Test results question

[crny1]

Hello all,
I sent a water sample into my LFS for testing to see where its all at in the cycle and this is what the results are that got emailed to me. Does this seem correct? Phosphate off the charts. I have been away from reefing for awhile and cant wrap my brain around this result. I even suspected a bad test or something.
The display is 300 gallons with approx 200 pounds of LR. 65 gallon rubber maid sump with about 30 pounds of LR for now. (adding more in the near future) and a 75 gallon fuge with a ball of cheato in it. Tank has been running for close to 3 weeks now so I know its early.

Results
Test Name: 570 Phosphate PO4
Test Result: 1.73 ppm
Preferred: 1.73 ppm (as PO₄)
Test Date: 2018-12-10 04:08:22
Test Site: 300 gallon
Test Device: iDip C00473v69.02
Test Location (Lng, Lat): 42.196724,-88.292587

Test Name: 570 Nitrate, Marine NO3
Test Result: LO ppm
Preferred: LO ppm (as NO₃)
Test Date: 2018-12-10 04:04:37
Test Site: 300 gallon
Test Device: iDip C00473v69.02
Test Location (Lng, Lat): 42.196724,-88.292587

Test Name: 570 Nitrite NO2
Test Result: LO ppm
Test Date: 2018-12-10 03:44:42
Test Site: 300 gallon
Test Device: iDip C00473v69.02
Test Location (Lng, Lat): 42.196724,-88.292587

Test Name: 570 Ammonia NH
Test Result: LO ppm
Test Date: 2018-12-10 03:37:07
Test Site: 300 gallon
Test Device: iDip C00473v69.02
Test Location (Lng, Lat): 42.196724,-88.292587

Results
Test Name: 570 Hardness, Tot UH-II Marine THU
Test Result: LO ppm
Test Date: 2018-12-10 04:17:24
Test Site: 300 gallon
Test Device: iDip C00473v69.02
Test Location (Lng, Lat): 42.196705,-88.292542

Test Name: 570 Calcium, UH Marine CAH
Test Result: 1029 ppm
Preferred: 411.60 ppm (as Ca)
Test Date: 2018-12-10 04:15:11
Test Site: 300 gallon
Test Device: iDip C00473v69.02
Test Location (Lng, Lat): 42.196705,-88.292542

Test Name: 570 Alkalinity II, Total Marine #486680-II AL
Test Result: 132 ppm
Preferred: 7.40 dKH
Test Date: 2018-12-10 04:13:14
Test Site: 300 gallon
Test Device: iDip C00473v69.02
Test Location (Lng, Lat): 42.196705,-88.292542


Thanks in advance.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It’s possible. I’d grab a Po4 kit.

And is that 1000 cal?

 

[crny1]

Yes thats what it shows......

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’ve not heard anything about the I dip kits reliability. But I’d def consider owing your own set

 

[crny1]

I am in the process of ordering my own test kits but wanted some opinions on this until they get here.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Gotcha.
If your not dosing , that’s not possible.

#reefsquad anyone familiar with the Idip?

 

[saltyhog]

I agree with @saltyfilmfolks, that calcium level is unimaginable especially with the Alkalinity not being too bad low. I didn't see a magnesium level?

What kind of live rock did you use? Cured? Some of them could definitely leach enough PO4 to produce those levels.

I use Hanna ULR Phosphorous for PO4, Hanna for alkalinity, Salifert for calcium and Red Sea for magnesium. I would always keep test kits for those parameters on hand even if I was using automated testing such as Idip. Electronics can fail, chemistry can't (barring bad test kit).

 

[crny1]

Yes tank was filled with OTDS from my filter and I used 50/50 reef crystals and instant ocean. Nothing has been dosed. I was kind of leary of the results when I seen them. I am still waiting for my Hanna meters but am going to take a sample to another shop tonight I think to see what they show.

 

[crny1]

To add, the LR was dried out from the previous reef. Stored in buckets. There is approx 200 pounds of it.

 

[rkpetersen]

I agree with @saltyfilmfolks,
I use Hanna ULR Phosphorous for PO4, Hanna for alkalinity, Salifert for calcium and Red Sea for magnesium.

Salifert is also good for magnesium. The Hanna calcium checker can also be quite accurate but I know it's not for everyone.

 

[rkpetersen]

To add, the LR was dried out from the previous reef. Stored in buckets. There is approx 200 pounds of it.

Was the rock cleaned before it was dried? Or did you process it yourself before adding it to the DT?

 

[saltyhog]

To add, the LR was dried out from the previous reef. Stored in buckets. There is approx 200 pounds of it.

Unless you cleaned it well to remove the dried organic material that could be the source of the phosphate....although I'm surprised the nitrate is undetectable.

Salifert is also good for magnesium. The Hanna calcium checker can also be quite accurate but I know it's not for everyone.

Yeah I've been kicking around the Hanna calcium but my dang Salifert calcium is always within 3-5 of my ICP tests every single time.

Everyone tells me to stay with my Salifert for magnesium but it is almost always 95-100 points lower than the ICP tests and the Red Sea. I even got a new kit and it tested the same. I may get another one as they are very inexpensive and I've had such good luck with all of their other tests.

 

[crny1]

All the rock was cleaned with a pressure washer and then rinsed numerous times in RO water. After that it was allowed to dry.

 

[GoVols]

Gotcha.
If your not dosing , that’s not possible.

#reefsquad anyone familiar with the Idip?

Hey, Salty
I jumped on an Idip thread at one point and asked them the accuracy on some of their test.
They got a little rattled... :mad: and it was just not for me.

 

[GoVols]

Salifert is also good for magnesium. The Hanna calcium checker can also be quite accurate but I know it's not for everyone.

(lol)
I use those two and API for cal...