What ppm of Phosphate do you have in your SPS tanks?

[sahin]

In my current tank ive never tested for po4, I only test alkalinity, calcium & magnesium.

I know! Thats so crazy, you dont test for it, yet you have one of the BEST tanks in the UK in terms of coral health and colour! :hmm3:

To be honest, it might just be that you have really clean rocks. As you are running Aquaphos FE and a chaeto/macro algae filter, it simply works really well in reducing the phosphates.

I will definately visit you soon and test your tanks water to see if I can get a reading on my Hanna ULR Phosphorus meter! :spin1:

 

[drw94]

Mammoth- I am not sure I get how you do you test!

For Me, I fill both vials. One for C1 and the other for C2. I pour the packet into one vial, mix for 2 mins. When C2 comes up I swap out vials and let it do the 3 min count down.

Am I wrong on how I do this? I also use both phosphate and phosphorus ULR kits

 

[jerpa]

Ideally you woukd only use one vial to negate differences in the composition of the glass vials. The three minute countdown should be started with the reagent already mixed and the vial in the meter. I use a stopwatch to ensure the checker doesn't time out. It allows the undissolved reagent, and bubbles, to settle out before it takes the reading.

 

[Dukester]

Ideally you woukd only use one vial to negate differences in the composition of the glass vials. The three minute countdown should be started with the reagent already mixed and the vial in the meter. I use a stopwatch to ensure the checker doesn't time out. It allows the undissolved reagent, and bubbles, to settle out before it takes the reading.

if it does time out and shut off for u, I have used the second vial for C1 and just pressed the button for c2 with the reagent vial, you will still get a reading without the 3 minute countdown. Not ideal, but at least it isn't a total waste of a reagent pack.

 

[XxreeffreakxX]

I test with Hanna ultra low range checker and was at 0.02 . Having said that I moved my browned out red planet that was in my frag tank for months with no signs of coloring up to my display and within 2 weeks I noticed polyps were out further and the green started appearing on the base of the coral

 

[Yedgy]

For Me, I fill both vials. One for C1 and the other for C2. I pour the packet into one vial, mix for 2 mins. When C2 comes up I swap out vials and let it do the 3 min count down.

Ideally you woukd only use one vial to negate differences in the composition of the glass vials. The three minute countdown should be started with the reagent already mixed and the vial in the meter. I use a stopwatch to ensure the checker doesn't time out. It allows the undissolved reagent, and bubbles, to settle out before it takes the reading.

I agree with jerpa. In fact, I try to eliminate variations wherever possible. I try to always insert the cuvette so that the "10ml" legend is centered forward. This helps in case there are any small smudges or imperfections in the glass that might affect the reading. I also wash the cuvettes with Hanna cleaning solution and a test tube brush every couple of months. They come out squeaky clean.

 

[chercm]

the variation of reading is to due to the particles found in the tank . any one can advice on how to get accurate reading?

 

[toothman]

red planet loves par, it is a super quick grower.

 

[johntran216]

Mine reads around 0.3, which i know is high, but i wonder why. I have a very small bioload (1 starry blenny and a pair of picassos) in a 75g tank w/ an extreme xs-160 skimmer.. I recently added a gfo reactor. Hopefully it brings it down. Sps seems ok, besides a few montis turning really pale on me. Not sure if that's due to my 2x 250w 14k's

 

[Osteopth]

I have been running an ATS (Algae Turf Scrubber) on my 240 gallon SPS dominant DT for the 2 years. I bought a Hanna Checker about a year ago and found that my Phos was 0.86. In reading on RC I learned that the remote DSB in my sump was unbalancing my N and P, so I removed I and my Phos dropped to 0.04-0.12. Since then I have been removing the sand from my DT slowly with water changes and my Phos has lowered and become more stable with each removal. Now I can't get my reading above 0.00 with my ATS and minimal live rock as my only filtration. No skimmer, no socks, no sponges, no GFO, occasional carbon (1 week every 6 months or so). 60 gallon water change every 1-3 months, if I feel like it. Growth and colors have never been better.

 

[Osteopth]

iPhone pics, started with very small frags.