What's the best PO3 test kit?

sam11909 · 10/31/2009, 02:00 PM

I'm headed to the LFS to pick up a PO3 test kit and wanted to know which are the best? I thought I'd go with Salifert, but I've heard you can't distinguish the colors very well.

sam11909 · 10/31/2009, 02:12 PM

Well, I'm about to head, over any suggestions?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/31/2009, 02:43 PM

You won't find it at the LFS, but I like the Hach PO-19 kit from www.hach.com

redfishsc · 10/31/2009, 03:50 PM

I got the seachem kit b/c it was the most reasonably priced kit that read below 0.5ppm, but I have no idea how accurate it is.

When I test my water, it shows "really really yellow" and no green at all, which suggests really low phosphates..... and in my mixed tank of mostly LPS and softies, it's all I need.

The seachem kit is VERY easy to use but not all that easy to read.

sam11909 · 10/31/2009, 04:51 PM

Ok, so I got the API kit, It reads from 10 to as small as .25. I tested and it read 0 just like every thing else in my tank! Kinda gets boring.

I heard somewhere that it should be around .5. Is this true? I'm new at testing phosphate.

sam11909 · 10/31/2009, 05:18 PM

Anyone?

xJake · 10/31/2009, 05:35 PM

I'm assuming that you're asking about a test kit for PO4 (phosphate), not PO3 (phosphite). Chemistry gets confusing at times, so mixing up PO3 and PO4 isn't anything to worry about, and I'm not trying to ridicule you or anything. I'm sure most people knew exactly what you were asking, but I thought I would take the time to point it out just to be sure.

I don't have any recommendations on test kits, as I have never tested for phosphate, or even had any issues with excess phosphate. I would, however, recommend that you read this article by Randy: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php

Also, to answer your other question, phosphate should be kept at 0.03 ppm or lower.

sam11909 · 10/31/2009, 06:00 PM

Thanks! sorry meant PO4. So, 0 PO4 is really good, right?

snorvich · 10/31/2009, 06:01 PM

I use a Hanna Photometer.

xJake · 10/31/2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam11909

Thanks! sorry meant PO4. So, 0 PO4 is really good, right?

If it is reading "0" on your test kit, then all that means is that the level is so low that the test kit is unable to detect it. There will always be some amount of phosphate, but in regard to reef aquariums, generally, lower is better. You'll need to find a test kit or device with a higher resolution (that is, the scale is able to determine smaller increments) if you want a more precise reading.

10/31/2009, 02:00 PM	#1
sam11909 Maxi Mini Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 1,039	What's the best PO3 test kit? I'm headed to the LFS to pick up a PO3 test kit and wanted to know which are the best? I thought I'd go with Salifert, but I've heard you can't distinguish the colors very well. __________________ Samuel A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox. Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System

10/31/2009, 02:12 PM	#2
sam11909 Maxi Mini Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 1,039	Well, I'm about to head, over any suggestions? __________________ Samuel A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox. Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System

10/31/2009, 02:43 PM	#3
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	You won't find it at the LFS, but I like the Hach PO-19 kit from www.hach.com __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/31/2009, 03:50 PM	#4
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	I got the seachem kit b/c it was the most reasonably priced kit that read below 0.5ppm, but I have no idea how accurate it is. When I test my water, it shows "really really yellow" and no green at all, which suggests really low phosphates..... and in my mixed tank of mostly LPS and softies, it's all I need. The seachem kit is VERY easy to use but not all that easy to read. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

10/31/2009, 04:51 PM	#5
sam11909 Maxi Mini Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 1,039	Ok, so I got the API kit, It reads from 10 to as small as .25. I tested and it read 0 just like every thing else in my tank! Kinda gets boring. I heard somewhere that it should be around .5. Is this true? I'm new at testing phosphate. __________________ Samuel A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox. Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System

10/31/2009, 05:18 PM	#6
sam11909 Maxi Mini Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 1,039	Anyone? __________________ Samuel A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox. Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System

10/31/2009, 05:35 PM	#7
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	I'm assuming that you're asking about a test kit for PO4 (phosphate), not PO3 (phosphite). Chemistry gets confusing at times, so mixing up PO3 and PO4 isn't anything to worry about, and I'm not trying to ridicule you or anything. I'm sure most people knew exactly what you were asking, but I thought I would take the time to point it out just to be sure. I don't have any recommendations on test kits, as I have never tested for phosphate, or even had any issues with excess phosphate. I would, however, recommend that you read this article by Randy: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php Also, to answer your other question, phosphate should be kept at 0.03 ppm or lower. Last edited by xJake; 10/31/2009 at 05:52 PM.

10/31/2009, 06:00 PM	#8
sam11909 Maxi Mini Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 1,039	Thanks! sorry meant PO4. So, 0 PO4 is really good, right? __________________ Samuel A reef aquarium is simply an aquarist's best try of painting a small section of the ocean and containing it in a glass frame. Each new coral adds a new color or brush stroke to the painter's toolbox. Current Tank Info: The Stair-Stepping Nano System

10/31/2009, 06:01 PM	#9
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I use a Hanna Photometer. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~