How to lower Phosphorous without lowering Phosphate

[Thunderzone]

Hi, my ICP test came back with a Phosphorous reading of 33.57 ug/l. My Phosphate level is 0.05 mg/l. I have to dose a small amount of Phosphate daily to stop it bottoming out, no big problem. But how can I reduce my Phosphorous level without affecting my Phosphate level ? I don’t want to use Rowaphos etc as it would probably bottom out my Phosphate and mess up my daily routine of dosing P.

 

[Jekyl]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Borat]

Hi, my ICP test came back with a Phosphorous reading of 33.57 ug/l. My Phosphate level is 0.05 mg/l. I have to dose a small amount of Phosphate daily to stop it bottoming out, no big problem. But how can I reduce my Phosphorous level without affecting my Phosphate level ? I don’t want to use Rowaphos etc as it would probably bottom out my Phosphate and mess up my daily routine of dosing P.

It's the same thing, there isn't really any phosphorus in your tank (unless you are up to no good - producing incendiary weapons...).

The 2 are quoted probably for convenience - one translates into another...

Something like:

https://www.hannainst.com/hubfs/006-finished-content/Aquarium/phosphorus-to-phosphate-conversion-table--hanna-instruments.pdf

So 33 ug/l phosphorus translates into 0.1ppm phosphate.

 

[Thunderzone]

It's the same thing, there isn't really any phosphorus in your tank (unless you are up to no good - producing incendiary weapons...).

The 2 are quoted probably for convenience - one translates into another...

Something like:

https://www.hannainst.com/hubfs/006-finished-content/Aquarium/phosphorus-to-phosphate-conversion-table--hanna-instruments.pdf

So 33 ug/l phosphorus translates into 0.1ppm phosphate.

Hi, I just checked my ICP test again and the phosphorous was 33 ug/L and the Total Phosphate was indeed 0.1ppm as you stated. So both things are the same amount and I dont need to worry that they are seperate, which would give me double the Total Phosphate i.e. 0.2 ppm ? Thnx so much for the quick reply.

 

[taricha]

Hi, I just checked my ICP test again and the phosphorous was 33 ug/L and the Total Phosphate was indeed 0.1ppm as you stated. So both things are the same amount and I dont need to worry that they are seperate, which would give me double the Total Phosphate i.e. 0.2 ppm ? Thnx so much for the quick reply.

right. They measure one and convert to the other. They aren't separately reported here.

 

[Borat]

Hi, I just checked my ICP test again and the phosphorous was 33 ug/L and the Total Phosphate was indeed 0.1ppm as you stated. So both things are the same amount and I dont need to worry that they are seperate, which would give me double the Total Phosphate i.e. 0.2 ppm ? Thnx so much for the quick reply.

No, you don't need to worry about double-counting, only one counts/matters.

 

[Thunderzone]

No, you don't need to worry about double-counting, only one counts/matters.

Again, thank you. You’d think they would mention it in the ICP test

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When ICP first came out (by Triton), I assumed they measured both independently. Turns out to not be true, but I agree they absolutely should tell you what they are doing with such values. Some ICP companies do measure them independently. To not clarify such issues is ridiculous, IMO.

Oceamo measures both independently:

"We do measure total phosphorus (via ICP-OES or ICP-MS, depending on which method the customer chooses) and also orthophosphate (PO4) using a photometric method based on the molybdenum blue/ascorbic acid method. "

ICP-MS measurement of Seawater Certified Reference Material

I would also add that I think most icp companies are not measuring inorganic phosphate, even if they seem to report it. They are just taking the phosphorus value from icp and multiply by 3.06 to get phosphate. Yeah I think most are taking the one value and calculating the other. So let me pick...

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