I have the hanma one with ppb love it seems to get fairly constituent reading but mostly I use it to test before after after GFO so I know when to replace it test before WC and once a week I can see p04 rising and sometime I need to change out gfo between WC others not. Honestly I couldn't handle trying to read what color off hue blue was which so opted for it

Just my 2 cents

I use the ULR phosphorous checker , works great and I can do two tests back to back and get very consistent results. Usually within 2 or 3 ppb. I think getting all of the powder out each time makes a big difference. I cut the edges of the packet off on two sides and then fold the packet into a V shape and pour. Seems to work well to get all of the powder out everytime.

Agree on the Elos PO4 kit, that thing is a total waste of money.
So Wheelman and Craig, what are some typical values your phosphorus checker reads? And what do you expect it to read when you test?
Running GFO I would hope to see 10 and below but going by their rated accuracy there's no way I guy can even rely on that.
Just trying to gauge peoples phosphates and their expected reading from their ULR phos checker....
Thanks for all the replys so far

Well for example last week my reading was 0.06 and this week (water change week and GFO change time) it was 0.09 so it just started to rise

i previously owned the regular tester and always got zero which i never believed. i certainly had algae which apparently IS possible with real zero readings lol. i now use the ULR and for a while i couldn't get back-to-back consistent readings.

now i do a few things that seemed to have made testing reliable and i now like the device:

- only use one of the glass containers. zero the unit and add reagent to same one. avoid differences in glass/scratches etc between containers.

- store ro/di in container between uses then rinse well before use

- made a decent paper funnel to ensure i can more accurately get all or almost all the reagent into the container

- always rotate the glass to the same orientation in the device

This thread is making me feel better about getting the phosphate checker vs phosphorus. As it is, I think there's too much number-chasing going on in this hobby.

if you like zero readings i highly recommend the phosphate checker =)

Agreed. As long as mine says 0, I don't worry about it.

you're running a sand bed right?

gobyless, yes.