need new test kits
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lol you can't spend enough money to get all electric. Many of the tests are not available in electric form (alkalinity) , and even many that are are not accurate or cannot be used constantly in the tank(CA test and nitrate monitors come to mind).
If you want to spend a TON of money to simplify your testing, just buy this:
http://www.easymeters.com/cart/product.php?productid=1766&cat=0&page=1
It's a bench photometer system. It is like the Hanna colorimeter that everyone uses to test their low range phosphate, but this system tests pretty much everything, including calcium, alkalinity (in hardness range mg/l), nitrates, ph, phosphates, and many more. I would call the company and make sure that they're all accurate in our higher salnity conditions before I bit the bullet on this one though. For $750 though, considering that many people spent $200 on their colorimeters, and some people spend $50-$100 on test kits for each type, when using the expensive test kits, then this kit is actually not too insanely priced, and I would imagine it to be more accurate every time than test kits, and less prone to user error.
I guess you'd still be futzing with tests, but I think it's a lot easier, cleaner, less work, and more accurate to use a Hanna colorimeter bench setup.
If you want to spend a TON of money to simplify your testing, just buy this:
http://www.easymeters.com/cart/product.php?productid=1766&cat=0&page=1
It's a bench photometer system. It is like the Hanna colorimeter that everyone uses to test their low range phosphate, but this system tests pretty much everything, including calcium, alkalinity (in hardness range mg/l), nitrates, ph, phosphates, and many more. I would call the company and make sure that they're all accurate in our higher salnity conditions before I bit the bullet on this one though. For $750 though, considering that many people spent $200 on their colorimeters, and some people spend $50-$100 on test kits for each type, when using the expensive test kits, then this kit is actually not too insanely priced, and I would imagine it to be more accurate every time than test kits, and less prone to user error.
I guess you'd still be futzing with tests, but I think it's a lot easier, cleaner, less work, and more accurate to use a Hanna colorimeter bench setup.
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
I can tell you right now that the meter will not work (for the most part) in salt water.
I've already been down that road. Only 3 of the tests are accurate for saltwater.
Phosphate
Dissolved Oxygen
and I forget the 3rd one but it was another pretty useless one
I've already been down that road. Only 3 of the tests are accurate for saltwater.
Phosphate
Dissolved Oxygen
and I forget the 3rd one but it was another pretty useless one
AquamanE
Active member
How many have the Hanna phosphate low range photometer? Im considering it.
was looking at DFS but not sure of difference between $199 one and $249 one.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15437
was looking at DFS but not sure of difference between $199 one and $249 one.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15437
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
I have the hanna photometer. Works Great. It is zeroed before every test. Very accurrate. LOTS of folks on the zeo forum have and use them as well.
I think I paid like 225 and that was with 100 reagents
I think I paid like 225 and that was with 100 reagents
tony varrell
New member
I have one too and like it but how do you really know it is accurate without any means of calibration and an accuracy of +/- 0.04? In the ultra low level testing that accuracy is problematic..
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
I can tell you how. IF you really get your phosphates to zero then you may end up getting an error message on your meter.
Most of the time I get a zero reading. Occassionally I'll keep getting a flashing 0 (I think). I called Hanna about it once. He had me soak some flake food in water and then test the water to make sure that it is working. (Flake food always has phosphates in it - I thought that was a pretty clever way of checking it). Of course I did get a reading of like 2 or something on that. So then he explained to me that my phosphates were so low that with the error factor counted in that the meter must be coming up with a negative number and since it can't show a negative number it comes up with an error message.
So in this case - getting an error message is a good thing.
Most of the time I get a zero reading. Occassionally I'll keep getting a flashing 0 (I think). I called Hanna about it once. He had me soak some flake food in water and then test the water to make sure that it is working. (Flake food always has phosphates in it - I thought that was a pretty clever way of checking it). Of course I did get a reading of like 2 or something on that. So then he explained to me that my phosphates were so low that with the error factor counted in that the meter must be coming up with a negative number and since it can't show a negative number it comes up with an error message.
So in this case - getting an error message is a good thing.
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
You can't have less than zero - that's the problem.
EVERY testing device has an error rate to it. This one is .04 not .4 (I think - I'm hoping Tony was correct)
EVERY testing device has an error rate to it. This one is .04 not .4 (I think - I'm hoping Tony was correct)
AquamanE
Active member
Sorry, i mis spoke. Im familiar with expected margins of error.
Recommended levels for ph04 are usually less than ONE. More specifically 0.02 to 0.03. So if margin of error is +/- 0.04 its not very accurate IMHO. Is this for the LOW RANGE one?.
This means that if I have a level of 0.03 which is fine, it could read 0.07, still be in the margin of error, yet drive us insane to drop it some more. Or worse even, it reads zero, we think were doing VERY well, yet its really at 0.04; we even let it rise a little to 0.04(cause were lazy, and confident its low. :bum: ), yet now reading is really 0.08!.
I wonder what the margin of error is for Elos, Salifert ands the such?I know my comments seem petty, since all of the above are OK and probably perfect, creating no ill effect, but for $250 im a little disapointed its not more accuracy. I was looking forward to getting one.
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
All I can say is I haven't had any issues with it, however, I do see your point.
How much of an error factor do you think the general person has once they have rinsed vials, left droplets in the vial, put "what they think is 5 ml of water" into the vial, put some drops of stuff in at an angle instead of straight up and gotten a smaller droplet, didn't wait the full 5 minutes and then guessed at what color it looks closer to on a chart like most of the other test kits are like?
I'd be willing to bet the margin of error is a heck of a lot greater than .04
How much of an error factor do you think the general person has once they have rinsed vials, left droplets in the vial, put "what they think is 5 ml of water" into the vial, put some drops of stuff in at an angle instead of straight up and gotten a smaller droplet, didn't wait the full 5 minutes and then guessed at what color it looks closer to on a chart like most of the other test kits are like?
I'd be willing to bet the margin of error is a heck of a lot greater than .04
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