Hanna Alk checker

Joe0813 · 01/21/2018, 03:59 PM

Would just like to thank a Hanna ALK checker for almost nuking our tank. Started dosing alk and calc, testing every few days and adjusting. started to notice the tank was unhappy and the nems were all deflated. checked checked and checked some more with a hanna checker and always got around 8.2 to 8.8 for alk.. took the water to a LFS and alk was actually 15. came home and rechecked with a hanna to check his number, tester read 8.8. tested with a KH test kit and low and behold 15. These testers are absolute junk. Had an issue with the calcium one giving me a reading of 560 and now the alk was reading way off. junk junk junnnnk

Drix · 01/21/2018, 06:19 PM

I was just looking at picking one of these things up. As a lazy reefer these days, I wanted something that would make life a little bit easier and as such foster a better behavior pattern for testing. Sadly, it seems like every review I read that isn't "glowing" basically says the same thing, poor readings, and inconsistency.

eder10986 · 01/21/2018, 07:18 PM

Sorry this happened. I’ve never had a single issue with one of their checkers. I’m sure you checked to see if your solution was expired or not. Otherwise that could have very well been the culprit as well as low battery

Joe0813 · 01/21/2018, 07:28 PM

I actually even replaced the battery and checked it again.... still had a number no where near the 15. wondered why all my corals and nems were so mad

newbie2014 · 01/21/2018, 07:54 PM

Ive been thinking about getting the Hanna for Alk because of the digital readout. But I also have API as a backup. A faulty lab grade refractometer caused high salinity which nuked all of my corals for the first 2-3 months. So I learned to double up when something doesn’t look right.

Joe0813 · 01/21/2018, 08:27 PM

I just never thought a number looked wrong. It was a legitimate number. 8.2 to 8.8 so it wasn't like it read 2 or 20. Good thing I checked with a lfs before it was to late

soulpatch · 01/22/2018, 12:39 PM

My Hanna also reads lower then actual but not that low. I get a 7.3 when it is 8.3 as found on various other test kit brands. I just know it will be lower then actual and deal with it when I test. I had gone through Hanna sending replacement regents and such but to no avail.

Pretty much just go with Salifert at this point as it is just as quick and I dont have to be as anal about cleaning the vials.

homer1475 · 01/22/2018, 12:52 PM

I had the same fears when I first bought my ALK checker. I periodically check my hanna against salifert, and both are pretty close(usually between .1 to .3 of each other).

Although mine works, I have read quite a few stories like yours. One of the reasons I am only using the ALK and PO4 checkers. All my other tests are salifert.

Joe0813 · 01/22/2018, 03:37 PM

I am going to order a salifert test kit and shoot the hanna with my new smith and Wesson AR

Drix · 01/22/2018, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe0813

I am going to order a salifert test kit and shoot the hanna with my new smith and Wesson AR

Is that thing reef friendly?

soulpatch · 01/22/2018, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drix

Is that thing reef friendly?

How else do you "drill" your bulkheads?

Joe0813 · 01/22/2018, 05:03 PM

I usually use the 12g to drill out the bulkheads... gives a cleaner look with slugs. just don't use bird shot or youll get a lot more bulkheads than you wanted

01/21/2018, 03:59 PM	#1
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Hanna Alk checker Would just like to thank a Hanna ALK checker for almost nuking our tank. Started dosing alk and calc, testing every few days and adjusting. started to notice the tank was unhappy and the nems were all deflated. checked checked and checked some more with a hanna checker and always got around 8.2 to 8.8 for alk.. took the water to a LFS and alk was actually 15. came home and rechecked with a hanna to check his number, tester read 8.8. tested with a KH test kit and low and behold 15. These testers are absolute junk. Had an issue with the calcium one giving me a reading of 560 and now the alk was reading way off. junk junk junnnnk __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

01/21/2018, 07:28 PM	#4
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I actually even replaced the battery and checked it again.... still had a number no where near the 15. wondered why all my corals and nems were so mad __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

01/21/2018, 08:27 PM	#6
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I just never thought a number looked wrong. It was a legitimate number. 8.2 to 8.8 so it wasn't like it read 2 or 20. Good thing I checked with a lfs before it was to late __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

01/22/2018, 12:39 PM	#7
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	My Hanna also reads lower then actual but not that low. I get a 7.3 when it is 8.3 as found on various other test kit brands. I just know it will be lower then actual and deal with it when I test. I had gone through Hanna sending replacement regents and such but to no avail. Pretty much just go with Salifert at this point as it is just as quick and I dont have to be as anal about cleaning the vials. __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

01/22/2018, 12:52 PM	#8
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I had the same fears when I first bought my ALK checker. I periodically check my hanna against salifert, and both are pretty close(usually between .1 to .3 of each other). Although mine works, I have read quite a few stories like yours. One of the reasons I am only using the ALK and PO4 checkers. All my other tests are salifert. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

01/21/2018, 06:19 PM	#2
Drix Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 590	I was just looking at picking one of these things up. As a lazy reefer these days, I wanted something that would make life a little bit easier and as such foster a better behavior pattern for testing. Sadly, it seems like every review I read that isn't "glowing" basically says the same thing, poor readings, and inconsistency.

01/21/2018, 07:18 PM	#3
eder10986 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 504	Sorry this happened. I’ve never had a single issue with one of their checkers. I’m sure you checked to see if your solution was expired or not. Otherwise that could have very well been the culprit as well as low battery

01/21/2018, 07:54 PM	#5
newbie2014 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 235	Ive been thinking about getting the Hanna for Alk because of the digital readout. But I also have API as a backup. A faulty lab grade refractometer caused high salinity which nuked all of my corals for the first 2-3 months. So I learned to double up when something doesn’t look right.

01/22/2018, 03:37 PM	#9
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I am going to order a salifert test kit and shoot the hanna with my new smith and Wesson AR __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

01/22/2018, 05:03 PM	#12
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I usually use the 12g to drill out the bulkheads... gives a cleaner look with slugs. just don't use bird shot or youll get a lot more bulkheads than you wanted __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef