Is it worth buying a phosphate test kit?

[Clownfishy]

I have always tested phosphates with the Salifert phosphate kits and it has always tested zero with no tint of blue whatsoever in the two years I have been testing. I really think I have phosphate leaching from the rocks (see below) so was looking at buying the Hanna Phosphorus ultra low checker however, is this a total waste of money? My theory is that the phosphate is being taken up by the algae immediately so it does not matter what test kit I buy, I am never going to get a reading? Just don't want to waste £60 a test kit telling me the same thing as a cheaper Salifert kit will do!

I am one those people who have always had zero phosphate but have GHA. I have my Nitrates down between 0-1ppm with my corals still looking good. I achieved this with NOPOX and have just started using GFO which Red Sea advise against. So my question is do I spend the money on a test kit or continue with GFO assuming it must be phosphate that is keeping the algae alive?

Many thanks for any help.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

If you are only looking to confirm your Salifert test, you could always do a triton test. It would provide a much more detailed analysis of your water and would be cheaper than the ULR phosphorus checker.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My concern in your situation is more of a deficit of phosphate than an excess.

Why did you start the GFO? Due to the algae?

 

[miPapareef]

Yes phosphate and nitrate are keeping the algae alive AND keeping your coral and microscopic biodiversity alive. It’s a very risky trial and error to add just the right amount of GFO if you are already below the detection limit of your test kit. I’d go a different route and get a diverse algae targeting clean up crew.

 

[Clownfishy]

Yes phosphate and nitrate are keeping the algae alive AND keeping your coral and microscopic biodiversity alive. It’s a very risky trial and error to add just the right amount of GFO if you are already below the detection limit of your test kit. I’d go a different route and get a diverse algae targeting clean up crew.

Funny you should mention clean-up crew! I have always been a bit light on clean-up crews so today add 12 more turbo snails and 10 blue legged hermits. I will run it like this for a few weeks to see if they start to make a dent in the algae before doing anything else. It just frustrates me that I know phosphates are there, just can't test for them!
Many thanks