API to Hanna

[The Real 118]

I was testing with the API Master Reef (I know not the best but hey got to start somewhere right) and everything seemed to be in check. But I did some more reading and decided it was time to upgrade my testing capabilities. I bought the Hanna ULR Phosphorus checker, Hanna Alk checker, redsea calcium, and magnesium test. All was well until I got to my last test the ULR Phosphorus... well I keep getting a flashing 200. I have tested twice and still 200 flashing. So I thought might as well test with the API again and I get .25ppm color. My only question is shouldn't the ULR phosphorus be good up to around .6ppm phosphate? And my reagent keeps turning the cuvette blue? Is that normal? Any help would be awesome thanks guys

 

[GThompson]

I’d be curious to know why the 200 reading when the range only goes to 0.90 Edit: I now see that there is a difference in the phosphate and phosphorus checkers. The limit is 200.

 

[Dan_P]

200 ppb phosphorous is 0.6 ppm phosphate.

Color matching is error prone. The API test might be reading low or the lighting or light angle can throw off the color you see.

 

[dwest]

I was testing with the API Master Reef (I know not the best but hey got to start somewhere right) and everything seemed to be in check. But I did some more reading and decided it was time to upgrade my testing capabilities. I bought the Hanna ULR Phosphorus checker, Hanna Alk checker, redsea calcium, and magnesium test. All was well until I got to my last test the ULR Phosphorus... well I keep getting a flashing 200. I have tested twice and still 200 flashing. So I thought might as well test with the API again and I get .25ppm color. My only question is shouldn't the ULR phosphorus be good up to around .6ppm phosphate? And my reagent keeps turning the cuvette blue? Is that normal? Any help would be awesome thanks guys

If your reagent for Hannah turns the solution a visible blue, phosphates are likely high out of range. I would dilute the test water with rodi by a factor of 2 or 4 and see what happens. Agree that it very strange that api tests at 0.25 though.

 

[Jay Z]

0-200 is the limit on the ultra low.
Target number on that one would be 10 or lower.

Picture looks like .50 on my screen.

 

[The Real 118]

Ok so I did a 50/50 with rodi and have a 111 reading do i just double this for my final reading then? Just a little confused about diluting.

 

[GThompson]

Ok so I did a 50/50 with rodi and have a 111 reading do i just double this for my final reading then? Just a little confused about diluting.

You’re comparing ppb to ppm. The chart that was posted converts your reading to ppm which comes out to .61 ppm. Had confused for a minute

 

[The Real 118]

You’re comparing ppb to ppm. The chart that was posted converts your reading to ppm which comes out to .61 ppm. Had confused for a minute

So I'm around .68 then with a 50/50 rodi dilution?

 

[Jay Z]

111 converts to .34 per the chat. Double that and your at .68. Which according to what I see would seem about right.

 

[The Real 118]

111 converts to .34 per the chat. Double that and your at .68. Which according to what I see would seem about right.

Ok Jay part 2 of this question is that bad? I have no out of control algae or blums or anything. Should I worry about bringing that down or not a huge worry.

 

[Jay Z]

If going with corals yes you will have to bring it down to be successful. I’m not 100% sure on what a fish can handle, I do know they can tolerate a lot more than corals.

I know someone else has that correct answer for you.

Are you using rodi water by chance?

 

[The Real 118]

If going with corals yes you will have to bring it down to be successful. I’m not 100% sure on what a fish can handle, I do know they can tolerate a lot more than corals.

I know someone else has that correct answer for you.

Are you using rodi water by chance?

Yes I have been doing 15% water changes every 2 weeks with instant ocean reef crystals. I have the BRS 5 stage system.

78.2 temp
Salinity 35
ALK 9.7
Mag 1520
Cal 480
Ph 8.1
Ammonia 0ppm
NO2 0ppm
NO3 15ppm
PO4 .6ppm

 

[dwest]

How long has the tank been set up? Do you use a skimmer or an algae refugium?

 

[The Real 118]

How long has the tank been set up? Do you use a skimmer or an algae refugium?

Setup for 6 months 75 gallon with reef octopus HOB-90, 1 fluval 405 with bio media only and 2 fluval 205s one with carbon and the other with GFO only. Running 1 cheap petsmart 1350gph powerhead on/off every 45 mins. inline UV sterilizer on the 405. Lighting is 2 fluval sea 48" bars. (Soon to be 2 AI hydra 52s [emoji1])