Jaws you are right.

Phosphate levels in an aquarium can not be detected properly with salifert, hagen, aquarium pharmaceuticals etc. kits.

Although fairly expensive to use (and not completely necessary), the only way to get proper phosphate reading is by the use of either

Hanna Colorimeters
Merck Phosphate Kit

I believe the Merck phosphate kit has been rebranded by some aquarium company so it may be more readily available in that version. (I'm not sure of which company rebranded it, we use the original Merck versions at the lab).

I use a Hanna colorimeter to test phosphates in my tanks and can attest to the inaccuracy or I guess inablility of the Salifert and other readily available test kits to test for PO4. I was shocked when I first got the Hanna to realize how much PO4 was actually in my systems that didn't show up on the Salifert.

yup something we have been saying for about a year now and we still waist the money on them hehe.

anyways thanks for the reply and I guess the other question I would be interested in seeing either tried out or maybe it already has been, but Jaws asked it at the end of the post you replied to.

"My question is, theoretically, if you didn't have optimal tank conditions, and still had some nutrients in your tank that was causing algae growth, should it not still export the excess nutrients and help starve the nuisance algae?"

I guess it is what happens if you don't follow the requirements religiously, Like for my self when I am posted to ship I sail for up to 4 months at a time, now I can have some one do basic stuff a couple times a week but water changes and daily dosing are out, heck I don't even feed my fish daily, I go every second day so a daily anything is going to be a pain. Am I just not destined to use any produce like this or are they a little forgiving?

Steve

Polyp Labs: I accidently left out the Genesis bottle for the afternoon, will this be a problem as it says to keep refrigerated after opening?

Hey Dave, a few questions of my own:

1. Would the use of a UV sterilizer or Ozone have deleterious effects on the RF system?

2. Does RF require substantial amounts of surface area to operate? IE. Does it require live rock or another substrate (bioballs) to produce significant results thus far demonstrated?

3. How does RF interact with refugiums and algae turf scrubbers?

:D

Edit: Nevermind on the first question, I just found the FAQ.

Deltec USA sells the high end phosphate kits. Some where in the neighborhood of a $100 in Vancouver.

Doug

OK well all I see here is text, somebody has to have some before and after pictures by now :mrgreen:

Very nice tank Rich!

Doug

Im with Rich... lets see those before and after shots. :mrgreen:

I definitely need to spend money on a new camera! Gotta slow down on the tank though! I will do up a 2 week report here in the next few days. I am still impressed with the product...nitrates are still undetectable and growth has maintained the same levels. The bacterial mats are thriving in the refuge and noticed some on the rock. Not that pretty though! They are not noticeable in the tank at least! At first I wondered what these slimey mats were. My skimmer cup is filling up every 3 days compared to five!