What should I believe?

[JoeSchmo45]

Hello R2R!

I've got a 5-month-old Reefer 170 with a few corals that has been doing pretty well so far. I'm currently dosing a small amount of alk and cal to maintain 8.8 and 410 respectively. My nitrates and phosphates have been at a steady zero for quite some time. After asking for some advice here, I went ahead and dosed a small amount to bring those up (using Brightwell bottles). I'm trying to avoid a dino outbreak. The problem I'm having is figuring the reliability of my Hanna ULR phosphate tester. The checker had been consistently showing me 0.00 or 0.01 before I dosed anything. 24 hours after dosing, I got a reading of .04. A little higher than I expected, but nothing to panic about. I waited another 24 hours and tested again. This time it was 0.00. I thought that was strange so I tested again right away. The reading was then 0.06. Tonight, another 24 hours later, I tested twice and got 0.00 both times. 0.00, 0.04, 0.06, I'm not sure what to believe or if there is any way to calibrate the tester. I've made sure there were no bubbles and got the glass as clean as I could with each test. I don't want it to be at 0, but I also don't want to dose anything if it's actually at 0.06. Any suggestions? When I test with my Salifert kit, it looks like a solid 0 to me.

As for the nitrates, they went from zero to a steady 2 - 2.5. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips? I sure appreciate all the help I've received here!

Thanks!
Joe

 

[Spare time]

Keep in mind the hanna ulr phosphate has an error margin of 0.03

I would try to keep at at 0.04 or 0.05 ish as this will be above 0 but below 0.1

 

[lpsouth1978]

There isn't a hobby grade test kit that is near 100% accuracy, though the Hanna ULR is one of the best. There is a margin of error with the Hanna. Hopefully someone will chime in, but if I remember correctly it is + or - .03.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nitrate < ,04
Pho’s < .04
Ammonia < .03

 

[Shirak]

Are you orienting the vial in the same direction each time? I have a small mark on mine so I can make sure the same point is always facing toward the front. According to Hanna the accuracy is +- .02ppm. So technically a reading of .02 is between .04 and 0. If you are reading .03 then you are above 0. I am wondering if there is something in your testing procedure though to get readings from 0 -.06 between consecutive tests one right after the other.

On another note.. rock will suck up phosphate for a while.

 

[Spare time]

Are you orienting the vial in the same direction each time? I have a small mark on mine so I can make sure the same point is always facing toward the front. According to Hanna the accuracy is +- .02ppm. So technically a reading of .02 is between .04 and 0. If you are reading .03 then you are above 0. I am wondering if there is something in your testing procedure though to get readings from 0 -.06 between consecutive tests one right after the other.

On another note.. rock will suck up phosphate for a while.

I swear mine says 0.03, I wonder if they improved it since I got mine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I swear mine says 0.03, I wonder if they improved it since I got mine.

Depends on the checker. Bear in mind that these Hanna claims imply perfect users. lol

The HI 713 is +/- 0.04 ppm

Low Range Phosphate Colorimeter - Checker® HC

The HI713 Checker®HC (Handheld Colorimeter) provides a simple, accurate and cost effective way to measure phosphate.

www.hannainst.com

The Hi 774 is +/- 0.02 ppm

Marine Phosphate Ultra Low Range Colorimeter - Checker® HC

The HI774 Phosphate Ultra Low Range Colorimeter in. Checker® HC provides a simple, accurate and cost effective way to measure phosphate.

www.hannainst.com

The HI736 +/- 5 ppb P = 0.015 ppm phosphate

Saltwater Aquarium Ultra Low Range Phosphorus Colorimeter - Checker® HC

The HI736 Checker®HC (Handheld Colorimeter) provides a simple, accurate and cost effective way to measure phosphorus in marine systems.

www.hannainst.com

 

[EuphylliaAddict]

Hello R2R!

