Is it possible I have 0.00 phosphate?

[Michael43]

My reef is 3 months old now. I have a good amount of stuff in the tank for its youth but all has been going great, loving this addictive hobby. I have a 9 salifert tests due to some research saying they are on the "better" more accurate end for test kits. All tests have been as they should. Someone recommended for phosphate going with a hanna tester so I did. The salifert was always 0 with Phosphates. I checked 2 days now in a row with the hanna meter and both times im getting 0.00. Is it possible I have literally no phosphates?

 

[sc50964]

Are you running anything to remove PO4? What livestock do you have and how frequent and what do you feed them?

 

[Thales]

Likely no, and testing methods don't have the capability to test that low

 

[sc50964]

Salifert does have a zero reading on its color chart.

 

[Michael43]

I figured I have to have something. I thought I just did the hanna meter wrong the first night but then the second day same result. Im running GFo and Carbon in a dual BRS Reactor

 

[twilliard]

I only use triton icp testing now for my po4 levels

 

[Michael43]

I bought the right hanna meter right guys? I thought its obvious. Its the low range one from 0-2.5

 

[sc50964]

Your PO4 level is likely very low, which is below the 0.00 reading. You can simply take the reactor off circuit and measure it after a day or two.

 

[Michael43]

excuse my ignorance but 0 phosphate would be a good thing right?

 

[twilliard]

The life of zooanthelle in organisms would have to be understood to give an appropriate answer to that question.
IMO is 0 good? No

 

[sc50964]

Good for SPS but not so optimal for LPS, as it means your tank is super clean and the water either has very little or no nutrient. In general practice, you want it at around 0.03.

 

[Michael43]

well my tank is mostly LPS but I plan on slowly adding SPS when I get comfortable

 

[sc50964]

You can keep at 0.00 but just make sure to feed your LPS twice a week.

 

[Thales]

Salifert does have a zero reading on its color chart.

IIRC, they have an error range of 5-10%

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is possible to have 0.00 ppm phosphate, but that is not zero. Surface ocean seawater is often as low as 0.005 ppm. :)

I discuss phosphate in detail here:

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184