Hanna Instruments Checker Colorimeter

[Left C]

MarineDepot.com just sent me with some items that they have on sale. Items new to me are the Hanna Instruments Checker Colorimeters for iron, phosphate and total chlorine for $39.99.

Hanna phosphate checker pdf: http://www.hannacan.com/PDF/brochures/HI713_Phosphate_CheckerHC.pdf
The review for the phosphate colorimeter mentioned that the chemical test to be done which takes 3 minutes and then the colorimeter reads the sample and posts the ppm. The reviewer grumbled about having to wait 3 minutes and was no time saving benefit to him. All of the phosphate test kits that I've used were hard to read the color. Usually the sample was a green cast blue and the color card was printed using a red cast blue or it could be the other way around. Anyway, it was hard to work with. If this is as accurate as it says it is, at $40 it's not much more expensive than a regular phosphate test kit. We have a procedure on the forum to make reference samples to check it out. Plus you can use this kit for saltwater too. ReefBuilders.com has a little more info about it. Two page 3Reef.com thread. One poster said the tests done were accurate: http://www.3reef.com/forums/3reef-radar/checker-phosphate-photometer-hanna-instruments-84048.html

Hanna iron checker pdf: http://www.hannacan.com/PDF/brochures/HI721_Iron_CheckerHC.pdf
I didn't see any reviews of this item.

I didn't look at the total chlorine colorimeter information.

Are these good tools or snake oil?

 

[Biollante]

I Doubt It Is Snake Oil...

Hi Left C,

I have used, owned Hanna instruments, substantially more expensive and always been happy.

It will take people using and misusing them to tell if they are worth the price.

The cost/quality of the reagents the care and cleaning are all going to be factors, there are consumables associated with these things and there is making sense of the results. :gw

Biollante

 

[argnom]

I currently own a "entry level" PH sensor from Hanna (their "Checker" line from a few years back). I think I paid 30.00$CDA for it and I was surprised at the accuracy (once calibrated with one of the three sets of buffered solutions that came with it) and for the price and ease of use, it was really worth it. It's not an "insta-read", but hey, for 5-10$ more than a cheap Hagen PH test kit, its all good.

/image is hot. Unlike the temperature here this morning... 5 celcius in april... so cold...

Just keep in mind that they are not as accurate as their "lab grade" equipment. In my opinion, if you are looking for an easier way to perform tests, they are worth it. On the other hand, if you are looking for extreme precision... well... you get what you pay for. In this case, 50.00$ worth. Not really that accurate, but a lot simpler to use than those darn test tubes ans solutions.

 

[over_stocked]

Just an FYI, this is apparently the normal price for this at many places online for this particular unit.

 

[Tom Barr]

It is still a vast improvement from the color wheels or charts eyeballs have toi compare to, also, with a standard reference solution, you can check and be pretty consistent, I think it's one of the better economic solutions for testing that's within typical user $$$ ranges.
Selling a 180$ unit is a lot different! These are close/better to the Lamotte test kit prices.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[argnom]

And the reagents come in nifty little premeasured envelopes. 9.00$ for 25 tests isn't that bad... No problems with cheap droppers that give inconsistent drop volumes.

The geek in me wants one, but I no longer have the need to measure anything since I started using Tom's EI method.