u can buy refills of 25 tests for a cheap price of 8-12 dollars.

I started a thread on the Hanna checker and this came up. Why is the low range phosphorus kit $150 better than the low range checker?

bertoni · 09/14/2012, 11:11 PM

He's referring to the ULR Phosphorus Checker, which is in theory a bit more accurate than the Phosphate Checker, for about the same price.

Sleepyhead · 09/14/2012, 11:13 PM

^In theory? What is my best bet in your opinion?

bertoni · 09/14/2012, 11:17 PM

I'd try the ULR Phosphorus Checker, but my tanks always were low in measured phosphate. I think for most tanks, the ULR is appropriate, though.

Sleepyhead · 09/14/2012, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

I'd try the ULR Phosphorus Checker, but my tanks always were low in measured phosphate. I think for most tanks, the ULR is appropriate, though.

I don't mean to steal the thread, apologies to the OP. I do not have any algae in the tank except the film on the glass that gets swept away by a mag float. I did however buy two new acros that are not coloring up or growing as quickly (at all) as I would have liked. I know you need a bunch more information, but I'm thinking that PO4 and NO3 might be the culprits...

cherubfish pair · 09/14/2012, 11:42 PM

Who makes the URL test?

Any links?

bertoni · 09/15/2012, 12:28 AM

The ULR is a Hanna product.

bnumair · 09/15/2012, 07:24 AM

hanna checker makes both phosphate and UL phosphorus both for $50.
here is a link.
https://hannachecker.com/index.php?p...mart&Itemid=29

to me this is a lot more precise and goes in lower range than a regular phosphate test.
they both come with the meter and 6 tests. u can buy test in lots of 25 for less than $10.

tmz · 09/15/2012, 08:25 AM

I've been using a hanah colorimeter 713 for abut 5 years. It's the full sized model ,pruchased before the checkers were out. It' reliable and consistent. I'd expect similar performance from either of the
hananh PO4 checkers . They get generally good reviews. If I were getting new device I'd opt for the ULR model.

downbeach · 09/15/2012, 08:29 AM

I use the new Red Sea kits for some of my tests, but for PO4, you really need a good meter, and the Hanna checker is a good choice.

Osteoclast · 09/15/2012, 09:02 AM

The Hanna checker is the best currently available. Measurements are +/- 0.04ppm. My experience/data suggest an even tighter range. Hanna makes a good alk checker also. Be sure to carefully add all the powdered reagent to the 10ml vial for reliable data.

cherubfish pair · 09/15/2012, 10:57 AM

I don't know what I would need: high or low phosphate. Or ultra low range phosphorous?

swcc · 09/15/2012, 04:19 PM

IMO no point in testing PO4... if ya got algae...ya got too much phosphate...no algae...no problem...at least in my experience.

cherubfish pair · 09/15/2012, 05:39 PM

Well there is two huge blobs of turf algae both on the same small rock. Instead of removing the algae or throwing away the rock, I'll just put the rock in my cpr aquafuge. It should help me with the eternal battle of the micro algae on the glass by growing and stealing excess nutrients from the micro slime. Also if I cut back on feeding frozen, it should help. Oh, then there is water changes.

I'll put buying the test kit on the back burner for now.

milkman55 · 09/16/2012, 09:25 AM

I sold my Hanna Checker and have been using the Red Sea Algae Management test kit. For the same money you get both PO4 and NO3. The Red Sea accuracy is much better.

I would do repeated tests with the Hanna Checker and get a different result every time, mostly 0.00. My actual PO4 level was .02, but the precision of the Checker is not precise enough to measure at extremely low levels.

bertoni · 09/16/2012, 05:09 PM

How do you know that the level is 0.02 ppm? I agree that the Hanna Checker has a significant error in that range, about 0.03 ppm at least.

souperman · 09/16/2012, 07:39 PM

Do people with established tanks to regular p04 testing? I find since the tank has found it's groove and I stick to my routine I have no problems. Watching the algae film on the glass seems to be a good indicator for any rising nutrient levels that may trigger a test.

bnumair · 09/16/2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souperman

Do people with established tanks to regular p04 testing?

i check all parameters every Sunday while few vitals every other day.

fishchef · 09/16/2012, 10:31 PM

I run GFO and the PO4 Checker has helped me watch things so I have a guide as to when to switch it out. It can vary and that saves me money. I got in early on the Checker about 5 years ago and only paid 39.95. I've only bought reagent three times and on-line its about 10 dollars. Its accurate enough for my purposes.

Spyderturbo007 · 09/17/2012, 12:30 PM

I like my checker, but like others have stated, it seems to have a 0.03ppm uncertainty on the low end. Mine bounces around between 0.00 and 0.03ppm when I test. But to be honest, that's fine with me. Most people recommend a phosphate level below 0.03ppm from what I've read anyway, so the deviation doesn't matter.

