phosphate testing

[Delphinus]

I gave up on the Hanna photometer altogether, found it a very cumbersome way to test.

Never could get the powder to dissolve. I both called and emailed Hanna Instruments about this, they didn't really have anything profound to say about it (they basically read the instructions to me). Although I did finally get someone who said that's why you have the 3 minute timed reading, to allow the undissolved powder to settle.

Thing that really drove me nuts is I couldn't get consistent readings from it. But then I was getting way lower numbers than what you got, I'm surprised, you definitely seem to have unbound PO4 in your water.

I think, FWIW, the tester is better for measuring trends in the 0.x range (not 0.0x range like some people on RC were claiming. "Oh I added Rowaphos and my PO4 went from 0.08 to 0.06!" ... IMO those people aren't using the tester correctly. With a potential error of plus/minus 0.04, the only real significant digit interpretation is going to be in the tenths not the hundredths. Again IMO.) I think trending is probably more useful than understanding whether it's P or PO4/3- or P or P205... I don't know, that whole phosphate stuff is getting kind of low level chemistry if you ask me, I didn't quite get that part either.

Good luck sorting it out.

[buddyreefer]

i hate testing with kits, so frustrating as there is so much variations with everything, i am now a firm believer in 20 percent water changes a week. i just have pumps all setup so its a breeze don't understand why people hate changing water so much its pretty routine and only takes half an hour as long as you've had some sw mixed up in the garage. I do dose 2 part tho. and i take my water to the lfs for testing if something seems amiss.

[chevyjaxon]

Originally Posted by buddyreefer

i hate testing with kits, so frustrating as there is so much variations with everything, i am now a firm believer in 20 percent water changes a week. i just have pumps all setup so its a breeze don't understand why people hate changing water so much its pretty routine and only takes half an hour as long as you've had some sw mixed up in the garage. I do dose 2 part tho. and i take my water to the lfs for testing if something seems amiss.

+1

ALL test kits suck i hate them i never use them i just watch my ph and fly by the seat of my pants too many variables with all test kits i like my pinpoint ph monitor period

[Skimmerking]

IME /IMO Test kits are there to second guess you in the hobby, When you look at your tank and you say yup somthing is wrong, then most likely there is something wrong. you are going to know its your tank you see it every day.
I never tested for Nitrates ever, since i have been under the red light hearing if you have a sand bed then you don't have nitrates, well I have nitrates i have around 10-15 from my test kits. and i have a 2-3 inch sand bed. SO Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. I never checked for magnesium so i was curious and i bought a Mag kit and like i new 1350 was my test final...

Then I read and heard that dripping Kalk will slow down Nitrates and help kill Algae along with that it help with PH great so i addded a reactor aand its is still there.

I start trialing the fauna marine. And then i have to test for PO4 i dont check PO4 never have. so i get a kit and test .01 i guess that is enough to fuel Red turf algae. who knew i didnt.

So Mike sends me all the fixings ULTRA BAK for PO 4
ULTRA BIO for NITRATES.
ULTRA MIN s FOR ammino acid to help with the color. WOW the PO 4 is dropping fast along with the red Turf is going away again from my previous tank before i trnasfered it all over. love the stuff and i test once every 2 weeks and now once i get this ULTRA BIO it will work faster on the PO 4 and i have seen major changes in the color and the corals too and the PO 4 is almost gone thanks to Aqua digital..

and this is not a hype or sales pitch this is coming from MIke here who dont like to spend too muc on retared stuff , other then SKIMMERs

[Johnny Reefer]

Ya, after reading some responses, I'm tending to agree that this PO4 testing is overrated, too, and that the tank itself is the best parameter. I guess my curiousity gets the better of me. That, and I shelled out 250 bucks for this thing and now that I have it I'd like to know how to work the damn thing. In hindsight, a waste of $, I suppose. I'll see if I can find any talk of the Hanna on RC.

Thanx much,

[christyf5]

I have the deltec phosphate test kit, it seems to be getting the job done and my tank reads 0.008 or 0.015 depending on when I test. Good enough for me and its in line with the hanna meter when I get my water tested at OA.

For the most part, I still believe that what caulerpa is in my tank is still sucking up most of the phosphates. Its ok though, my fish eat it pretty quick and what is living in there is towards the back of the tank. Out of sight out of mind I say