Time to upgrade phosphate test

[Chrisq0904]

Im currently using Red Sea to test my phosphate, I want to start dabbling into SPS again and want to accordingly purchase a Hanna checker. I noticed they have a Phosphate and a Phosphorous checker. Which one would be better to test for the lower range phosphate, assuming I can just use the Red Sea if my levels go up high enough.

 

[tkeracer619]

You want the Hanna 736 ULR Phosphorus Checker. Get a bunch of reagents as well. If you have never used a checker you should watch some youtube videos on how to administer the test as well as get all the powder into the vial. You will likely burn 10 or so tests before you start to get the hang of it.

It reads in PPB so you will need to convert to get PPM. the formula is.... (3.066*xPPB)/1000

 

[bertoni]

I agree that the ULR is a little better at the low end.

 

[GroktheCube]

Frankly, I find both of them to be of somewhat questionable accuracy. I'm very careful, wipe the vials with glasses clean cloths, and use microfunnels to make sure I get all of the powder into the vials. I still frequently get variations of 20ppb+ between readings of the same water.

 

[Chrisq0904]

Frankly, I find both of them to be of somewhat questionable accuracy. I'm very careful, wipe the vials with glasses clean cloths, and use microfunnels to make sure I get all of the powder into the vials. I still frequently get variations of 20ppb+ between readings of the same water.

Is there a different phosphate test you would recommend?

 

[jda]

I am on the other side of this... I would (and do) use a Salifert test kit and just worry about the phosphate if the color is more than the lowest reading of .03. If it is "clear" then keep on reefing.

 

[Kungpaoshizzi]

Get the phosphorous checker from hanna...

Like someone else said, but take the reading multiplied by 3.0661 / 1000.
Only way to get a ultra low reading atm..

 

[JMorris271]

Reading PPM

 

[Chrisq0904]

I ended up purchasing the phosphorous checker with some extra packets of powder.

 

[jcolley]

Martini MI-412 is another option. I just dumped my Hanna for it and couldn't be happier. So much more consistent.

 

[Chrisq0904]

Well my new checker came in, and got a reading of 12. So multiply that by 3.0661 then divide by 1000... So my phosphate is .037 (rounded). I thought my Red Sea was giving me a reading of .08 it was kinda hard to determine the color since it did exactly match any of them.

 

[nicholasb]

I find saliferts best as there is no colour matching. Any sign of blue and you have phosphates. The phosphorous cheacker is always better, but any test can be out.