hanna testers.
- Thread starter morgan175
- Start date
xcali1985
Active Member
I have the Alk, Cal, & Phosphate ones and love them. Once you get the process down it's super easy. No guessing.
Only thing is that they can become pricey with having to by the reagents. If you are looking to know exactly whats going on with your tank no tester is better.
Also make sure you get the low range po4 checker.
Only thing is that they can become pricey with having to by the reagents. If you are looking to know exactly whats going on with your tank no tester is better.
Also make sure you get the low range po4 checker.
xcali1985
Active Member
There is a difference between a pH Controller and a pH Checker. The checker will tell you what the pH of the water is. A Controller controls a device based on the value of the pH of the water. For instance. The way a calcium reactor works is that when the pH gets to a certain level it releases an a set amount of co2 into the reactor to break down the media to stabilize the pH.
geoj
Active Member
So what does a ph controller do it sounds expensive.
will get a phosphate hanna tester next pay check thank you.
A probe is put in the tank and is left there to continually measure the pH. At the controller box you set the pH range. Some controllers are very flexible and do all sorts of tricks. A basic one will turn on or off a power source so you can control a pump/solenoid. Trying to test the pH chemically, via a test kit may be doable but I have not use one that I felt confident in. A tank controller is like a Swiss army knife, you would not think that you had a use for one, but once you have one, you would wonder how you ever lived without it.
will get a phosphate hanna tester next pay check thank you.
A probe is put in the tank and is left there to continually measure the pH. At the controller box you set the pH range. Some controllers are very flexible and do all sorts of tricks. A basic one will turn on or off a power source so you can control a pump/solenoid. Trying to test the pH chemically, via a test kit may be doable but I have not use one that I felt confident in. A tank controller is like a Swiss army knife, you would not think that you had a use for one, but once you have one, you would wonder how you ever lived without it.
marvelfan
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by morgan175 http:///t/392821/hanna-testers#post_3491053
Phosphate and calcium ordered don't know what to do with ph yet. So confused.
I'm researching these now. I feel the hardest API test to read is phosphate. I think it would be the test that would gain the most accuracy from digital testing. I may just break down and order them all.
Originally Posted by morgan175 http:///t/392821/hanna-testers#post_3491053
Phosphate and calcium ordered don't know what to do with ph yet. So confused.
I'm researching these now. I feel the hardest API test to read is phosphate. I think it would be the test that would gain the most accuracy from digital testing. I may just break down and order them all.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Well, what kind of tank do you have? soft coral tanks, LPS tanks and mixed reef tanks don't really have to worry about depleting phosphate levels. If you have a phosphate problem, you will see excessive algae growth. If you have an SPS dominated system and oversized equipment, you may want to make sure you have at minimum a 0.03ppm phosphate reading or else you risk bleaching your corals. Really, you don't *need* it, but it is a good tool to use if you have a higher-end SPS dominated reef.
marvelfan
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392821/hanna-testers#post_3508616
Well, what kind of tank do you have? soft coral tanks, LPS tanks and mixed reef tanks don't really have to worry about depleting phosphate levels. If you have a phosphate problem, you will see excessive algae growth. If you have an SPS dominated system and oversized equipment, you may want to make sure you have at minimum a 0.03ppm phosphate reading or else you risk bleaching your corals. Really, you don't *need* it, but it is a good tool to use if you have a higher-end SPS dominated reef.
Its going to be a mixed reef. Currently I have one monti plate, a birds nest, zoas and a hammer coral. I'll be adding a mixture of other corals soon enough. I'll also be running a 6x8" LED UAS as well as my GFO and carbon reactors. So maybe its not something I *need* to worry about at the moment. My API tests cut the mustard for now.
I recently had a hair algae issue in my 29 gallon. I cut back the intensity of the lights and suddenly my zoas are spreading like crazy and the hair algae is almost undetectable. Even my monti seems to be doing better. I'll hold off on the hanna checkers for now. I'd rather invest in some livestock and corals for the new tank anyways!
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/392821/hanna-testers#post_3508616
Well, what kind of tank do you have? soft coral tanks, LPS tanks and mixed reef tanks don't really have to worry about depleting phosphate levels. If you have a phosphate problem, you will see excessive algae growth. If you have an SPS dominated system and oversized equipment, you may want to make sure you have at minimum a 0.03ppm phosphate reading or else you risk bleaching your corals. Really, you don't *need* it, but it is a good tool to use if you have a higher-end SPS dominated reef.
Its going to be a mixed reef. Currently I have one monti plate, a birds nest, zoas and a hammer coral. I'll be adding a mixture of other corals soon enough. I'll also be running a 6x8" LED UAS as well as my GFO and carbon reactors. So maybe its not something I *need* to worry about at the moment. My API tests cut the mustard for now.
I recently had a hair algae issue in my 29 gallon. I cut back the intensity of the lights and suddenly my zoas are spreading like crazy and the hair algae is almost undetectable. Even my monti seems to be doing better. I'll hold off on the hanna checkers for now. I'd rather invest in some livestock and corals for the new tank anyways!
florida joe
Well-Known Member
I can’t speak about the particular instruments you want but I do have the Hanna EC/TDS tester and find that product to be outstanding
acrylic51
Active Member
They are decent units.....But like anything you'll get mixed reviews as well....As far as oversizing equipment doesn't necessarily mean they will strip or deplete your system more than a properly sized piece of equipment.....This comes into play with overly sizing a skimmer.....You won't get the thing to skim consistently......