Phosphate Test Kit/Instrument?

cemyth · 04/20/2012, 12:12 PM

Simple question…what is the best phosphate test kit/instrument?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/20/2012, 01:10 PM

The "best" is probably the Hanna 736 checker, but even that is not especially accurate when you are focused on very low levels. People try to overly interpret the readings, IMO.

I also like the Hach PO-19 kit, which I have checked for accuracy, but it doesn't read as low of levels as the Hanna.

cemyth · 04/20/2012, 01:22 PM

Thanks Randy, I think I am going to go with the Hanna 736. Good price and it seems popular on RC.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/20/2012, 02:10 PM

Just remember that is has uncertainty of at least +/- 5 ppb per Hanna.

cemyth · 04/20/2012, 02:36 PM

At +/- 0.005 ppm that isn't too bad. Anyways, thanks again for the help.

sneaton · 04/20/2012, 02:55 PM

actually its more like +/-.015....ppb x 3.066 /1000 is the formula

cemyth · 04/20/2012, 03:43 PM

Okay I see there is a “phosphate” and a lower “phosphorus” Hanna meter. BRS only has the phosphate meter would this be okay or should I get the lower phosphorus meter?

cemyth · 04/20/2012, 04:07 PM

Never mind…Randy you already answered this questions. I am going to get the Hanna 736
phosphorus meter.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/20/2012, 05:41 PM

And as pointed out above, that +/- 5 ppb phosphorus is +/- 15 ppb phospahte.

So any reading from 0.00 to 0.03 ppm phosphate could be considered equivalent.

bnumair · 04/20/2012, 10:09 PM

sorry to hijack but what is the difference in phophate meter and phosphorus meter? dont we need to measure phosphate in a reef? and if u were to get a phosphorus meter how does that help in knowing phospahtes in ur water?

shifty51008 · 04/20/2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnumair

sorry to hijack but what is the difference in phophate meter and phosphorus meter? dont we need to measure phosphate in a reef? and if u were to get a phosphorus meter how does that help in knowing phospahtes in ur water?

the phosphorus meter is supposed to give you a lower reading of phosphates than the 713 meter.

Darth Vedder · 04/20/2012, 11:38 PM

You can convert phosphorus to phosphate by multiplying by 3.066

cemyth · 04/20/2012, 11:59 PM

As sneaton posted it is ppb x 3.066 /1000 = ppm. This converts the phosphours to phosphate.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/21/2012, 06:24 AM

There is no actual difference in what they detect, which in both cases is only inorganic phosphate. Hanna just uses it as a marketing thing, probably to make the 736 look like it can detect a lot lower levels than the 713 (it does, but only a little) and kits others sell.

04/20/2012, 12:12 PM	#1
cemyth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 207	Phosphate Test Kit/Instrument? Simple question…what is the best phosphate test kit/instrument? __________________ In The Works: 80G All Glass Reef Savvy Rimless, Neptune Apex Controller, 2x Mp40, Elite Aquatics Sump, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| 20G Innovative Marine Nano, Neptune Apex Controller, Mp10, Bubble Ma

04/20/2012, 01:10 PM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	The "best" is probably the Hanna 736 checker, but even that is not especially accurate when you are focused on very low levels. People try to overly interpret the readings, IMO. I also like the Hach PO-19 kit, which I have checked for accuracy, but it doesn't read as low of levels as the Hanna. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/20/2012, 01:22 PM	#3
cemyth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 207	Thanks Randy, I think I am going to go with the Hanna 736. Good price and it seems popular on RC. __________________ In The Works: 80G All Glass Reef Savvy Rimless, Neptune Apex Controller, 2x Mp40, Elite Aquatics Sump, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| 20G Innovative Marine Nano, Neptune Apex Controller, Mp10, Bubble Ma

04/20/2012, 02:10 PM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Just remember that is has uncertainty of at least +/- 5 ppb per Hanna. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/20/2012, 02:36 PM	#5
cemyth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 207	At +/- 0.005 ppm that isn't too bad. Anyways, thanks again for the help. __________________ In The Works: 80G All Glass Reef Savvy Rimless, Neptune Apex Controller, 2x Mp40, Elite Aquatics Sump, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| 20G Innovative Marine Nano, Neptune Apex Controller, Mp10, Bubble Ma

04/20/2012, 02:55 PM	#6
sneaton Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: indianapolis Posts: 742	actually its more like +/-.015....ppb x 3.066 /1000 is the formula

04/20/2012, 03:43 PM	#7
cemyth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 207	Okay I see there is a “phosphate” and a lower “phosphorus” Hanna meter. BRS only has the phosphate meter would this be okay or should I get the lower phosphorus meter? __________________ In The Works: 80G All Glass Reef Savvy Rimless, Neptune Apex Controller, 2x Mp40, Elite Aquatics Sump, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| 20G Innovative Marine Nano, Neptune Apex Controller, Mp10, Bubble Ma

04/20/2012, 04:07 PM	#8
cemyth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 207	Never mind…Randy you already answered this questions. I am going to get the Hanna 736 phosphorus meter. __________________ In The Works: 80G All Glass Reef Savvy Rimless, Neptune Apex Controller, 2x Mp40, Elite Aquatics Sump, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| 20G Innovative Marine Nano, Neptune Apex Controller, Mp10, Bubble Ma

04/20/2012, 05:41 PM	#9
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	And as pointed out above, that +/- 5 ppb phosphorus is +/- 15 ppb phospahte. So any reading from 0.00 to 0.03 ppm phosphate could be considered equivalent. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/20/2012, 10:09 PM	#10
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	sorry to hijack but what is the difference in phophate meter and phosphorus meter? dont we need to measure phosphate in a reef? and if u were to get a phosphorus meter how does that help in knowing phospahtes in ur water? __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

04/20/2012, 11:38 PM	#12
Darth Vedder Sith Lord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Saint Charles, MO Posts: 481	You can convert phosphorus to phosphate by multiplying by 3.066

04/20/2012, 11:59 PM	#13
cemyth Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 207	As sneaton posted it is ppb x 3.066 /1000 = ppm. This converts the phosphours to phosphate. __________________ In The Works: 80G All Glass Reef Savvy Rimless, Neptune Apex Controller, 2x Mp40, Elite Aquatics Sump, Vertex Omega 150 Skimmer \| 20G Innovative Marine Nano, Neptune Apex Controller, Mp10, Bubble Ma

04/21/2012, 06:24 AM	#14
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	There is no actual difference in what they detect, which in both cases is only inorganic phosphate. Hanna just uses it as a marketing thing, probably to make the 736 look like it can detect a lot lower levels than the 713 (it does, but only a little) and kits others sell. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef