Phosphate test

[Mmsetta]

Have some algae growth and dying snails. Used API test kit and it has been at .2 for some time. Suspecting high phosphates I had a good lfs test and their test showed 8! I figured my test kit was bad. I have added gfo in a reactor. Picked up a new API kit and even before adding gfo tested again and it showed .2 again.

I want to monitor the effect of my gfo, so any ideas on this? Any way one test kit can show .2 and then another 8.

Any experiences with this type f discrepancy between tests?

Want to be sure lfs isn't yanking my chain to sell me gfo.

Also, any success using 2 little fishes phosban reactor for both carbon and gfo? See a couple of you tubes on doing this with brs reactors, but not 2 little fishes. It doesn't seem like the sponges with 2lf's are tight enough to separate the two media.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

8 ppm?

Phosphate isn't likely that high and most kits won't even go that high.

You sure that wasn't nitrate? Did you see them test it?

This may also help the discussion:

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-chemistry-randy-holmes-farley/183791-causes-problem-algae.html