Po4 sudden drop 0.00

[amsterdam_reefer]

Yesterday my phosphate was 0.05 but today it is 0.00 does anyone know how this drop can occur?

Im just won a dino outbrake that lasted me 2 months cuz of hitting po4 0.00 is do t wanna start over fighting it

The only thing i changed in the tank are a couple of new corals mostly frags and i used epoxy clay

 

[dank reefer]

Can you get the water tested with a different test kit? Might want to do that before pulling out the bug guns!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Could easily be test error. Could be consumption.

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

I tested with hanna checker 2 times to be sure both got 0.00
I have a red sea test kit but not low range
Maybe the satchels are a bad batch?

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

Could easily be test error. Could be consumption.

Consumption that drains it so fast? How is that possible ?
I test po4 daily and its usually drops 0.01

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Which Hanna? They are certainly not fool proof, and some of the models cannot distinguish 0.00 ppm from 0.04 ppm.

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

Which Hanna? They are certainly not fool proof, and some of the models cannot distinguish 0.00 ppm from 0.04 ppm.

The normal phosphate 713

 

[EugeneVan]

I am using Hanna test kit too. My PO4 hover between 0 to .04 between days too. On the day the test kit show 0 ppm, I dose enough P04 into the water to get a reading of .04 . About 2 days later my P04 will drop back down to 0. In my case, I have lot of chaeto in my sump sucking up the PO4

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

I am using Hanna test kit too. My PO4 hover between 0 to .04 between days too. On the day the test kit show 0 ppm, I dose enough P04 into the water to get a reading of .04 . About 2 days later my P04 will drop back down to 0. In my case, I have lot of chaeto in my sump sucking up the PO4

Im not using a refugium and i only have 1 fish and a fair amount of corals mix of lps sps and softies do they use po4 to heal up maybe?

 

[EugeneVan]

Im not using a refugium and i only have 1 fish and a fair amount of corals mix of lps sps and softies do they use po4 to heal up maybe?

I think all the corals need NO3 and PO4 to grow. Birdsnest, Zoa and ....some other coral love to have trace amount of NO3 and PO4 in the water. I kept my NO3 at 7ppm and PO4 around 0.04 and everything growing well with good color.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The normal phosphate 713

It only claims accuracy of +/- 0.04 ppm. So all of those values you report may represent unchanged tank levels. Anything between 0.00 and 0.08 ppm might all be 0.04 ppm.

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

I think all the corals need NO3 and PO4 to grow. Birdsnest, Zoa and ....some other coral love to have trace amount of NO3 and PO4 in the water. I kept my NO3 at 7ppm and PO4 around 0.04 and everything growing well with good color.

It only claims accuracy of +/- 0.04 ppm. So all of those values you report may represent unchanged tank levels. Anything between 0.00 and 0.08 ppm might all be 0.04 ppm.

It only claims accuracy of +/- 0.04 ppm. So all of those values you report may represent unchanged tank levels. Anything between 0.00 and 0.08 ppm might all be 0.04 ppm.

Thats true could it be that the new batch of satchels made that diffrence cus yesterday i had the last one of the prior bach satchels
Is the ulr more accurate or doesnt it matter

 

[Greg P]

I used to use the 713
I bought the 736 a couple years ago and am much happier with the accuracy

I still have the 713 as it reads higher levels

 

[dank reefer]

I might be incorrect, but i think this is the New ULR as it test range is 0.00-2.50. this version just shows you the actual number instead of trying to convert it.

Edit: Above post answered my question.

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

yesterday i also to dose a little po4+ from ocean arts
today it still reads 0.00 so i upped the dose with 2ml should i continue dosing po4+
or should i do a water change with a dose of po4+

or should i get the ulr phosphate or phosforus checker?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

yesterday i also to dose a little po4+ from ocean arts
today it still reads 0.00 so i upped the dose with 2ml should i continue dosing po4+
or should i do a water change with a dose of po4+

or should i get the ulr phosphate or phosforus checker?

Dose more if you want a higher level. A water change won't help.

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

Dose more if you want a higher level. A water change won't help.

How much more should i dose or should i up the dose everyday till its measurable

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How much more should i dose or should i up the dose everyday till its measurable

That's a reasonable plan, assuming the have confidence in the test. You might double check it by measuring 10 minutes after dosing to be sure it works.

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

Will try that 1st and what if after 10 mins still reads 0 i add more?

 

[amsterdam_reefer]

Update yesterday i dosed a little to much po4 from 0.00 to 0.16 (i know im a lil idiot )so i did a water chance now it is 0.10 i know that sudden spikes are not good but should i leave i like this? I dont want to mess around that much with a lot of swings