Best phosphate(PO4) tester???

Sobo's Reef · May 23, 2014

Wondering what everyone's using to test for phosphates. I have a Hanna checker but would like to hear what others use? What's most accurate?

Rob&Gab · May 23, 2014

hey bud, Hope all is well. here is a good one too use.
Phosphate Colorimeter/ Photometer - Mi412 : Milwaukee Instruments

Sobo's Reef · May 23, 2014

Hey! Doing good. Just think my Hanna checker is a little weird sometimes. I can test one time and get a reading of 0.00ppm and then retest 2 mins later and get 0.03ppm. Kinda night and day ya know? So I was just curious what everyone else was using and seeing if something better was out there.

mike007 · May 23, 2014

Just got a Hanna tester and sailfert yesterday and both are giving me .00 reading so I hope that is accurate.

Sobo's Reef · May 23, 2014

I just never know what to believe anymore lol

bknapp · Jun 2, 2014

Sobo's Reef said:
Hey! Doing good. Just think my Hanna checker is a little weird sometimes. I can test one time and get a reading of 0.00ppm and then retest 2 mins later and get 0.03ppm. Kinda night and day ya know? So I was just curious what everyone else was using and seeing if something better was out there.

You need to remember with the Hanna you get a error range of +/- .04 so both readings fall within that error range. If you tested once and got .03 then tested a couple minutes later and got .10 than I'd be concerned. Don't forget to make sure you use the timer for the checker.

FWIW, I use the Hanna for alkalinity and phosphate.

Sobo's Reef · Jun 2, 2014

Well today I tested once and got 0.17ppm and then I retested and got 0.22ppm(I took GFO offline and starting using biopellets)

StikHedRon · Jun 2, 2014

I have and use the Hanna low range checker also, it is very unreliable so to say as you realllly don't know what your test results are with the accuracy you get out of the tester. That milwaukee above still has a +\-.04 accuracy also, wonder if its reallly any better?