Reef Discussion

[IJG3145]

What do you think is the BEST nitrate test kit available to most hobbyists in Oz?


I'm deciding what to with in the future.

 

[macca_75]

Red Sea Pro (as opposed to Red Sea)

 

[riley]

is there a hanna egg nitrate kit. i think it would fly of shelf if there was.

i like the sal but i haven't tried the others expect the redsea and didn't like it

 

[Sam Parker]

Red Sea pro is the best I've come across

 

[MagicJ]

is there a hanna egg nitrate kit. i think it would fly of shelf if there was.

There has been talk of one for many years but nothing has ever eventuated.

 

[Savage Henry]

I've only used Red Sea and API, hence I voted for Red Sea. Can't say Red Sea is better than any of the others I haven't used.

 

[IJG3145]

There has been talk of one for many years but nothing has ever eventuated.

Sorry, talk of what? :)

 

[MagicJ]

Sorry, talk of what? :)

I quoted the relevant part from @riley 's post :confused: - there has been talk of a Hanna Checker HC Nitrate test kit but I am guessing that it got too hard to do.

 

[gtrxu1]

Red Sea fan here, easily the best value kit, it lasts so dam long.

 

[IJG3145]

I can't see that bit, maybe he has me blocked, doesn't matter.

I heard that Hanna did develop an HC type nitrate checker p[rototype but there was some issue with positioning of the led/laser in an HC outer. I can't remember the details now though.

I'm considering one of these. A little pricey but I guess you get what you pay for and these are lab grade. They are way too expensive to buy here but if the dollar rate improves, getting one from the US is a possibility.

HI96728 Nitrate Portable Photometer

http://hannainst.com/products/portable-photometers/hi96728-nitrate-portable-photometer.html​

 

[MagicJ]

$220 USD from Hanna US compared to $471 AUD from Hanna Australia - the Aussie dollar must have crashed more than I thought :confused: Or postage must cost a lot from America; or we are getting ripped off !!

Still, the price isn't as high as I might have imagined.

 

[macca_75]

Still, the price isn't as high as I might have imagined.

Not sure I agree. Other eggs basically check for the "colour" difference between a base and a reacted sample. Given they already have the re-agents and the LED's sussed out not sure why this unit is soooooo expensive compared to the eggs. Maybe slightly cheaper components could be used to make an egg with slightly less accurate results? (I'm pretty sure other eggs are just less accurate cousins of the flagship models)

 

[IJG3145]

$220 USD from Hanna US compared to $471 AUD from Hanna Australia - the Aussie dollar must have crashed more than I thought :confused: Or postage must cost a lot from America; or we are getting ripped off !!

Still, the price isn't as high as I might have imagined.

I'm not sure what Hanna Australia is up to but it's not good. HC checkers have increased from around the $65 mark to around the $99 mark (that's around a 50% increase) yet the same units in America have not increased in price and the dollar hasn't moved anywhere near that much.

My daughter will be living in the U.S. again soon as part of her study, although only for 8 months. So I might get her to buy one and either ship it or bring it back with her.

 

[IJG3145]

Of course this is what I would really like.:worship

HI83099 COD Meter and Multiparameter Benchtop Photometer
$1,150.00

The HI83099 COD Meter and Multiparameter Photometer for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and specific ion measurement combines accuracy and ease of use in an ergonomic benchtop design. This meter is one of the most versatile photometers in the market, offering 47 different measurement methods including COD with ready-made liquid or powder reagents. The HI83099 has many advanced features including a graphic LCD to display various chemical forms and a step-by-step tutorial mode for inexperienced users.

Up to 47 measurement methods including COD


http://hannainst.com/products/bench...r-and-multiparameter-benchtop-photometer.html

 

[potatocouch]

There's a lot of mention on Red Sea Pro ... apology to revive this old thread.

Those that uses Red Sea Pro Nitrate test kit, when you say best:

• Is it best from economical perspective because it lasts longer
  or
• Is it best because easy to differentiate when the color change so more accurate measurement

?

 

[gtrxu1]

Both of your points are the reason I use them.

 

[Sam Parker]

yeah both. Maybe not so much the cost, as once it's purchased the price is forgotten. I just find it easy to use and a good range for the home aquarium

 

[Savage Henry]

For me it's the colour differentiation and also the consistency.

My gripe with Red Sea is I ave broken the lids off at least three of the reagent bottles by over tightening them. Seems really easy to do.

My second gripe is that no matter how accurate the tests are, they only give you basic syringes that are not that accurate so overall the accuracy is lower than what you might think.

Nevertheless, I get consistent result with the Nitrate and KH test kits and that's what matter - it's not how accurate it is, it's how precise it is because I want to compare from one week to another to test stability.