My checker was reading 0.00ppm and I had a guy at work run my water on the ICP. The ICP came up with 0.005ppm.

09/14/2012, 10:55 PM	#1
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	Is the Hanna Phosphate Checker worth $50? How many tests can you make with it? Can you buy replacement reagents? It's either Hanna or Red Sea. Any thoughts? __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

09/14/2012, 10:59 PM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	hanna phospahte in my opinion is not worth any money but hanna low range phosphurus is. it comes with 6 tests but u can buy refills of 25 tests for a cheap price of 8-12 dollars. __________________ 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

09/14/2012, 11:11 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	He's referring to the ULR Phosphorus Checker, which is in theory a bit more accurate than the Phosphate Checker, for about the same price. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/14/2012, 11:17 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd try the ULR Phosphorus Checker, but my tanks always were low in measured phosphate. I think for most tanks, the ULR is appropriate, though. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/14/2012, 11:42 PM	#8
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	Who makes the URL test? Any links? __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

09/14/2012, 11:13 PM	#5
Sleepyhead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 66	^In theory? What is my best bet in your opinion?

09/15/2012, 12:28 AM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The ULR is a Hanna product. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/15/2012, 07:24 AM	#10
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	hanna checker makes both phosphate and UL phosphorus both for $50. here is a link. https://hannachecker.com/index.php?p...mart&Itemid=29 to me this is a lot more precise and goes in lower range than a regular phosphate test. they both come with the meter and 6 tests. u can buy test in lots of 25 for less than $10. __________________ 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

09/15/2012, 08:25 AM	#11
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I've been using a hanah colorimeter 713 for abut 5 years. It's the full sized model ,pruchased before the checkers were out. It' reliable and consistent. I'd expect similar performance from either of the hananh PO4 checkers . They get generally good reviews. If I were getting new device I'd opt for the ULR model. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

09/15/2012, 08:29 AM	#12
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	I use the new Red Sea kits for some of my tests, but for PO4, you really need a good meter, and the Hanna checker is a good choice.

09/15/2012, 09:02 AM	#13
Osteoclast Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Franklin, TN Posts: 245	The Hanna checker is the best currently available. Measurements are +/- 0.04ppm. My experience/data suggest an even tighter range. Hanna makes a good alk checker also. Be sure to carefully add all the powdered reagent to the 10ml vial for reliable data. __________________ 525/48" tall. Library Reef. Current Tank Info: 525 Mixed Reef SPS dominate

09/15/2012, 10:57 AM	#14
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	I don't know what I would need: high or low phosphate. Or ultra low range phosphorous? __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

09/15/2012, 04:19 PM	#15
swcc Moved On Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Tampa Fl Posts: 1,659	IMO no point in testing PO4... if ya got algae...ya got too much phosphate...no algae...no problem...at least in my experience.

09/15/2012, 05:39 PM	#16
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	Well there is two huge blobs of turf algae both on the same small rock. Instead of removing the algae or throwing away the rock, I'll just put the rock in my cpr aquafuge. It should help me with the eternal battle of the micro algae on the glass by growing and stealing excess nutrients from the micro slime. Also if I cut back on feeding frozen, it should help. Oh, then there is water changes. I'll put buying the test kit on the back burner for now. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

09/16/2012, 09:25 AM	#17
milkman55 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Parkville, MO Posts: 832	I sold my Hanna Checker and have been using the Red Sea Algae Management test kit. For the same money you get both PO4 and NO3. The Red Sea accuracy is much better. I would do repeated tests with the Hanna Checker and get a different result every time, mostly 0.00. My actual PO4 level was .02, but the precision of the Checker is not precise enough to measure at extremely low levels.

09/16/2012, 05:09 PM	#18
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	How do you know that the level is 0.02 ppm? I agree that the Hanna Checker has a significant error in that range, about 0.03 ppm at least. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/16/2012, 07:39 PM	#19
souperman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 262	Do people with established tanks to regular p04 testing? I find since the tank has found it's groove and I stick to my routine I have no problems. Watching the algae film on the glass seems to be a good indicator for any rising nutrient levels that may trigger a test. __________________ No.

09/16/2012, 10:31 PM	#21
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,222	I run GFO and the PO4 Checker has helped me watch things so I have a guide as to when to switch it out. It can vary and that saves me money. I got in early on the Checker about 5 years ago and only paid 39.95. I've only bought reagent three times and on-line its about 10 dollars. Its accurate enough for my purposes.

09/17/2012, 12:30 PM	#22
Spyderturbo007 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 2,564	I like my checker, but like others have stated, it seems to have a 0.03ppm uncertainty on the low end. Mine bounces around between 0.00 and 0.03ppm when I test. But to be honest, that's fine with me. Most people recommend a phosphate level below 0.03ppm from what I've read anyway, so the deviation doesn't matter. My checker was reading 0.00ppm and I had a guy at work run my water on the ICP. The ICP came up with 0.005ppm.