Red Sea test kit help

[SlimJim009]

I just got the red sea algae control pro test kit. I was just wondering, how do I know when to test high range? I dont really understand the high range thing. I tested both and I think I got the same color. So is it .08 or 1.36? How do I know which one it is? Any help would be great, thanks.

 

[daybreaksky]

there are 2 tests in there usually, 1 is nitrates and one is phosphates I'm guessing you got .08 for PO4 and 1.36 for NO3?
usually there are high/low range tests for like PH

 

[cshouston]

Correct. The Algae pro kit is only low range nitrate and low range phosphate. The high range phosphate kit is sold separately.

 

[SlimJim009]

there are 2 tests in there usually, 1 is nitrates and one is phosphates I'm guessing you got .08 for PO4 and 1.36 for NO3?
usually there are high/low range tests for like PH

Woops, I left out a part. I was testing phosphates. The kit comes with both nitrate and phosphate tests and they both test low range and high range. My question is, how if I test both low range and high range, how do I know which number to look at, do I look at the high range or low range. Also, how do I know which one to test.

 

[cshouston]

Woops, I left out a part. I was testing phosphates. The kit comes with both nitrate and phosphate tests and they both test low range and high range. My question is, how if I test both low range and high range, how do I know which number to look at, do I look at the high range or low range. Also, how do I know which one to test.

There’s a manual in the box. The tests, as-is, are low range. You can test high range by diluting the sample and performing a calculation. Maybe I’m tired, but your question doesn’t seem to make sense. You’re not testing both at the same time.

 

[SlimJim009]

There’s a manual in the box. The tests, as-is, are low range. You can test high range by diluting the sample and performing a calculation. Maybe I’m tired, but your question doesn’t seem to make sense. You’re not testing both at the same time.

Sorry if im not making any sense. If I test low range, i get a number, if i test high range, i get a different number (obviously higher), so im having a hard time trying to figure out what my phosphate levels are at since i get 2 different numbers because of low range and high range. I tested low range po4 and got .08, then i tesred high range and got 1.36, so idk which one to look at.

 

[cshouston]

I highly doubt you have 1.36ppm of phosphate unless you’re grossly over feeding your tank and have terrible husbandry practices.

 

[SlimJim009]

I highly doubt you have 1.36ppm of phosphate unless you’re grossly over feeding your tank and have terrible husbandry practices.

I was using it as an example, i think its like .6

 

[SlimJim009]

I was using it as an example, i think its like .6

I turned off my gfo to get rid of dino algae

 

[daybreaksky]

oh i got it! if you use 1ml you read the left side the low range. if 16ml then high range. they are 2 different tests

 

[SlimJim009]

Correcr

oh i got it! if you use 1ml you read the left side the low range. if 16ml then high range. they are 2 different tests

Correct but how do I know which one to test?

 

[daybreaksky]

so if you used 1ml of water to test, you have .08 and if you add 15 more ml of water to the vial then you would look on the right side and it will be undetectable. their instructions suck there is too much info and it jumps all over. you use low range until levels are above .16 and color is super dark and can't go darker with 1ml, then go to doing with 16ml and look at high range dose

 

[cshouston]

I was using it as an example, i think its like .6

Even .6 would be ridiculous. If you are that unsure of what’s going on with phosphate in your tank, I’d probably recommend leaving the GFO out indefinitely. No point trying to solve a problem you’re not even sure you have.

 

[SlimJim009]

so if you used 1ml of water to test, you have .08 and if you add 15 more ml of water to the vial then you would look on the right side and it will be undetectable. their instructions suck there is too much info and it jumps all over. you use low range until levels are above .16 and color is super dark and can't go darker with 1ml, then go to doing with 16ml and look at high range dose

Thank you, that answered my question.

 

[SlimJim009]

Even .6 would be ridiculous. If you are that unsure of what’s going on with phosphate in your tank, I’d probably recommend leaving the GFO out indefinitely. No point trying to solve a problem you’re not even sure you have.

I purposly raised phosphate up, you dont want 0 phosphate when getting rid of dinos

 

[cshouston]

I purposly raised phosphate up, you dont want 0 phosphate when getting rid of dinos

You also don’t want .6 which is an absurd number. Unless you indiscriminately dumped an entire bottle of phosphate supplement into your tank, you should know where it should generally be if your starting point was zero.

 

[SlimJim009]

You also don’t want .6 which is an absurd number. Unless you indiscriminately dumped an entire bottle of phosphate supplement into your tank, you should know where it should generally be if your starting point was zero.

I just switched over to better testing equipment, so i only had a rough estimate of what my phosphates were. Today was the day that i actually figured out what my phosphates were

 

[Hincapiej4]

Ok stop. You are overthinking it

Carefully read the instructions. It says, for a range of over 1ppm (phos) use high range. So, for your first ever test, use low range. If it comes back as being at the darkest point, you are probably in the high range. So, do the test again with the dilusion for the high range and use that color to determine.

Now, if the numbers are coming back all messed up. You might be doing the test wrong. Make sure you follow the instructions exactly. I actually even use a timer to count 15secs for me just to keep everything uniform.

 

[SlimJim009]

Ok stop. You are overthinking it

Carefully read the instructions. It says, for a range of over 1ppm (phos) use high range. So, for your first ever test, use low range. If it comes back as being at the darkest point, you are probably in the high range. So, do the test again with the dilusion for the high range and use that color to determine.

Now, if the numbers are coming back all messed up. You might be doing the test wrong. Make sure you follow the instructions exactly. I actually even use a timer to count 15secs for me just to keep everything uniform.

Check out my new post, it will show you why I was confused

 

[Hincapiej4]

But you weren't clear. Even with that post.

Did the red Sea test give you both .08 and 1.36?
Or did the old test give you one or the other etc?

Lol.