My new toy - Hanna Phosphate checker

[Tomoko Schum]

Hi y'all,

I just got my new phosphate checker. Here's the image:

I used to use Salifert test kits. Although the test results always appeared zero, as you know, it's not easy to decipher the color of water with the printed color chart. So after hearing a very good report on the Hanna's checker from a trusted reefer in Nashville frag, I decided to aquire the checker.

Here's my result in ppb (not ppm). Drum roll please... TaDaa:

To get a ppm result, you have to divide it by 1000. So, it must be 0.007 ppm

This gotta be the "Agae Power" 1smile1

A sump-ful of chaetomorpha and a bunch of bubble algae in the display tank h:

I was expecting more like 0.1 or 0.2 ppm at least, knowing that I have not replaced my Iron oxide phophate remover for at least a few months. I also have a bag of old activated carbon (like 3 months old) in the sump. On top of it, I implusively added a foxface and a powder blue tang - my very first tang :kiss: to my already full lineup of little fishes.

My foxface has actually cleaned up a lot of small bubble algae now. I will take another reading in a week or two and see if the value changes.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Why do some of the pictures from photobucket not display on R2R?

 

[VegasRick]

Why do some of the pictures from photobucket not display on R2R?

I have issues with it too. I usually have to edit the post and paste in the link a second time

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Thanks. I tried to reinsert the pictures. I got one more uploaded.

 

[Mariner]

Very cool Tomoko. That tang looks good too!

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Thank you, Mariner.

Poolkeeper1 reminded me about the conversion factor to convert phosphorus in ppb to phosphate in ppm. I need to multiply the phosphorus value by 3.066 and divide the result by 1000. So my phophate value is 0.0214 ppm actually. I guess I need to replace my Phos remover media in a little while.

I am very pleased with my powder blue tang. I am glad H@rry told me about it .

 

[john90009]

:/ ur lucky yours is working right atleast your getting a number i feed my sps tank heavey with just a skimmer and amino acids and with my checker i get 000 : / so idk if i can even trust it.

 

[VelasCorals]

I swear I read an article that talked about carbon eventually releasing phosphates and everything else it might have pulled out of the water after a certain period of time. I can't remember what the time frame was. I know it's more than a month because I change my carbon once a month and that was in the limit. I don't think I'm making this up. Can anyone else confirm?

My point being... maybe you just need to change your carbon more frequently.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Activated carbon typically turns into a biological media when left in an aquarium. It becomes saturated over time and starts to desorb some of the material it adsorped. It's hard to figure out the time frame because there are too many variables. I usually replace my activated carbon within a month. This one just happened to be hiding in the sump.

I am amused about the reading because Salifert test kit always read zero. Since all my SPS's are looking great and vividly colored, I am not too concerned about my water quality. As a matter of fact, their color seems to have improved in the past month or so after I added a foxface and a powder blue tang. Needless to say that I am feeding a lot more now, and I am not skimming aggressively.

 

[UniReef]

Phosphorus

So why did you get the phosphorus checker instead of the phosphate checker?

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Phosphorus checker has a better accuracy at the low range:

Phosphate Checker:
Range: 0-2.5ppm, Resolution: 0.01ppm, Precision: +/-0.04ppm

Phosphorus Checker: (converted to Phosphate {/1000*3.066})
Range: 0-0.61ppm, Resolution: .0031ppm, Precision: +/-0.015ppm (+/- 5 ppb)

It is also less expensive.

 

[UniReef]

Do you mind if I ask where you purchased yours? Everywhere I look the price is the same for Phosphate and Phosphorus.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I got mine from Amazon because their free super saver shipping made the overall cost the lowest. The phosphate checker that I am talking about is Hanna Instrument Low Range Photometer which costs 199.00.

Here's an article about Phosphorus checker (the green egg) against the upper class Hanna's multimeter C203:

Hanna Phosphate Checker Review: notable compromises still worth the resolution and portability

I would love to have a C200 multimeter, but I cannot afford such an expensive instrument.