Phosphate in fresh salt mix

[jbomar3771]

My rodi water coming out is reading 0 tds. When I test my fresh salt mix of reef crystals using a brand new hanna checker ulr it says the ppb is 53 which is 0.162 ppm. Could reef crystals have that much phosphate?

 

[bertoni]

That's a lot of phosphate. I hope that's not the Reef Crystals. I'd try another batch of salt, if possible.

 

[hkgar]

I've never checked but based on this thread I thought I would.

I use Red Sea Salt Mix, Hanna Checker Phosphorus 0

 

[outssider]

check the po4 of the ro/di water. Just because you have 0 tds doesn't mean you don't have a little po4. I'm not sure if the hanna 736 will work on fresh water although I have used it to check my tap water and I found about 36ppb in it.....

 

[jbomar3771]

I checked the ro water with the hanna and it read 8. I don't know how accurate that is on fresh water. That would leave the salt with a lot of phosphate. I might switch salts.

 

[bertoni]

The 736 is not rated for fresh water. I'd try a different batch of salt, though. The problem might be the reagents, but salt doesn't expire.

 

[hkgar]

make 1 gallon in a pitcher type container and see what it tests at.