phospate changes

[Ballyhoo]

i'm sure members have read my threads before they know my tank is young @ 4 months. I have the Hanna phosphate checker. It's not the ultra low just the marine. i'm very careful about my testing procedure but sometimes even within a day I notice quite a bit of variability. I use a turkey baster and make sure I use the same column of water for both control and sample vial. for example, a few days ago the sample bottle immediately turned blue when I put the reagent in it. It was a high rating. "I said geez, that's very high." I repeated the procedure exactly, with a turkey baster, making sure I use the same column of the water. second time reagent did not turn the vial very blue and the phosphate value considerably lower. i make sure to use all the reagent and equal volume of water in each vial, clean the vials. IDK. one day it's high, next day low.

 

[PharmrJohn]

What kind of numbers are we talking? Also, what kind of PO4 range are you aiming for?

 

[Ballyhoo]

aiming for < .09 but it's been from .15 to 1.2. all over the place.

 

[Miami Reef]

Have you ever used your turkey baster to dose phosphate? I’ve heard of people getting unusually high PO4 readings because they used the same syringe to dose PO4.

I disregard the test if it turns abnormally blue upon adding the PO4 sachet. Unless your PO4 was always that high, it’s usually a sign of contamination.

If you just fed the tank or if sand particles get into the vial, it could cause the PO4 to show a little higher.

 

[Ballyhoo]

Have you ever used your turkey baster to dose phosphate? I’ve heard of people getting unusually high PO4 readings because they used the same syringe to dose PO4.

I disregard the test if it turns abnormally blue upon adding the PO4 sachet. Unless your PO4 was always that high, it’s usually a sign of contamination.

If you just fed the tank or if sand particles get into the vial, it could cause the PO4 to show a little higher.

well, I remember seeing particles in the turkey baster last time I got my sample, but I couldn't get them out so I have like these floating particles in the tank. I don't know what they are if it was food, sand somehow floating around in the tank, but it just seems more like detritus.

 

[NanoNana]

Have you ever used your turkey baster to dose phosphate? I’ve heard of people getting unusually high PO4 readings because they used the same syringe to dose PO4.

I disregard the test if it turns abnormally blue upon adding the PO4 sachet. Unless your PO4 was always that high, it’s usually a sign of contamination.

If you just fed the tank or if sand particles get into the vial, it could cause the PO4 to show a little higher.

I got a high reading once because I didn’t sufficiently rinse detergent. Lol

 

[NanoNana]

well, I remember seeing particles in the turkey baster last time I got my sample, but I couldn't get them out so I have like these floating particles in the tank. I don't know what they are if it was food, sand somehow floating around in the tank, but it just seems more like detritus.

Particles can affect the Hannah tests. In your young tank the levels are going to jump around.

Check parameters after your water change and just enjoy your tank the rest of the week. Dose a bunch of copepods, scrub your rocks, throw about 8 fuzzy chitons in there, some more turbo snails, run UV for a while and relax.

 

[exnisstech]

Not sure if it matters but I've never used two cuvettes when testing.

 

[DanyL]

There is one main advice I recommend everyone to follow when testing nutrients - always test the water between 6 to 8 hours after doing anything that may influence the results.

This includes feeding, dosing nitrate/phosphate or amino acids, as well as disturbing the sand or cleaning the rocks from detritus.

The other thing that was pointed out here already - use a dedicated syringe for each kind of test, and always rinse it with RODI water after use.

I also store the vials with RODI water and rinse them with a bit of saltwater before use.

If you follow the guidelines above you’ll have consistent and more reliable results, which would than can be used to follow the trends.

 

[VintageReefer]

Not sure if it matters but I've never used two cuvettes when testing.

you’re not supposed to

Put sample in the tube
Zero the meter with it
Add reagent
Shake
Test with meter

 

[Ballyhoo]

you’re not supposed to

Put sample in the tube
Zero the meter with it
Add reagent
Shake
Test with meter

my hanna tester has two cuvettes, one for control water, one for samples/reagent water. They compare each other C1 & C2.
but I have seen several good recommendations above, particularly with respect and not testing for certain amount of time. I think I've tested too quickly after having fed the fish. I mean not within an hour, but probably within like three hours.

 

[VintageReefer]

my hanna tester has two cuvettes, one for control water, one for samples/reagent water. They compare each other C1 & C2.
but I have seen several good recommendations above, particularly with respect and not testing for certain amount of time. I think I've tested too quickly after having fed the fish. I mean not within an hour, but probably within like three hours.

What model tester?

 

[DanyL]

What model tester?

Only early Hanna checkers (Phosphate ULR at least) came with a single vial.
New ones now come with 2, and while you can still use a single vial, using 2 allows you not to race against the timer after the first stage.

Edit: early production units

 

[exnisstech]

Only early Hanna checkers (Phosphate ULR at least) came with a single vial.
New ones now come with 2, and while you can still use a single vial, using 2 allows you not to race against the timer after the first stage.

I thought about this but think the results will be more consistent using the same vial for the same test unless all vials are in like new condition and identical clarity. I have vials where the line isn't even in the same place so it make me wonder if the clarity will be identical on all? Maybe I'm over thinking it

 

[Jasongtr]

I have 2x vials with my hanna testers but only use one, the way I see it is not all glass is equal and if there's a difference with the 'zero' and reagent vials your test won't be accurate, also it's good practice to put them in the tester facing the same way to try and keep the glass irregularities out of the test

 

[VintageReefer]

All my kits came with 2 curvettes and the instructions are clear that one is to be used for everything. I just double-checked all my instructions.

Did they change the instructions?


Here is calcium.

 

[DanyL]

I thought about this but think the results will be more consistent using the same vial for the same test unless all vials are in like new condition and identical clarity. I have vials where the line isn't even in the same place so it make me wonder if the clarity will be identical on all? Maybe I'm over thinking it

No, that’s actually a very valid point and I had the very same thought when I had inconsistent results with it at first.

And you’re correct - not all vials are made the same, and maintaining them in top shape as well as routinely replacing them with new vials as they scratch is vital.

I personally compared between the results of both methods, and as long as I kept the orientation of the vials the same between tests (which is a point I forgot to mention earlier) + followed the guidelines I already described above, I was able to get consistent and comparable results.

Also, about that line - I stopped following it once I realized the volume does not actually match the claimed measurement, and I quickly found out the don’t even match between different vials. What I do instead is measure 10ml with a syringe, which always give me the same and correct amount.

 

[exnisstech]

What I do instead is measure 10ml with a syringe, which always give me the same and correct amount.

Ya I started doing the same when I discovered the lines were not consistent. I use 9 vials when I test, 3 parameters on 3 tanks so using two for each test never even entered my mind.

 

[DanyL]

Ya I started doing the same when I discovered the lines were not consistent. I use 9 vials when I test, 3 parameters on 3 tanks so using two for each test never even entered my mind.

dang testing 3 tanks in one session is way over my ADHD abilities - I’m already struggling with 2 lol

 

[exnisstech]

dang testing 3 tanks in one session is way over my ADHD abilities - I’m already struggling with 2 lol

It took me while to nail it down but now I have routine that I follow so it's not too bad. It goes smooth unless my Gal comes in and starts asking questions and the PO4 tester times out before I see the results. I don't know why Hanna has that tester auto shut off so much sooner than the NO3 and alk testers.