who uses red sea test kits (po4)

[Proteus]

so i had a po4 issue and since picked up a red sea test kit as there wasnt any hannas at lfs. i first tested and sure enough i had excess po4. i changed added rowa and tested few days later to get .08 thought that was strange so changed rowa thinking it may be exhausted (i never added much)
since then test kit has been constant at .08. weather it from tank or reactor outlet.
i also replaced the membrane and corresponding filters as my ro was also .08.

i did some reading on r2r and rc to find that this is a common find with po4 kit with red sea acknowledging this is happening but still insisting that its not the regent. they even sent out replacment regent to find same problem

so $180 in the drain because of a $40 kit


i am going to get a hanna asap

[Cal_stir]

I had the same issue with red sea, tried elos and it as always 0 but I knew that was not true, tried a hanna po4 and through it in the garbage as well, I had 2 completely diff systems and they both tested exactly the same po4. I have a hanna phosphorus ulr now but I am still uncertain but it seems to be the best thing there is.

[Magickiwi]

The Hannah testing kit isn't really very good at all. As was previously stated the ULR Phosphorus checker is about the best test going at the moment. The phosphate checkers give wildly divergent test results even when testing moments apart. I've been through three of the checkers by now and none of them have been reliable.

The issue I've found with the RSM test kits is that the color they give you on your charts or pinwheels don't actually represent the colors you get. In actuality they essentially HINT at the color that represents your phosphate load but they don't ever really have the depth or saturation that the chart colors do.

[Proteus]

im leary on buying a hanna checker when it states +/- .04

i may just say red sea is ok and consider .08 decent

[JmeJReefer]

Been using REd Sea for some time now....one of the more accurate test kits out there.
As long as you follow the instructions to the letter, it should read accurate.
However, there is always exception. Maybe ya did get a faulty reagent.

Im sticking by mine......

[Proteus]

yeah red sea sent out new regents to lots of people with same results in canada US and UK. i follow to the letter. it is what it is

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

The Hannah testing kit isn't really very good at all. As was previously stated the ULR Phosphorus checker is about the best test going at the moment. The phosphate checkers give wildly divergent test results even when testing moments apart. I've been through three of the checkers by now and none of them have been reliable.

The issue I've found with the RSM test kits is that the color they give you on your charts or pinwheels don't actually represent the colors you get. In actuality they essentially HINT at the color that represents your phosphate load but they don't ever really have the depth or saturation that the chart colors do.

+1. I always have to test a couple of times to see whether the result I am getting are "close" to each other. There were times when I would get off the chart results and then nothing at all. So much for an accurate photometer! And pouring the powdered reagent is the most painful thing I did with any test kit and I always spill a lot out. Expected much better from an European company who makes lab grade stuffs.

[Ryanerickson]

With my Red Sea kit I get the same result as magickiwi the colour I get does not really match up to anything on the chart kinda maybe in between 2 of them.

[Proteus]

Yeah I get that too. Should have made the whole wheel colored

[JmeJReefer]

Been using REd Sea for some time now....one of the more accurate test kits out there.
As long as you follow the instructions to the letter, it should read accurate.
However, there is always exception. Maybe ya did get a faulty reagent.

Im sticking by mine......