Ive been using the hanna ulr test for awhile now and when its working its the best but when its not its not! I order reagents from diff vendors and I have noticed time and time again the some of the reagents in the same box can be bad. Usually they are dead on but when one reads 79 lol I know somethings up cause the next few in the box read 5-10 which is what my tank is. Hanna denies this though and I am very carefully to test the same way each time I fill it right to the line (both vials) pour in reagent ( every bit of it) and swirl for 2 mins I also make sure the outside of the vial is clean and the inside has no bubbles. 79 reading then a 5 that's just not right lol all these reagents are well within the ep date as well seems like maybe moisture is getting to the reagents either at the manufacturers place or on the lfs shelf or something or maybe threw the mail but like I said ive been using for awhile and I went over a year with no problems but now im finding bad reagents
hanna ulr reagents in the same box can be faulty
- Thread starter stan80
- Start date
When you place the vial into the reader do you ensure you always place in the same way for both the blank and the sample? And the sample is in the same vial as the blank?
I always make sure the 10 is facing forward when I place into the reader. I also measure the water with a syringe and do not use the line--though it is pretty close. What I do is read the blank, then remove and add powder, invert gently for a minute, check for bubbles and swirl if I have, then insert.
I also empty the powder onto filter paper that I have creased prior to running to ensure I get all of it. Sometimes powder will stick in the corners of the packet so you have to completely rip the packet apart gently, look, then tap to get all that powder onto the paper. If dumping from the packet into the sample you would not see this.
Lastly, I know that one of my vials will sometimes give me erroneous readings if i am not careful. The inside surface is not completely flat and, for some reason, bubbles like to stick on it. Even after I ensure no bubbles there is often micro bubbles or particles in the sample that will adhere to the surface during the 3 minute wait. I've since switched to using the second vial and haven't had one of those readings since.
I love the ULR but you definitely need to have some basic laboratory practices down to get it to perform properly.
I always make sure the 10 is facing forward when I place into the reader. I also measure the water with a syringe and do not use the line--though it is pretty close. What I do is read the blank, then remove and add powder, invert gently for a minute, check for bubbles and swirl if I have, then insert.
I also empty the powder onto filter paper that I have creased prior to running to ensure I get all of it. Sometimes powder will stick in the corners of the packet so you have to completely rip the packet apart gently, look, then tap to get all that powder onto the paper. If dumping from the packet into the sample you would not see this.
Lastly, I know that one of my vials will sometimes give me erroneous readings if i am not careful. The inside surface is not completely flat and, for some reason, bubbles like to stick on it. Even after I ensure no bubbles there is often micro bubbles or particles in the sample that will adhere to the surface during the 3 minute wait. I've since switched to using the second vial and haven't had one of those readings since.
I love the ULR but you definitely need to have some basic laboratory practices down to get it to perform properly.
That all sounds like a lot more work than the 10 drops of reagant a and 2 drops of reagent b with only 10 seconds of shaking that the Red Sea test requires. Sure, you have to wait 6 minutes to get the final color, but it's pretty darn easy and reliable. I don't think these Hanna checkers are worth all that much when they take that much work to get accurate results.
slief
RC Sponsor
I've been running the ULR for several years now and go through new regent boxes regularly and never had any issues with consistency. If there is a consistency issue within a box of regents, Hanna will send out a new box of 25 regents no questions asked.
mako61
New member
I have to disagree with that. Hanna checkers are easy and very fast. I have both tests and rarely use the red sea anymore. I use the ULR and DKH hanna on a regular basis. Just keep the vial clean, same direction, and watch for bubbles. The ULR powder packets show you how to cut them, had no trouble doing that. I have only been using them a few months but they have been very good. At first I ran red sea to compare. I even found the DKH to shows almost exactly the correct delta when adding buffer.
I do have one small issue. Im kinda clumsy and have knocked the vial over. I wish there was a little holder to sit the vial in.
Not more work, just attention to detail. An accuracy rate of +/- 0.02ppm is not good enough when you are trying to keep phosphates at 0.02ppm.
Potatohead
New member
I really like the alk checker, the ULR is still decent but it's not quite the same IMO. Just last night I tested and got 25, my phos hasn't been that high in like ever, so I checked again and got four. Third time for good measure and got eight. This is probably the fifth or six time I have had a weird high reading for whatever reason and I do make sure the vials are spotless and put in the same way. The alk checker though is dead reliable and never steers me wrong.
I have 4 diff boxes diff lot #....each reagent from the same lot will give me almost the same reading fot example lot ho61 a 6-8 ho57 17-18 and ho62 3-4. And i do it the right way...now 17 or 18 isnt threw the roof so i guess i feel comfortable knowing it couldnt be higher then that knowing the other reagents tested much lower
tkeracer619
New member
Every once in a while I run across a discolored reagent but all of my reagents are expired... I bought a ton of them years ago and haven't worked through. That said the ones that are still white and powdery work fine. I do think the ones that are discolored got moisture in them at some point as they aren't powdery.
I'm almost through them though. The ULR is an excellent test kit but is very sensitive. It is best to store the vials with RODI in them or at least rinse with RODI. Then rinse with water to be tested before testing. Also, you should be using a syringe to get 10ml instead of filling to the line. Also, I don't follow their instructions exactly. I cut the pouch on two sides, shake the crap out of the test kit in the first 30 seconds, then spend the rest of the time working the bubbles out.
I've made hundreds of tests with these and get very consistent results.
I'm almost through them though. The ULR is an excellent test kit but is very sensitive. It is best to store the vials with RODI in them or at least rinse with RODI. Then rinse with water to be tested before testing. Also, you should be using a syringe to get 10ml instead of filling to the line. Also, I don't follow their instructions exactly. I cut the pouch on two sides, shake the crap out of the test kit in the first 30 seconds, then spend the rest of the time working the bubbles out.
I've made hundreds of tests with these and get very consistent results.
For the past year they have been testing dead on very consistent for me but the past 2 months it has all changed.. guess i should nt stress out over it i mean i can always watch to see if i have any extra algae growing on the glass then i would know the phospates are a bit high
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