Is Hanna a must?

[wzero]

Is Hanna PO4 a must for keeping SPS in long term good condition?

 

[jmcmahon66]

Certainly not. The meter is another useful tool in determining water parameters, but is not necessary. I would monitor the basics with good quality test kits before investing in a PO4 meter. Check salinity with a good quality refractometer IMO; pH with a probe; alk, Ca, mag and temperature. That plus good lighting, good water flow, a good skimmer and water changes should keep you in great shape. I also run a phosphate reactor, and change the media monthly. HTH

 

[poknsnok]

just food for thought... my salifert phos kit has never registered anything when i tested. Since Ive gotten the colorimeter I have register anywhere from .02 to .06. Im not familiar with the Merck kit but Im going to get one to compare it to the colorimeter since the meter has a +/- .04 error range

 

[clkwrk]

Here is some old info I dug up on acurracy. Here is the thread the info is posted. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=725671

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6269279#post6269279 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clkwrk
Here is what I wrote to Milwaukee...........


Hello,

I recently purchased the MI412 low range phosphate meter and I am curious on how I should interpert the precison.

In the manual it says +/- .04mg/l @1.00mg/l

Does this mean at 1.00mg/l it could be .96 or 1.04 ? How accurate is it when I am down at .1 - .01 does the .04 still apply or does the accuracy range change at low levels. ie. .02 can be .06 or lower than 0 ?




I am using this for my saltwater reef tank and had grown tired of standard triation test kits that never gave me an accurate reading . For example one of the more know names in test kits is Salifert. With their test I read 0ppm or mg/l and your unit reads .02 . I trust your instrument more but am curious as to the accuracy at the low ranges my fellow reefkeepers and I test for .

Thanks for your time

Chris



.............................................

And this is what I got for an answer.

And this is what I got for an answer.



quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Chris,

I understand your concerns but I think the following will help you.

The deviation you refer to of .04 is at mid range. This is a low range unit and set up to be the most accurate at the very lowest range. The closer you get 0 the less deviation you will have. For instance at .50 your deviation is +/-.02 and at .25 deviation is +/- .01

I hope you find this information helpful and thank you for choosing Milwaukee Instruments for your testing needs.

Best regards and Merry Christmas
Milwaukee Instruments Technical Department

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__________________

 

[dvanacker]

Hey...thats good to know.

I read the +/- .04 a couple of days ago and wondered why everyone thought they were so great. Now I know. thanks.

 

[GMAX]

Any significant price diffential between the Milwaukee meter and the Hanna meter? Hanna meter is pricey enough to make you think about the Merck kits which while much more expensive than the usual kits are much more sensitive. I am going back and forth. But did not know Milwaukee had a meter. So what did it cost and did you have to order it direct?

 

[clkwrk]

I paid 130 or close to there for my Martini.

 

[clkwrk]

Wow I just did a search and the cheapest I found it was for 169 . I guess these bad boys went up in price.

 

[Serioussnaps]

I dont think its necessary...run a GFO but start out slowly and over the time you can use more....if you run a GFO your phosphates are likely in check and wont inhibiit coral growth...

however hanna sounds likes a cool new gadget to add to my tank..i love automation and gadgets almost as much as my livestock! that sounds really sad but ill leave it up there

 

[icliao]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8274502#post8274502 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by poknsnok
just food for thought... my salifert phos kit has never registered anything when i tested. Since Ive gotten the colorimeter I have register anywhere from .02 to .06. Im not familiar with the Merck kit but Im going to get one to compare it to the colorimeter since the meter has a +/- .04 error range

Both the Hanna and Merck are driving me crazy. The Merch can is highly accurate and easy to determine for level above 0.045 but below that it all looks the same (My RO water, water from Phosban Reactor and Distill water all look the same color and not matching anything color on the chart.)

On the other hand the Hanna was awesome for a while and now probably due to contaimination or reason I don't know, I am getting very high readings even my distill water tested 0.09 ppm.

Unfortunately other test kits can not detect the PO4 level in my tanks.

 

[Pyrrhus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8276389#post8276389 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clkwrk
Wow I just did a search and the cheapest I found it was for 169 . I guess these bad boys went up in price.

Naw, we just gave you a really good deal on it cause we like you.

 

[clkwrk]