Is Phosphate important to test?

ConnivingPigeon · Mar 30, 2021

Hello,

I was gifted a well-established reef tank back in december (3 fish, some soft coral and a war coral), and I've been trying to learn as much as I can about the hobby to try and keep everyone alive. I bought the red sea marine care and fundamentals multi-test kits, and neither of them have phosphate tests. Red Sea offers a dedicated phosphate kit, but at $45, it's almost as expensive as the entire multi-kits I got. Does the omission of the phosphate test mean it's not truly necessary to test for? Or should I grit my teeth and get the additional kit as well.

Thanks!

lpsouth1978 · Mar 30, 2021

P04 is an important param to test, and you should get a kit. For the price, I would get the Hanna Checker ULR Phosphate checker. It is much more accurate than any other P04 test and costs only a few dollars more.

DDenny · Mar 30, 2021

FOr $45 I would get the Hanna ULR (Ultra low range) Phosphate checker. I ordered the Phosphorous checker (have to convert to phosphate) but its more accurate. I get it Wednesday so I will be able to tell you how I like it. Its important to test when you have problems or things happen that you cant explain without testing.

ScottR · Mar 30, 2021

If keeping corals, phosphate testing is a must. For corals, they need just enough and not too much. Alkalinity is very important but I feel it’s much easier to keep stable. My most watched parameter is PO4.

Arabyps · Mar 30, 2021

Phosphate is an important measure of water quality. Many species are sensitive to high phosphate (nitrate as well). I test both phosphate and nitrate regularly and strive to keep in check (but not 0).

ConnivingPigeon · Mar 30, 2021

Interesting... thanks for the tips. I'm kinda surprised something so important wasn't in these two large kits. I'll look into that hannah checker. I'm already annoyed with having to "eyeball" what color different liquids are :)

DDenny · Mar 30, 2021

ConnivingPigeon said:
Interesting... thanks for the tips. I'm kinda surprised something so important wasn't in these two large kits. I'll look into that hannah checker. I'm already annoyed with having to "eyeball" what color different liquids are :)

No eyeballing with the hanna checker.
https://www3.marinedepot.com/hanna-instruments-phosphate-checker-hi774-ultra-low-range