Dressed mystery of phosphates

[member 99594]

Hey all,

To give you a little background on this. My reef tank is about 6 months old and I have always been reading high phosphates, however no big algae blooms.

I have used the Hanna checker (ppm) and the Red Sea phosphate testers.

I usually got about .12 or so with the Red Sea Kit. With the Hanna checker I always seemed to have .20+. Now, I understand that the checker I am using is not recommended for saltwater systems as per Hanna. They recommend the ppb tester. “Marine Use”

As time went on... same results .12 ish and .20+ respectively.

Today, I had a possible “AHH HA” moment. For some reason I looked at the vile of test water before putting it in the colour wheel for the Red Sea Kit and as I lowered it into the hole for the test water I noticed the sample was really dark. Well, this is because the walls of the colour wheel are black. I read the test with it in the wheel and matched... you guessed it, .12.

I then took the sample out and when into the washroom where the counter is white and lined the sample to wheel beside it. I got .04!!!

Now, could it be that the Hanna checker, all along is either faulty or as what Hanna says, “not for saltwater use” and the Red Sea Kit actually right reading .04?

This would make sense as I have never had any algae’s issues at all. And if I really did have .12 or even .20 I’d have algae all over the tank.

Please, I’d love other input on this, what do the seasoned reefers think?

Cheers!!

 

[Larry L]

Which model number of Hanna checker are you using?

And if I really did have .12 or even .20 I’d have algae all over the tank.

Not necessarily, lots of tanks run phosphate is that range with no algae problems, including mine which typically reads off the scale on the 736 checker (so somewhere above 0.6).

 

[member 99594]

Which model number of Hanna checker are you using?



Not necessarily, lots of tanks run phosphate is that range with no algae problems, including mine which typically reads off the scale on the 736 checker (so somewhere above 0.6).

HI 713 tester.

 

[Larry L]

The advertised accuracy of the Hanna 713 is ±0.04 ppm ±4% of reading, so a reading of around 0.2 could actually be anywhere from about 0.15 to 0.25, which isn't too far from 0.12 at the low end. I don't know what the accuracy reading of the Red Sea test might be.

I don't see anywhere that Hanna says the 713 is not recommended for saltwater use, where did you see that?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

The PPB is for ultra low range testing. I use the 713 and feel it works very well.

Be sure to follow instructions. After adding reagent be sure to invert tube and mix for 2 mins then when you add it to the unit hold the button to give you the 3 min countdown.

Watched a video with hannah and the rep stated that that 5 min testing time is important for accurate reading.

 

[Larry L]

The advertised accuracy of the Hanna 713 is ±0.04 ppm ±4% of reading, so a reading of around 0.2 could actually be anywhere from about 0.15 to 0.25, which isn't too far from 0.12 at the low end. I don't know what the accuracy reading of the Red Sea test might be.

I found that the advertised accuracy of the Red Sea phosphate test kit is ±0.02 ppm, so a reading of 0.12 could actually be between 0.10 to 0.14.

 

[member 99594]

The advertised accuracy of the Hanna 713 is ±0.04 ppm ±4% of reading, so a reading of around 0.2 could actually be anywhere from about 0.15 to 0.25, which isn't too far from 0.12 at the low end. I don't know what the accuracy reading of the Red Sea test might be.

I don't see anywhere that Hanna says the 713 is not recommended for saltwater use, where did you see that?

The Hanna support team said this.

 

[member 99594]

If I had another tester I could see if mine was faulty. This is what I am thinking.

Any thoughts on the Red Sea test and the black walls of the colour wheel?

 

[lapin]

Are your corals growing? If so, I would not worry as long as it does not go up or down.
High P can cause issues with your SPS not growing.
I have never had an issues with Hanna P checkers and I have had 2 of them over the years.
No experience with Red Sea

 

[member 99594]

Are your corals growing? If so, I would not worry as long as it does not go up or down.
High P can cause issues with your SPS not growing.
I have never had an issues with Hanna P checkers and I have had 2 of them over the years.
No experience with Red Sea

They all seem to be happy, yes. However, that being said the only SPS I have is a couple Monti's and some Birdsnest corals that have new growth on them.

As per the Red Sea, I just think the black is making the colour look darker and most other kits you just line up the vile with the colour on a paper chart in the open.