Po4 .36!

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by reefmonkey, Mar 9, 2012.

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  1. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    I've been testing with liquid for ever and on this tank I always guessed the color around .1 at the most.

    I received the MW-12 PO4 checker I bought from member tatted4ever and the reading is 0.36!

    Didn't take me long to get a reactor with GFO installed and going!
     
    reefmonkey, Mar 9, 2012
    reefmonkey, Mar 9, 2012
    #1

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  2. Moxtrain

    Moxtrain Peppermint Shrimp

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    Things like this worry me.
     
    Moxtrain, Mar 11, 2012
    Moxtrain, Mar 11, 2012
    #2
  3. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    Like what?
     
    reefmonkey, Mar 13, 2012
    reefmonkey, Mar 13, 2012
    #3
  4. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

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    Wow, this thread actually reminded me to check my Phosphate. I registered .24 when I hadn't seen a reading in so long that I had gotten lazy on my testing and my gfo/carbon swapping.

    Thanks for the reminder!
     
    Thatgrimguy, Mar 13, 2012
    Thatgrimguy, Mar 13, 2012
    #4
  5. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    I wasn't running any GFO. Took the pellets out almost 2 months ago.

    No nuisance algae means no excess nutrients right? LOL Especially when a liquid test confirms that Phos is low.
     
    reefmonkey, Mar 13, 2012
    reefmonkey, Mar 13, 2012
    #5
  6. Moxtrain

    Moxtrain Peppermint Shrimp

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    Two things I guess. First is that I find color matching to be somewhat subjective. Second is that we find ourselves putting a lot of trust in our testing equipment. When you discover that your phosphate has been high without ever realizing it, I start wondering if maybe you got a bad batch. Things like that..
     
    Moxtrain, Mar 13, 2012
    Moxtrain, Mar 13, 2012
    #6

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  7. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    Nope. Old and don't see as well as I used to. It's very hard to discern color unless you are in sunlight anyhow. I have a hard time with Salifert NO3 tests unless I do them in the day when natural light is coming in through a window.
    Liquid test weren't old and I follow the instruction as it's written but anyone who has experience knows how difficult color comparison is, especially with PO4.
     
    reefmonkey, Mar 13, 2012
    reefmonkey, Mar 13, 2012
    #7