Hanna instruments, hanna checkers
 

I am not trusting my API test kits and am looking at the palm hanna checkers for alkalinity and calcium. Any users out there that can give insight as to whether these units are worth getting?

From the results I've seen some people post for Ca, I'll stick to test kits :) Alk is an easy Elos test, so I'll stick to that too. I do have a Hanna PO4 meter, it's ok....

I wouldn't purchase my Hanna Calcium checker again. It reads much higher than my ELOS and Seachem tritation tests (which agree with each other).

hanna checkers
 

i've had no problems with my test kits(calcium,alk,phos,nit,& iod)the checkers that need the button held on them i've printed hold on them to remind me.the ca does take practice to use as your using only 1/10 of the syringe to a full one of the regent and a lot of people make a mistake on this step.what i like about the checkers is that you are not having to compare colour scales,but are getting a digital readout

+1.

I didn't like the Ca at all, and sold it. Alk is OK, but the other tests are super easy for that one anyways.

Phosphate is great. Bought that one, loved it, bought the others, and have been a little disapointed.

There have definitely been a lot of complaints about the Hanna Calcium Checker, and plenty of praise for the Hanna Phosphate Checker. Murdoch brings up a good point that the alkalinity test is very simple (with any brand). I haven't tried any of the Hanna Checkers since I have been very happy with results of the different (and cheaper!) test kits I currently use.

My preferred test kits with second choice in brackets:

Calcium - Elos (API)
Alkalinity - Elos (API)
Magnesium - Salifert
Nitrate - API (Salifert)
Ammonia - API
Phosphate - D-D Merck

pH - handheld meter only, test kits are garbage.

I like the Hanna Phosphate test and would recommend it, but took a while before I was ok with the Ca tester. In hindsight the only Hannah test kit I would get would be the phosphate one.


Dan

Thank you everyone for the excellent feed back.