Elos test kit confusion!

[Ash321]

So question on the elos high resolution kit which number do you read for phosphate top number or bottom??

 

[Larry L]

The top row is phosphorus in ppm (mg per liter), the bottom row is phosphate in ppm (mg per liter).

 

[Ash321]

The top row is phosphorus in ppm (mg per liter), the bottom row is phosphate in ppm (mg per liter).

Thank you this what i thought everyone has been reading this wrong on my facebook group!

 

[Larry L]

"P" by itself is the symbol for phosphorus. The "PO43-" thing is the formula for the phosphate ion.

 

[Ash321]

"P" by itself is the symbol for phosphorus. The "PO43-" thing is the formula for the phosphate ion.

Elos got back to me and said" Bottom scale is inorganic phosphate. Top scale PO4 ion" what does this mean ? Thanks

 

[Larry L]

Elos got back to me and said" Bottom scale is inorganic phosphate. Top scale PO4 ion" what does this mean ?

I think that customer service person has it backwards.

First, the symbols at the right edge of the rows clearly show the top row is "P" for phosphorus, and the second row is "PO43-" for phosphate ion.

Second, since both sets of numbers are using the same units (mg/l which is ppm), the phosphate ion number will always be 3.066 times bigger than the phosphorus number, and the second row numbers are three times higher than the first row. E.g. see the discussion about converting Hanna checker phosphorus readings to phosphate here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...ose-numbers-that-mean-something-to-me.223849/

 

[Ash321]

I think that customer service person has it backwards.

First, the symbols at the right edge of the rows clearly show the top row is "P" for phosphorus, and the second row is "PO43-" for phosphate ion.

Second, since both sets of numbers are using the same units (mg/l which is ppm), the phosphate ion number will always be 3.066 times bigger than the phosphorus number, and the second row numbers are three times higher than the first row. E.g. see the discussion about converting Hanna checker phosphorus readings to phosphate here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/h...ose-numbers-that-mean-something-to-me.223849/

Thanks Larry today the elos uk rep said the top was phos and the elos America rep on here said phosphorous on the top! Madness the formulation on that thread works out with thw chart tho so im guessing you are correct thanks for the help and clarity

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Elos got back to me and said" Bottom scale is inorganic phosphate. Top scale PO4 ion" what does this mean ? Thanks

It means they do not know what they are talking about, sadly. Both those words mean the same thing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Larry today the elos uk rep said the top was phos and the elos America rep on here said phosphorous on the top! Madness the formulation on that thread works out with thw chart tho so im guessing you are correct thanks for the help and clarity

No guessing needed. The chart clearly indicates what Larry said.

 

[David S]

BTW in spite of the misinformation provided by the company, I find this to be the best hobbyist test kit for measuring low range PO4 hands down - that includes the "new & improved" Red Sea kit.
I'll compare results with my next ICP test.