phosphates

[spinoleo]

just received my hanna checker from brs and have a reading of .03 is this an acceptable number for a reef that has more sps than lps?

 

[tent boy]

Can't help you with the number but, is that checker easy to use? Heard lots about it.

 

[SPotter]

Which checker? ulr ? if you're total number is .03 you're ok. anything under that is acceptable in a reef tank.

 

[spinoleo]

the meter is the 713 model and very easy to use (my 15 yr old daughter does all my tests )

 

[windyridge]

So your reading remember is plus or minus 0.04.

 

[pascal32]

.03 is good. generally aim for .03 to limit algae, though a lot of folks go to .06/.07 and do well. personally I'm not a believer (anymore) on runnign these numbers as close to 0 as possible.

on the comment of hanna meter accuracy read here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2066574

another good thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1635855

 

[tmz]

PO4( orthophospahte ,inorganic phospahte )runs .03 to .05 now per the 713 full sized meter. I'm compulsive about it and have measured it it daily for years . Readings are consistent as long as I'm careful to get a good sample and keep the sampling vial clean and dry. Rarely a reagent packet is off. If I get an odd reading, I check the curvette to see if it's wet on the outside and retest.
.O3 ppm is a level at which many microalgaes and macroalgaes( like chaetomorpha ) are limited , though some are not completely ;some will be limited at slighty higher levels and some can grab organic phosphate. I get almost no nuisance green algae at the .05ppm level or less. I also have no cyano. I use only a few snails for cleanup. Red algaes are a bit different .

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

IMO/IME Tom is absolutely correct- Rhodophyta (red alga) can survive lower PO4 levels than green alga.

spinoleo:

FYI: compiled from personal observations and my research on the topic so far:

*phosphates can fuel nuisance algae growth and inhibit calcification in living reef organisms:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
there are many varied methods for lowering phosphates in reef aquaria and it's beyond the scope of this thread to review all of them. Chemical adsorbers and flocculents are simply a few of the options available.

*granular ferric oxide and aluminum based PO4 adsorbers can be pricey and risky to some extent if used improperly. In certain cases (especially in large aquariums) these might not be a practical option.

some suggested ideal levels for PO4 in reef aquaria:
.06ppm - .1ppm using reliable low range PO4 test kit(s)

some suggested reliable low range PO4 test kits:

Elos phosphate test kit
Hach PO-19 & Hach PO-24
Deltec/Rowa/Merck (basically all the same with a different name on each)
Hanna Photometer and/or Colorimeter (Several models and a kit is available. Thanks for the info, Tom!)

 

[spinoleo]

I have never tested po 4 before and was worried sps growth slowed down,but I have changed alot in a short time.changed from cal reactor to dosers,t5 lights to radions,and nitrates went from 10 to15 so I started carbon dosing