I've got a 5-month-old Reefer 170 with a few corals that has been doing pretty well so far. I'm currently dosing a small amount of alk and cal to maintain 8.8 and 410 respectively. My nitrates and phosphates have been at a steady zero for quite some time. After asking for some advice here, I went ahead and dosed a small amount to bring those up (using Brightwell bottles). I'm trying to avoid a dino outbreak. The problem I'm having is figuring the reliability of my Hanna ULR phosphate tester. The checker had been consistently showing me 0.00 or 0.01 before I dosed anything. 24 hours after dosing, I got a reading of .04. A little higher than I expected, but nothing to panic about. I waited another 24 hours and tested again. This time it was 0.00. I thought that was strange so I tested again right away. The reading was then 0.06. Tonight, another 24 hours later, I tested twice and got 0.00 both times. 0.00, 0.04, 0.06, I'm not sure what to believe or if there is any way to calibrate the tester. I've made sure there were no bubbles and got the glass as clean as I could with each test. I don't want it to be at 0, but I also don't want to dose anything if it's actually at 0.06. Any suggestions? When I test with my Salifert kit, it looks like a solid 0 to me.

As for the nitrates, they went from zero to a steady 2 - 2.5. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips? I sure appreciate all the help I've received here!

Thanks!
Joe

You should hold the button in so the 3:00 timer pops up and counts down, if you're doing that well then the checker is off a little which means you're hanging on the boarder and I wouldn't dose po4 just feed reef roids in small quantities until it's in desired range. I just use foods to raise those parameters a bit or lower them.

 

[ID-Reefer]

Not to hijack the thread but... Similar situation... 250 gal. system. Feed (20) fish twice a day using my own frozen clam mix, LRS and a few pellets soaked in Vitamins and amino. Feed coral a mix of Roids & chili every other day. Get a light dusting of algae on glass that I clean off every 4-5 days. Corals all seem happy with maybe the exception of a couple Trachys. My ULR Hanna has been 0 for a couple weeks. Salifert N03 test barely registers but I think its above 0.

Ive considered maybe turning off the skimmer for a period of time (though I use it with an air line to keep my PH up)... so maybe running skimmer so that it overflows? Tank is only 4 months old so maybe rock is still soaking up P04? Maybe move sand around a little? (though my leopard wrasse does plenty of that) Just not sure what to do if anything. Any advice?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Similar situation... 250 gal. system. Feed (20) fish twice a day using my own frozen clam mix, LRS and a few pellets soaked in Vitamins and amino. Feed coral a mix of Roids & chili every other day. Get a light dusting of algae on glass that I clean off every 4-5 days. Corals all seem happy with maybe the exception of a couple Trachys. My ULR Hanna has been 0 for a couple weeks. Salifert N03 test barely registers but I think its above 0.

Ive considered maybe turning off the skimmer for a period of time (though I use it with an air line to keep my PH up)... so maybe running skimmer so that it overflows? Tank is only 4 months old so maybe rock is still soaking up P04? Just not sure what to do if anything.

can you just feed more?

 

[ID-Reefer]

can you just feed more?

Yeah - I can up my fish feeding to 3x a day and corals every day.. I just thought I was already feeding heavy but yeah I guess I can try that. lol

 

[EuphylliaAddict]

Yeah - I can up my fish feeding to 3x a day and corals every day.. I just thought I was already feeding heavy but yeah I guess I can try that. lol

Just stay on top of testing daily before feeding, if it goes up fast than scale feeding down or turn the flow up so the food doesn't settle in random areas. Good luck

 

[Spare time]

Depends on the checker. Bear in mind that these Hanna claims imply perfect users. lol

The HI 713 is +/- 0.04 ppm

Low Range Phosphate Colorimeter - Checker® HC

The HI713 Checker®HC (Handheld Colorimeter) provides a simple, accurate and cost effective way to measure phosphate.

www.hannainst.com

The Hi 774 is +/- 0.02 ppm

Marine Phosphate Ultra Low Range Colorimeter - Checker® HC

The HI774 Phosphate Ultra Low Range Colorimeter in. Checker® HC provides a simple, accurate and cost effective way to measure phosphate.

www.hannainst.com

The HI736 +/- 5 ppb P = 0.015 ppm phosphate

Saltwater Aquarium Ultra Low Range Phosphorus Colorimeter - Checker® HC

The HI736 Checker®HC (Handheld Colorimeter) provides a simple, accurate and cost effective way to measure phosphorus in marine systems.

www.hannainst.com

Ah its 0.02ppm on mine. I was mixing it up with the alk test error range.

