Phosphate question

[tennesseebob]

I use my spring water with no ro-di, is it normal for a natural spring to test 0 for phosphates, or is it just dependent on the area?

Also my spring test lower ph than Tennessee ground water typically does, tn groundwater normally tests over 8 (so my LFS says anyway) and mine tests 6.8
So it is slightly atypical

[CStrickland]

Depends. What phos test are you using?

[tennesseebob]

API, all I had easy access to

[CStrickland]

I have API too, came with a kit.
It's lightest color is .25 ppm phos, but the ocean runs in the .00somethings, much lower. I still test now and then, but I see algae in the tank before my API reads above zero. I aim for cleaning the green off the glass twice a week if that helps.

I would want to know a lot of things about the water before I used it. I think people who are on wells can have the gov't test their water, but idk how you send samples or whatever. If it's the town supply you can google a report from the EPA. Your salt mix is fine-tuned to be added to plain h2o, any alkalinity or minerals would throw it out of whack, never mind copper pipes
.
Spring waters usually hard, right? Like if you see lime scale around your faucets, prolly same in ur tank.

[tennesseebob]

No green yet, and I'll go double check my card on the test kit, was lighter than the card could read, maybe springs are normally hard, idk on that one lol, had the water tested long ago before plumbing the house but that was 25 years ago lol, no on copper pipes, but I tested it cause the kit was at hand lol.

[tennesseebob]

I checked my API phosphate cards and both fresh and salt have color codes for 0 phosphate, so I wonder if they have been updated

[ericarenee]

it kinda depends on where you are in tenn . but the biggest part of the state is on a HUGE ROCK. Spring water there is usually low in nutrients because it comes up from under the bedrock. Its not Ground water run off or contaminated for the most part. So it will likely be higher in Sulfer and other hard Contaminates but less contaminated wiht ground Organic sources. You can call the County extention office or the Dept of fish and wildlife and ask them about a test. They will often do 1 or 2 a year for you for free. But those test are for drinking contamination. BE Sure to ask for a complete test and tell them its for your Aquarium. They could charge you for that but can still get it done cheaper then a non state run lab...
Here where we live in kentucky its opposite . But when i lived down near Bowling green the water was closer to northern tenn water more hard elements but less nutrient Levels.
Either one is bad..
On another note well/ spring water changes thru the year depending on rain/ drought condition's. I would not trust it...

[CStrickland]

Yeah they say zero but it just means "between 0 and .25"
Since most of us at trying to get less than .04 and many shoot for .003, it's not a very helpful test because it will say zero when you have 10x as much as you want.

[tennesseebob]

Kk I'll look into the test, sulfur I don't think is a problem, but other impurities may well be.