Photometers Hanna

Photometers Hanna For swimming pools: laboratory-grade accuracy within reach of every swimmer

If you've been using a test strip comparator for years and have ended up arguing with your brother-in-law over whether the water's pH was 7.2 or 7.8, the photometers Hanna are the answer to that discussion. Hanna Instruments has been manufacturing electronic water analysis instruments since 1978, and today its line of pool equipment ranges from a €75 pocket meter to a professional-grade benchtop photometer with a turbidimeter. The difference from traditional colorimetric methods is not merely aesthetic: it is an order of magnitude greater in terms of repeatability and traceability.

On this page, you'll find the product line Hanna for swimming pools that distributes Quimipool, organized by actual use: one-time analysis of a parameter, weekly multi-parameter monitoring, professional management of public facilities. And also the most important thing that almost no one tells you: The photometer works properly if the reagent is active and the operator knows how to zero it. That's why, at the end, you'll find a section dedicated to reagents, calibration, and maintenance, as well as an honest comparison with Lovibond and PrimeLab.

Why Hanna Instruments—and not just any other brand

Hanna It is one of the two world-leading brands in low-cost pool photometry (the other is Lovibond Tintometer). Three features define its approach:

• Very broad coverage. From the single-parameter pocket-sized Checker HC to benchtop photometers with 7 parameters and a built-in turbidimeter. This allows customers to scale up their equipment without switching brands: a customer who starts with a chlorine Checker and a pH Checker can make the leap to a multiparameter Pool Line without having to throw anything away.
• Our own reagents, available in tablet or liquid form, are easy to obtain. Quimipool maintains a complete catalog of reagents and accessories Hanna, which is the difference between a photometer lasting five years and one that ends up gathering dust in a drawer after six months.
• Traceable calibration and the option for recalibration. Pool Line and multiparameter devices allow for recalibration using a standard Hanna, something that health authorities may require at public or community swimming pools.

Hanna It also manufactures pH and chlorine dosing pumps compatible with your measurements, which brings us full circle if you automate the processing.

How a Photometer Works and Why It's Better Than Test Strips

A photometer measures the light absorbance of a water sample after adding a reagent. The reagent reacts with the parameter to be measured (chlorine, phosphate, iron, etc.) and produces a color whose intensity is proportional to the concentration. The device emits light of a specific wavelength, passes it through the cuvette, and measures how much reaches the sensor on the other side. Beer-Lambert’s law does the rest.

Compared to test strips or visual tablet comparators, the photometer has three important advantages:

• Repeatability. Two different people get the same reading. With test strips, that doesn't happen.
• Resolution. The Checker HC reads 0.01 ppm of free chlorine; no test strip comes close.
• No lighting bias. At three in the afternoon, in direct sunlight, the color of a strip can be misleading; the light meter has its own calibrated light source.

In return, the photometer requires reagents in good condition (expiration date, storage) and thorough cleaning of the cuvette. It's not magic—it's chemistry done right.

Range Hanna For swimming pools: Which line to choose

Checker® HC Series: Pocket Meters, Single Parameter

These are the best-sellers and probably the best first-time photometer for a homeowner or pool maintenance professional with two or three pools. About the size of a thick marker, single button, self-calibrating, with readings displayed directly on the LCD screen. Each model measures a single parameter and uses test strips Hanna specific.

Models available in Quimipool:

• HI701 – free chlorine (0.00–2.50 ppm)
• HI711 – total chlorine (0.00–3.50 ppm)
• HI771 – high-range total chlorine (0–10.00 ppm), for hyperchlorination or shock treatments
• HI7014 – Pool Line free chlorine (range optimized for swimming pools)
• HI779 / HI780 – pH (6.5–8.5)
• HI713 – phosphate (0.00–2.50 ppm)
• HI716 – bromine (0.00–8.00 ppm)
• HI721 – iron (0.00–5.00 ppm)
• HI746 – Low-range iron (0–999 ppb), ideal for diagnosing stains
• HI747 – low-range copper (0–999 ppb)
• HI700 – ammonium
• HI775 – alkalinity
• HI782 – high nitrate levels

When does it make sense? When you only need to monitor one or two parameters frequently, or when you want an inexpensive device dedicated to diagnosing a specific problem (brown spots, recurring green water, pH drift).

Pool Line: Briefcases with Various Specifications

This line is designed specifically for swimming pools and is available at carrying case It comes with a photometer, cuvettes, starter reagents, and instructions. It measures several parameters using the same equipment, which reduces the cost per test and simplifies day-to-day operations.

Common configurations:

• Free Chlorine + pH + Temperature – the best-selling kit, priced around 179–195 €
• Free Chlorine + pH – simpler version, without temperature
• Free Chlorine + CE + TDS + pH + Temperature – Specifically designed for saltwater electrolysis pools, where monitoring conductivity and dissolved solids is key
• Chlorine and pH (multiple formats) – intermediate combinations

It's the typical choice for the professional maintenance technician who visits 10–30 swimming pools and needs a single, reliable device for all of them. Also for homeowners' associations with a demanding president.

Professional Multiparameter Photometers

Here Hanna It's a step up. We're talking about advanced handheld or benchtop photometers that measure 5, 7, or more parameters using the same sensor, by switching the wavelength. Designed for public swimming pools, hotels, sports facilities, or technical services that need to generate reports with multiple parameters simultaneously.

Key references:

• HI97104M Classic 5-in-1 – free chlorine, total chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and cyanuric acid. Best Sellers Hanna For a serious swimming pool. About 495 €.
• HI971044C Premium 5-in-1 – The same parametric coverage, with improved resolution, connectivity, and superior traceability. About 695 €.
• HI97711C Free and Total Chlorine – A chlorine-specific photometer with maximum accuracy. About 719 €.
• HI93102 7-in-1 + Turbidity Meter – The most comprehensive: 7 chemical parameters plus turbidity in a single instrument. ~€1,495.

