Phosphate testing

[Maxx]

Boomer,
I'm having some issues with phosphates that I suspect are a result of feeding Nori to my Juvi blueline angel. I dont feed processed foods outside of the nori, no flake, no pellet. All frozen foods are thawed in a cup of RODI water first, strained through a brine shrimp net, and placed into a container of tank water. What isnt used is placed in the freezer for next time. Whole, uncooked shrimp and scallop are also fed regularly. They are thawed, and torn into chunks or strips as applicable. 20% Water changes are done weekly and fresh ASW is used each time.

I dont have a phosphate test kit as I understand that you can only test for inorganic orthophosphates...however, the LFS has one of these:

HI-93713C Premium Aquatics - HI-93713C Aquarium Supplies

That they use to test and I've been bringing water samples to them for checking. Its a PITA and I'd like to go ahead and just get my own P Test kit/Device.

Is that a good deal for that Hanna test kit, or would I be served just as well for my needs with either an Elos or Salifert P testkit?

That Hanna tester is interesting, but significantly more expensive than I like right now...

Thanks,

Nick

 

[Boomer]

You are wasting your money on that kit. First, it too only tests for Ortho. You are better of getting their PO4, Ortho, checker for like ~ $50

$45 HANNA HI 713 Checker - Phosphate, Free S/H!

There is only on test kit, not a meter, that tests for all phosphates and it is a HACH, ~ $150

 

[Maxx]

Is the Hach test kit worth the money, or is it really just a needless purchase since I can only really remove ortho via GFO, and organic P is immediately bound by bacteria? I realize that you can use bio pellets to remove the bacteria that takes up the organic P but it seems to be hit or miss with some folks...

FWIW, the LFS test kit is showing that I bounce between 0.004 and 0.14 in P.....yesterday it was 0.14..and the water sample was taken before I fed Nori...


Are you aware of any form of Nori that doesnt have a high level of P in it?

Nick

 

[NC2WA]

Nick,

I have the hanna checker for Phosphate and Calcium..I love the Phosphate as it is easy to use and fairly accurate..I did a review of these units here:

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums...um-phosphate-hanna-checkers-62478/#post641655

you are free to call me if you want to talk about it.

Kirk

 

[Boomer]

Nick

You will find the HACH P a pain in the ass, as it requires you to go through some elaborate procedures. Organic P can be taken out by GAC.

0.004

There is no kit or meter that can test that low. The limit is 0.03. Any value below that is what we call noise or a gibberish reading.

 

[Maxx]

Boomer,
Thanks for the heads up...

The 0.004 was a typo on my part, should have been 0.04.

If the Hach is a PITA, then I'll pass....Sounds like the Hanna Checker is the way to go.

Kirk, Will give you a call later....

Thanks,

Nick

 

[Boomer]

OK Nick.