Salifert phosphate test kit

[Rosscopeco]

Sorry for that. I honestly thought it was a typo and was just trying to stop any confusion. I never got around to doing the test with the big Hanna myself and didn't realise it was such a short reaction time.
The Hanna egg requires 2 minutes of gentle mixing ( to avoid bubbles I assume) and a 3 minute wait before the reading is taken.
It's really easy to forget about the reading and miss the result altogether when the unit times out. I always get distracted with other chores around the tank in this time.
I'll have to read up on the difference between the two Hanna machines.

Edit:
After reading a little it seems the big Hanna http://www.hannainst.com.au/manuals/man96713_10_12_2010.pdf suggests 2 minutes also. Are you using a different unit?

 

[jcw]

Thanks for the guidance!

My question re nuisance algae isn't to question your results, but to question mine. I repeatedly get zero phosphate on salifert however I have plenty of browning sps, hair algae in a couple spots, and a lot of turf like algae in rocks.
I realize there are multiple reasons for all those things, but I thought it would be nice if a zero phosphate reading on the salifert would be able to exclude phosphate from the possibilities.

 

[Rosscopeco]

it would be nice if a zero phosphate reading on the salifert would be able to exclude phosphate from the possibilities.

Browning SPS is probably not the best indicator of a PO4 issue that can't be measured on a Salifert test. If it shows a reading I'd look at that possibility.
If you think about all of the ways that PO4 gets sucked up in our tanks, it's not surprising that the readings from the water column can be 0.00 (on the Hanna checker) while hair algae thrives on the rocks. If you keep up those 0.00 readings for a month or so and the algae should be at a dissadvantage.

 

[tmz]

Are you using a different unit?

Yes ,the 93713 but the same reagent is used. The 93713 instructions do not include the 2 minute swirl. I'll see if it's different after 2 minutes of swirling. Still don't see why it would be since it's all gone at the end of the 3 minute reaction time but I do like to follow manufaturer's recommendations even changing ones. Thanks for looking that up.

 

[tmz]

Swirled two minutes today. PO4 reading .04ppm same as yesterday with the 20 second swirl.

 

[Rosscopeco]

Swirled two minutes today. PO4 reading .04ppm same as yesterday with the 20 second swirl.

I does seems like the two minute swirl time is purely to dissolve the particles fully. That makes sense if they can throw out a reading.
:beer:

 

[fishchef]

My 2 cents on my favorite subject. When I put my 125 together about 5 years ago I had a lot to learn. Even after doing SW since '92 and Reef since 2000 things change for the better. After using a color test for PO4 for about a year plus and getting a zero, some of my corals looked stressed. Took my water to my LFS and put it on a lab Hanna. .55ppm was the result. Heard about the Checker and made the purchase. Results compared to the Lab grade and now I change my GFO based on the Checker. Wow, what a difference. I have only purchsed regeant twice in the last 2+ years.

 

[jcw]

My 2 cents on my favorite subject. When I put my 125 together about 5 years ago I had a lot to learn. Even after doing SW since '92 and Reef since 2000 things change for the better. After using a color test for PO4 for about a year plus and getting a zero, some of my corals looked stressed. Took my water to my LFS and put it on a lab Hanna. .55ppm was the result. Heard about the Checker and made the purchase. Results compared to the Lab grade and now I change my GFO based on the Checker. Wow, what a difference. I have only purchsed regeant twice in the last 2+ years.

what test kit were you using?

I am going to get the hanna checker. Just noticed there are two.

the low range phosphate and the ultra low range phosphorus. I'm gonna get the ulr phosphorus. imo, $50 isn't excessive just to see where my tank stands phosphate wise. $50 for a little piece of mind is ok with me.

Thanks everyone.