Turbidimeter Hanna HS93703POOL

For regulated facilities (public swimming pool in Espa(Spain, according to Royal Decree 742/2013) the turbidity It is a required parameter, and a conventional chemical photometer does not measure it. The HS93703POOL is a dedicated nephelometric turbidimeter that complies with standardized methods and complements any of the aforementioned chemical photometers.

Parameters you can control with Hanna

With its comprehensive product line, our technical service covers virtually every aspect of pool maintenance:

• Disinfection: free chlorine, total chlorine (and, by difference, combined chlorine or chloramines), bromine
• Chemical equilibrium: pH, total alkalinity, cyanuric acid (chlorine stabilizer)
• Salt electrolysis: conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS)
• Diagnosing Stains and Cloudy Water: iron, copper, phosphates
• Healthcare Quality: turbidity (dedicated turbidimeter), ammonium, nitrates
• Support: water temperature

If you want to narrow down your choices to a specific team before making a decision, in the general category of pool water testing You can filter by number of parameters and by type.

How to Choose a Light Meter Hanna suitable for your installation

It's not a technical decision—it's a practical one. Four criteria determine the right equipment.

1. How many times a month do you measure? If you test every day (public pool, hotel, gym), you'll want a multi-parameter tester that reduces testing time: a single test strip, multiple readings. If you test once a week, two single-parameter Checkers (chlorine + pH) are more cost-effective and sufficient.

2. What kind of treatment do you use? If you have salt chlorinator, you need to monitor conductivity and TDS in addition to chlorine and pH; the Pool Line with CE/TDS is designed for that. If you use bromine, there are specific models (HI716). If your water tends to develop recurring brown or green stains, low-range iron and copper test kits (HI746 / HI747) are your diagnostic tools.

3. Do you need traceability and record-keeping? Public swimming pools in Spain are required to keep a logbook. The Premium models and the multiparameter bench-top models allow you to save and download readings; the basic Checker models do not.

4. Budget? The pricing is clear: 75–80 € per individual parameter (Checker), 180–240 € per mixed kit (Pool Line), 495–1.495 per professional photometer, plus the dedicated turbidimeter if required by regulations.

A useful rule: A reliable, well-calibrated Checker is better than a professional photometer that's out of calibration.. The quality of the equipment only matters if the reagents are active and the procedure is performed correctly.

Reagents and consumables: the other 50% of the analysis

A reagent-free photometer in good condition is a beautiful object. The rule of thumb:

• Expiration Date. Tablets and powders Hanna They typically have a shelf life of 2–3 years from the date of manufacture; once opened, they are best consumed within 6–12 months.
• Conservation. Store in a dry, cool, dark place. Do not leave the container open in the machine room, where it is humid and 40 °C.
• Clean bucket. Fingerprints and scratches on the cuvette are the enemy of the photometer. Clean it with a microfiber cloth and distilled water after each use; do not use detergent.
• Lot and reference number. Not all reagents are interchangeable across product lines; each Checker has its own specific test strip.

In Quimipool You can find the complete catalog at reagents and accessories Hanna, including tablets in a bottle, powder in individual packets, calibration kits, and replacement cuvettes. For the Pool Line, there are combination kits that lower the cost per test.

Hanna across from Lovibond and PrimeLab

All three brands are in the same professional/semi-professional market segment and are just as reliable if used properly. The differences are subtle:

• Lovibond Tintometer It is the historic European benchmark, with the line MD (MD100, MD200, MD600) widely used in public swimming pools. It is probably the most widely used brand in established technical services.
• Hanna Instruments has the best low-cost lineup (Checker HC) and an excellent price-performance ratio for multiparameter testing, as well as a wide range of affordable reagents.
• PrimeLab is the most modern option: photometers with Bluetooth connectivity to a mobile app, automatic logging and geolocation of the analysis. Useful for maintenance personnel who manage large fleets using software.

If you're just starting out and looking for value for the price, Hanna It's the safest bet. If your priority is mobile integration and automatic reporting, check out PrimeLab. And if you need maximum compatibility with a technical support team that already works with Lovibond For years now, he has continued to Lovibond so as not to disrupt operations.

Quimipool also distributes photometers Astralpool (manufactured by third parties under OEM agreements) and others digital pool meters if you want to compare.

Maintenance, Calibration, and Common Errors

Four tips that will save you from having to call the technical support:

• Always bring the level up to the sample before adding the reagent (blank/zero). This is the step that causes the most errors for new users.
• Wipe down the outside of the bucket with a microfiber cloth. If there is a drop or a smudge, the reading goes up or down by several tenths.
• Calibrate every 6 months if the equipment allows it, with a skipper Hanna official. Checker devices are not calibrated, but they compare well with a known standard.
• If the tablet doesn't dissolve completely, don't shake it anymore: shake it a couple of times and wait for the indicated amount of time. Forcing the solution to dissolve oxidizes the reagent and skews the result.

And if the reading seems impossible (5 ppm chlorine in an untreated pool, pH 9.2 when it was fine this morning), before adding any chemicals: repeat the test using a reagent from a different box. Nine times out of ten, the problem is an old reagent.

Find Your Light Meter Hanna In the list above, filter by number of parameters and click "Add to Cart." Free shipping on orders over €150, with standard delivery within 24–48 hours to mainland Spain. If you’re unsure between two models, call 91 128 55 90 or write to us at contact form: Our technical team is available Monday through Friday during business hours.