How would you interpret these tests?

[JohnL]

I find interpretation tough sometimes

 

[Uncle99]

No3….above 25….less than 50…..so 35ppm?
Hanna HR Nitrate Egg makes that real easy.
My Nitrate runs 10-25ppm on Salifert, but 7ppm on the Hanna, plus minus 2ppm.

 

[Uncle99]

PO4
I see the result as slightly darker than .1ppm say .13-.15ppm which is fine in a mixed tank with corals.
Again, sorry, I got tired of this game and opted for the exact number again.
Used the Hanna UL Phosphorus checker in PPB.

 

[JohnL]

No3….above 25….less than 50…..so 35ppm?
Hanna HR Nitrate Egg makes that real easy.
My Nitrate runs 10-25ppm on Salifert, but 7ppm on the Hanna, plus minus 2ppm.

I have one on the way.

 

[JohnL]

PO4
I see the result as slightly darker than .1ppm say .13-.15ppm which is fine in a mixed tank with corals.
Again, sorry, I got tired of this game and opted for the exact number again.
Used the Hanna UL Phosphorus checker in PPB.

I have this on the way too. I can't interpret these very well.

 

[JohnL]

@Uncle99 which Hanna tests do you use? Are you pleased with all?

 

[reefing102]

I agree with @Uncle99. I use salifert tests as I can’t afford Hannah’s right now lol

 

[Uncle99]

Worth every penny.
I do the big three (Alk, No3 and PO4) weekly at the same time.
10 minutes, end to end.
In a recent ICP test, it showed all three checkers were very close, close enough that I don’t care.

 

[JohnL]

Worth every penny.
I do the big three (Alk, No3 and PO4) weekly at the same time.
10 minutes, end to end.
In a recent ICP test, it showed all three checkers were very close, close enough that I don’t care.

Thanks

 

[Uncle99]

@Uncle99 which Hanna tests do you use? Are you pleased with all?

I have been testing weekly since 2017.

Here’s what worked for me.
The 3 Hanna’s. There are different models so be careful.
Hanna Alk Checker…..a number in under a minute and simple.
Hanna HR nitrate…….a number in 7 minutes and simple.
Hanna UL Phosphorus Checker in PPB…….a number in 3 minutes…..and again simple.
You only need to buy the reagents, in all three cases which drives the price way down over time.

CA and MG…..Salifert for sure here. Both very easy and fast and produce easy read results.
And they run half the price of the Hanna’s.

Iodide, Stronium……again Salifert was well priced and provided good results.
Both a bit complicated though.

Here’s what didn’t work well for me.
Hanna CA checker……tons of steps…..small sample size…..fluctuating results by up to 50ppm. Maybe Iam not doing something correctly….anyways….used 6 times…..now sits idle.
Any API with the exception of PH….hum…..So I do use that one.
Red Sea Kits….MG not bad…..others to complicated for me. Just lost interest.

Maybe that rant will help others.

 

[JohnL]

Maybe that rant will help others.

Very helpful. I use all Salifert also. Do you have an iron test you like?

 

[Uncle99]

I use the Red Sea one as I dose trace A,B,C, and D at a daily rate of 10% of CA uptake.
This multi test kit does Iron, Potassium and Iodine as well.
These I test, maybe, every 3 months or so, have not tried anything else…..yet.

 

[JohnL]

Thanks a lot @Uncle99 Very helpful.

 

[kharmaguru]

I have been testing weekly since 2017.

Here’s what worked for me.
The 3 Hanna’s. There are different models so be careful.
Hanna Alk Checker…..a number in under a minute and simple.
Hanna HR nitrate…….a number in 7 minutes and simple.
Hanna UL Phosphorus Checker in PPB…….a number in 3 minutes…..and again simple.
You only need to buy the reagents, in all three cases which drives the price way down over time.

CA and MG…..Salifert for sure here. Both very easy and fast and produce easy read results.
And they run half the price of the Hanna’s.

Iodide, Stronium……again Salifert was well priced and provided good results.
Both a bit complicated though.

Here’s what didn’t work well for me.
Hanna CA checker……tons of steps…..small sample size…..fluctuating results by up to 50ppm. Maybe Iam not doing something correctly….anyways….used 6 times…..now sits idle.
Any API with the exception of PH….hum…..So I do use that one.
Red Sea Kits….MG not bad…..others to complicated for me. Just lost interest.

Maybe that rant will help others.

I agree with all that although I've never been able to get an iodine or iodide reading from the Salifert yet my ICP showed it elevated. Apparently Aquaforest make some good test kits but I haven't tried any.

 

[JohnL]

34.1 ppm NO3 per Hanna

 

[JohnL]

No3….above 25….less than 50…..so 35ppm?

You're good brother