This site is supported by the advertisements on it, please disable your AdBlocker so we can continue to provide you with the quality content you expect.
  1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
  2. We are after as many aquarium plant images that we can get, doing so will assist us in completing the aquarium plant database.

    https://barrreport.com/threads/aquatic-plant-images-wanted.14374/
    Dismiss Notice
Cookies Aquarium Plant Images Wanted

Phosphate Test

Discussion in 'CO2 Enrichment' started by Joetee, Sep 10, 2007.

  1. Joetee

    Joetee Prolific Poster

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    1:41 PM
    I read somewhere about when looking for a P04 test kit that I do not want a kit that measures total phosphates but one that measures ortho phosphates.

    Correct me if I am wrong please.

    I purchased a Nutrafin P04 test kit but can't find anything on it about ortho compared to total phosphate. Can anybody tell me anything about this?

    Also, my tape water measures 1.0 P04. My tank before water change was 5.0 P04 which is the max for this test kit. After a 50% water change it measures just over 2.5 P04. Should I still be dosing KH2P04?

    I dose E.I. for 25 gallons water in a 29 gallon tank:
    1/4 tsp KN03 3 X a week
    1/8 tsp K2S04 3 X a week
    1/16 tsp KH2P04 3 X a week
    on off days:
    1/8 tsp CSM+B 3 X a week
    1/16 tsp FE (chalated) 3 X a week
    Also on water change day I add 1/2 tsp Grumpy's GH booster for the added nutrients etc.

    Mid week my paramters are:
    P04 - 5.0
    KH - 180
    GH - 300
    PH - 6.6 to 6.8 (mid day)
    NH3 - 0
    N02 - 0
    N03 - 40

    Tap Water:
    PH 7.2
    Nitrate according to the city's water report is .16
    Phosphate according to the city's water report is 1.5

    I have a heavy fish load and heavy plant load. Pressurized C02 @ 2 bps, Drop checker is green to yellow green. Lights, 130 watts CF, 6700k. I have good water circulation and surface movement. Water temp 76 degrees.

    Can anybody examine and recommend anything on this?

    Thank you so much.

    Joe
     
    #1 Joetee, Sep 10, 2007
  2. VaughnH

    VaughnH Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Messages:
    3,011
    Likes Received:
    88
    Local Time:
    1:41 PM
    You have a small chance of having an accurate phosphate measurement using any test kit made for hobby use. If you use the EI dosing method, you don't need to know how much is in the water. You just "reset" the amount by doing the 50% water changes. Even if you are off and you actually have 10 ppm of phosphate when you do the change, and that isn't likely, you still aren't in trouble.
     
    #2 VaughnH, Sep 10, 2007
  3. ceg4048

    ceg4048 Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2005
    Messages:
    240
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    1:41 PM
    Hi Joe,
    I agree with hoppy. My recommendation is to throw away your PO4 test kit as well as your NO3 test kit. Yor ammonia and nitrite kist also have limited use. It's very doubtful that you have zero ammonia or zero nitite. The zero reading simply means that the reagents are not capable of reacting to concentrations below a certain value, that's all. The job of those two kits is to advise you if the ammonia/nitrie levels are toxic to fauna. They cannot measure below toxic levels.

    Any tank with living things in it has ammonia and nitite. The nitrifying bacteria depend on the existence of these waste products so it is not possible that the values are zero, otherwise the bacteria would die.

    EI ensures that you have at least enough of everything so there is no need to measure these values at all. Take the money you save from not buying these kits and buy more plants instead. Use the time you save by not having to do all those flawed tests to relax, have a beer and to enjoy looking at your tank.

    Cheers,
     
    #3 ceg4048, Sep 11, 2007
  4. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
    Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2005
    Messages:
    18,657
    Likes Received:
    583
    Local Time:
    1:41 PM
    You may use the test kits, but they do need calibrated to ensure accuracy, otherwise you have little confidence that they are accurate and telling you "the truth".

    This is a more complicated process and you need a decent scale and the chemicals and a way to measure liquids accuracy etc.

    A lot more to learn and do:p
    the problem in the hobby, one I've stated going back a de cade or more now, is that folks do not bother, they assume, like most hobbyists do, that the test kits are accurate to begin with, they are not.

    I thought so years ago.
    Advice says test, so I did.
    I had little notion that the test kits might not be accurate.

    It's a wake up call to some degree.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #4 Tom Barr, Sep 11, 2007
  5. Joetee

    Joetee Prolific Poster

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    1:41 PM
    Thanks Tom and everybody else.

    I know the test kits are not real true. I use them to spot any hikes or major changes. I'm not sure how to calibrate them. I wasn't much of a brain in science class.

    I, like some others, try to figure out the little things with my limited knowledge, how to fix the little things that many people just don't worry about. Trying to get a very prestine tank. One that is worthy of submitting in one of the best tank compotitions. Everyone that see's my tank says how great it looks but I see little things that I would like to see better. I guess I am a perfectionist which sometimes is a problem for me because I keep trying to make it better. I get it just right and then a couple days I see something that needs attention or change. LOL
     
    #5 Joetee, Sep 11, 2007
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...
Similar Threads - Phosphate Test
  1. Kathy328i

    Ortho Phosphate Testing Results- how does it relate to data in literature?

    Kathy328i, Mar 20, 2017, in forum: Advanced Strategies and Fertilization
    Replies:
    0
    Views:
    185
    Kathy328i
    Mar 20, 2017
  2. Cyclesafe

    LaMotte nitrate and phosphate test kits

    Cyclesafe, Feb 14, 2011, in forum: Trades, swaps, sales
    Replies:
    0
    Views:
    64
    Cyclesafe
    Feb 14, 2011
  3. JamesBC

    Question on Phosphate Test Kit

    JamesBC, Jul 2, 2008, in forum: Are you new to aquatic plants? Start here
    Replies:
    2
    Views:
    32
    aquabillpers
    Jul 2, 2008
  4. Detritus Mulm

    Decent Phosphate Test Kit

    Detritus Mulm, Nov 28, 2005, in forum: Advanced Strategies and Fertilization
    Replies:
    3
    Views:
    30
    Detritus Mulm
    Nov 29, 2005
  5. Fissure

    Tank running out of phosphates during EI dosing

    Fissure, Dec 7, 2016, in forum: Aquatic Plant Fertilization
    Replies:
    13
    Views:
    357
    Tom Barr
    Dec 12, 2016

Share This Page