Hanna phosphorus help!

[xxkenny90xx]

Ok either my water quality is horrible or I am doing something wrong here. I just got my Hanna checkers in the mail today and the phosphorus keeps giving me a 200ppb (0.613 ppm) reading. I'm thinking it's an error since that is the max reading it can give and my fish and corals are doing great. I'm not touching the vials (so they are clean), I add tank water, press the button, then add the reagent and hold the button. 3 mins later I get a 200ppb reading every time. Help!

 

[tvu]

Are you shaking the vial then pressing button 3 seconds or add reagent and straight back in?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Yes I am shaking for 2 mins (but trying to hurry it up because the checker turns off after 2 mins)

 

[tehmadreefer]

High po4 does not affect fish and depending on what type of corals you have ie; softies and lps they do better in high nutrient water.

 

[Brien]

Simple solution, check a fresh batch or saltwater.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I ran the test with another vile of water and got the same result. Is po4 that high unheard of? I have lots of lps but only one sps (a green stylo that's doing great). I'll run some phosban to be safe but am still wondering if I did something wrong...

 

[Art2249]

Isn't 200 ppb the same as .2 ppm?

 

[smartwater101]

Isn't 200 ppb the same as .2 ppm?

It would be 0.61 and if I remember correctly, is as high as the Hanna phosphorus test can go.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

According to hannas chart it is 0.613ppm

 

[xxkenny90xx]

And yes that's as high as it goes

 

[Art2249]

According to hannas chart it is 0.613ppm

I'm not saying you're wrong I'm just confused. I've been testing around 25 ppb and I always assumed that would be .025 ppm. Just moving the decimal over 3 places like in normal mathematics. Where is this chart you're talking about?

 

[smartwater101]

@xxkenny90xx

If you just purchased it, I would send it back and buy the new Phosphate Ultra Low Range checker. (HI774)

Its only slightly less accurate but actually stays on for much longer. Giving the reagent proper time to dissolve and it will ultimately be more consistent.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/phos...rimeter-hi774-hanna-checker-marine-water.html

 

[xxkenny90xx]

So assuming that I did the test right what should my game plan be? I can run some phosbond and get a water change ready for tomorrow? Here is the chart I'm using

 

[xxkenny90xx]

@xxkenny90xx

If you just purchased it, I would send it back and buy the new Phosphate Ultra Low Range checker. (HI774)

Its only slightly less accurate but actually stays on for much longer. Giving the reagent proper time to dissolve and it will ultimately be more consistent.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/phos...rimeter-hi774-hanna-checker-marine-water.html

Ya I just got it today from brs. Interesting, everything I read said to get the phosphorus checker since it's more accurate. Hmm what to do...

 

[smartwater101]

I'm not saying you're wrong I'm just confused. I've been testing around 25 ppb and I always assumed that would be .025 ppm. Just moving the decimal over 3 places like in normal mathematics. Where is this chart you're talking about?

For those of you who use something like google sheets, I made this to include the margin of error in my spreadsheet. (row 5 is an example reading) It also makes it so the range can't go negative. Just drop your Hanna results into A4 and you're good to go!

B4) =A4*3.066/1000

C4) =MAX(ROUND(((A4-5)*3.066/1000)*0.95,3) , 0 )&" - "&MAX(ROUND(((A4+5)*3.066/1000)*1.05,3) , 0 )


Enjoy!

 

[Art2249]

Oh I see no

So assuming that I did the test right what should my game plan be? I can run some phosbond and get a water change ready for tomorrow? Here is the chart I'm using

Oh I see now! Thanks. Phosphorus and phosphate are not the same. And here all this time I've been adding phosphate to keep it at 25 when I should be shooting for 8 or 9. DUH!! Good news is I only need to stop adding and it will go down in about a week.

 

[bluprntguy]

Are you running GFO or any other phosphate reduction media? If not, you probably need to get some, but start slow. I don't think the checker is wrong, your phosphates are just high.

 

[smartwater101]

Ya I just got it today from brs. Interesting, everything I read said to get the phosphorus checker since it's more accurate. Hmm what to do...

I just switch over to the newer checker and am glad I did. I ALWAYS would do at least 2 (if not 3) tests with the previous checker, just to make sure I was getting similar readings. I still do that (out of habit) but the newer checker always shows similar results, where the older one is prone to misreading.

There are already so many variables that can throw a hobby test-kit off. Not having time for the reagent to dissolve just adds to that.

Also, Don't run Phosband or anything until you know you are getting proper results from your tests. No need to make changes until you're sure.

 

[clm65]

If you have the 736 phosphorous checker and it is reading 200, then your phosphates are at least 0.613 ppm. I say at least, because that is the upper limit of that device. You likely have more. I encountered the same thing, and ended up getting a 713 checker as well. My phosphates were near the upper limit of that device also, which is 2.5 ppm. It sounds like your issue will be resolved much easier than mine.

 

[JimFuller]

I have the Hanna Phosphate Checker. I had 2.10 ppm. I cross checked it with a Salfert test. It came out right on 2.00 ppm.

You can have phosphate above
.610 ppm. Have fun.