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- Nov 8, 2015
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Hello! I have two reef aquariums. Both have amazing coral growth of softies, lps, sps. There hasn't been an algae outbreak for almost two years now (Knock on wood). There is only some hair algae growth in my refugium but the display is clean. Due to this lack of algae and no new livestock I have been decreasing my frequency of nitrate and phosphate testing to about once every two months. Throughout this time the nitrates are hovering between 1-4 ppm using the red sea test kit for both tanks. And phosphate is reading 0.00. I didn't worry too much about this number because I know HI 713 has an error range of 0.04 ppm and there is coral growth and no dino.
Then I noticed that my reagent I have been using was the wrong one for the past year. I mixed it up with hanna copper test. I quickly went to the store to get the correct one. The box says HI 713-25 while the packet says HI713-0. Its the same reagent right? The 25 symbolizes how many packets there are.
When I tested my aquariums both read 2.50 ppm, the limit of the test. I even tested my freshwater planted aquarium which has green spot algae which is a sign of low phosphates and that also read 2.50. I do not believe these numbers are correct.
Any advice?
Then I noticed that my reagent I have been using was the wrong one for the past year. I mixed it up with hanna copper test. I quickly went to the store to get the correct one. The box says HI 713-25 while the packet says HI713-0. Its the same reagent right? The 25 symbolizes how many packets there are.
When I tested my aquariums both read 2.50 ppm, the limit of the test. I even tested my freshwater planted aquarium which has green spot algae which is a sign of low phosphates and that also read 2.50. I do not believe these numbers are correct.
Any advice?
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