 

[Aqua Man]

If you have the HI736 and read .006ppb IMO that’s pretty much zero!

see what you get 1 hr after dosing.

 

[RobertTheNurse]

I'm assuming absolutley NO ALGAE noted? Technically algae does feed onto N04 and Phos.

 

[Dan_P]

Hello R2R!

I've got a 5-month-old Reefer 170 with a few corals that has been doing pretty well so far. I'm currently dosing a small amount of alk and cal to maintain 8.8 and 410 respectively. My nitrates and phosphates have been at a steady zero for quite some time. After asking for some advice here, I went ahead and dosed a small amount to bring those up (using Brightwell bottles). I'm trying to avoid a dino outbreak. The problem I'm having is figuring the reliability of my Hanna ULR phosphate tester. The checker had been consistently showing me 0.00 or 0.01 before I dosed anything. 24 hours after dosing, I got a reading of .04. A little higher than I expected, but nothing to panic about. I waited another 24 hours and tested again. This time it was 0.00. I thought that was strange so I tested again right away. The reading was then 0.06. Tonight, another 24 hours later, I tested twice and got 0.00 both times. 0.00, 0.04, 0.06, I'm not sure what to believe or if there is any way to calibrate the tester. I've made sure there were no bubbles and got the glass as clean as I could with each test. I don't want it to be at 0, but I also don't want to dose anything if it's actually at 0.06. Any suggestions? When I test with my Salifert kit, it looks like a solid 0 to me.

As for the nitrates, they went from zero to a steady 2 - 2.5. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips? I sure appreciate all the help I've received here!

Thanks!
Joe

If your system is phosphate depleted, it would not be strange for PO4 to disappear quickly. The fact you get the expected reading immediately after dosing says your Checker is working.

To double check though, add PO4 to freshly prepared saltwater, and check it immediately and then the next day. Both readings should be close but maybe not exactly the same.

 

[JoeSchmo45]

Thank you all for your help and advice. It's greatly appreciated!

Are you orienting the vial in the same direction each time? I have a small mark on mine so I can make sure the same point is always facing toward the front. According to Hanna the accuracy is +- .02ppm. So technically a reading of .02 is between .04 and 0. If you are reading .03 then you are above 0. I am wondering if there is something in your testing procedure though to get readings from 0 -.06 between consecutive tests one right after the other.

On another note.. rock will suck up phosphate for a while.

I didn't think about marking the vial. That's a great idea!

You should hold the button in so the 3:00 timer pops up and counts down, if you're doing that well then the checker is off a little which means you're hanging on the boarder and I wouldn't dose po4 just feed reef roids in small quantities until it's in desired range. I just use foods to raise those parameters a bit or lower them.

I have been doing the 3:00 timer. I think I'm going to do like you say and hold off just a bit. I'm getting an increase in algae already, so I don't want that to explode on me.

I'm assuming absolutley NO ALGAE noted? Technically algae does feed onto N04 and Phos.

There is definitely algae! Maybe it's eating everything up quickly.

If your system is phosphate depleted, it would not be strange for PO4 to disappear quickly. The fact you get the expected reading immediately after dosing says your Checker is working.

To double check though, add PO4 to freshly prepared saltwater, and check it immediately and then the next day. Both readings should be close but maybe not exactly the same.

Great idea, thank you! I'm going to give that a shot.


Thanks again, everyone!

 

[RobertTheNurse]

Thank you all for your help and advice. It's greatly appreciated!



I didn't think about marking the vial. That's a great idea!


I have been doing the 3:00 timer. I think I'm going to do like you say and hold off just a bit. I'm getting an increase in algae already, so I don't want that to explode on me.



There is definitely algae! Maybe it's eating everything up quickly.



Great idea, thank you! I'm going to give that a shot.


Thanks again, everyone!

Good luck!!