Hanna Meter - Convince Me!

[Pedro]

So J, since it seems to be so low, do you see anything in the tank that can verify or contradict that reading? For example, if the meter is showing a low reading yet you have algea, or the other way around.

Anybody else.

 

[ming]

I'll win!! Someone else should start a PO3 pool too, I need more cash:lol2:.

Can I just bring my bag of Potassium Phosphate (KH2PO4)? :scratch:
I used to use it for dosing PO4 on my freshwater planted tank

 

[meschaefer]

I got my meter today... might have to leave work early so that I can go test my water. :biglaugh:

 

[jhale]

So J, since it seems to be so low, do you see anything in the tank that can verify or contradict that reading? For example, if the meter is showing a low reading yet you have algea, or the other way around.

Anybody else.

the only algae in my tank it the gigantic ball of cheato in the fuge rangehat

 

[Pedro]

the only algae in my tank it the gigantic ball of cheato in the fuge rangehat

OK, so then the meter reading supports that you do not have a phosphate issue. Curious to see what the others will test at.

 

[alrha]

Doh! Why Am I The Last To Get Mine When I Ordered First!!!

Not Fair Not Fair Not Fair

 

[meschaefer]

You havn't got your yet. Mine may have come yeasterday, I wasn't in the office, but when I got back to my office today at 10:00 am it was waiting for me on my chair, and there was alot of office paper on top of it.

Did they give you a tracking number. If not (or the one they gave you didnt work) you can go to Customer Service on DrsF&S and click on track package, and enter your order number. That will take you to a page to track the package.

 

[meschaefer]

I got a chance to play with my Hanna Meter last night. I am not sure if I am using it correctly, as I got some strange results.

When I tested the water from my display tank I got a reading of .04. not bad but better than expected. When I tested the water coming out of my phosban reactor I got a reading of .05. Perhaps my phosban is exhausted, could be, I have it scheduled to be changed tomorrow. I then tested fresh RO/DI water and got a reading of .06 - All of my filters where replaced two weeks ago. I need to test the RO/DI with a TDS meter, but will not be able to do that until tomorrow. (I don't have one and need to borrow a friends- another toy to buy)

When I performed the test I used the following procdure. I filled the vile to the line, and placed the large cap on it and put in the meter to zero out. I then took the vile out and dumped the regeant into it and put the small cap on. I shook vigourously, but still could not get the regeant to fully dissolve. I then put the big cap on, placed into the meter and hit timed test.

Is anyone else having trouble getting the regeant to fully dissolve. The directions said to gently swirl the water in the vile, not to vigoursly shake. Is this throwing off my readings. Or do I have a problem with my RO/DI unit.

 

[jhale]

Matt, I found I had to shake the vial pretty hard to get the regent to disolve.
make sure all the air bubbles are gone after you do this. I just tapped the vial till they were gone, it did not take long.

 

[alrha]

got mine via USPS this morning (maybe because it was broken off of a larger order.
now i gotta find the time to play with it.

 

[twinreef]

got mine via USPS this morning (maybe because it was broken off of a larger order.
now i gotta find the time to play with it.

me too.

I checked my water and its .28, ro/di is .03. i double checked my readings. i have to lower my po4.

 

[meschaefer]

I contacted Hanna Instruments. They said it is ok if the reagent does not dissolve completely. It is ok to try and get it to dissolve, but you run into a problem with the timeing the test. I quote

" There should not be much of a significant difference. If you would like to shake it until it dissolve you can however most of the customer do not. I would suggest you try it both way and see if you notice a big difference.

Just do not shake it for too long because the instruction want you to go through each step and then wait the 3 minutes before taking a reading. If you shake it for too long you will be adding little extra time to the test which may affect your readings."

 

[jhale]

now i gotta find the time to play with it.

thanks for the quote Albert :lol2:

 

[alrha]

should try and get an idea from them then how long the entire process should take. if it's say 4 minutes from start to finish, then we may want to start the clock in the begining and know how much time we have, assuming that a few extra seconds here and there really make such a difference.

 

[alrha]

thanks for the quote Albert :lol2:

haven't you been playing with yours?
but remember, dont shake it too much and you gotta finish in 3 minutes flat.

 

[meschaefer]

haven't you been playing with yours?
but remember, dont shake it too much and you gotta finish in 3 minutes flat.

I don't need that much time. :smoker:

 

[meschaefer]

Back to topic.

I think the thing to do is to take two samples. In the first sample, follow instructions to the letter. Gently shake the cuvet and then take the timed reading. In the other, shake the sh*t out of it untill the reagent has fully dissolved and then do the timed test.

We need the opinion of a veteran Hanna user!

 

[alrha]

I don't need that much time. :smoker:

um, i dont think you should be proud of that.
unless of course it's 'billable' time.

 

[jhale]

haven't you been playing with yours?
but remember, dont shake it too much and you gotta finish in 3 minutes flat.

:lol2: that's an even better quote.


okay now back to topic

 

[meschaefer]

um, i dont think you should be proud of that.
unless of course it's 'billable' time.

If we are measuring things in billable time, that activity took at least an hour, as I had to think about it first and then write myself a memo memoralizing the experience when I was done.

Back to topic

It might be interetsing to run a test, wherein we measure the water from a common source on different meters, and see how well they compare with each other.