Phosphates, Nitrates,PH

[t blackwell]

I tested my phosphate yesterday with hanna checker. Its a 220 tank. Got the result of 0.15 what do you think of that number..not too bad or treat right away. I have used phosphate rx to treat ..but im wondering if thats really high enough to treat now or just wait a little bit. I say wait a little as im expecting some prodibio optium or whatever its called and im kind of curious as to what effect that will have on my phos and nitrate. my nitrates appear to be a little high..about 20 maybe 25. I do have a biopellet reactor that usually seems to work ok and keeps them somewhat in check. I also recently got a hanna ph tester as ph was something I really paid no attention to except to once in a blue moon use api ( I mean very rarely) I have realized how important it is especially if its swinging or getting too low. my first test with it on the 220 was 7.8 at about 6pm and my 50 cube was 8.0 at 6 pm..both are in the same room..and both now have an outside air tube attached to skimmer air intake..what do you think of these numbers?

 

[jda]

I would not let the P get any higher. I would get the N down to below 5. I would never check pH again...just keep alk stable and forget that PH exists.

 

[Dr. Reef]

Ideal phos range is 0.01-0.05
Nitrates 3-10
pH will swing throughout the day and night.
It can be minimized by adopting opposite light schedule on sump with macro algae.
As long as its within 7.8-8.4 range and swing is not too wild, you should be fine.

 

[JPergamo]

Did you do another test with the hannah checker to confirm? I get off numbers occasionally with that thing. I also found the need to wipe the vile of fingerprints before and after adding reagent

 

[t blackwell]

I would not let the P get any higher. I would get the N down to below 5. I would never check pH again...just keep alk stable and forget that PH exists.

do you feel like thats around the point where it needs to be lowered..is that around your threshold for phosphate? my nitrates seemed to be doing ok for a few months and then have crept up..Im hoping they will come down ..I cleaned the bio pellet reactor and adjusted it where they tumble and spin better..I think i may have had them actually tumbling too slow..just barely moving. I also added some cheato to my refugium and I hope that helps. Im not planning to check ph daily but I basically rarely checked it in the past..how often do you check alk...what do you consider stable for alk..I am testing it about once a week give or take a day or two..in my 220 its been around 8..up to 8.3 and the lowest has been 7.8..what do you think about that range...

 

[t blackwell]

Did you do another test with the hannah checker to confirm? I get off numbers occasionally with that thing. I also found the need to wipe the vile of fingerprints before and after adding reagent

with most things I do test twice if the number looks odd or unexpected..though im not surprised..by the number..I do overfeed ..I think you are right though I will recheck