Frank Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I finally got my Hanna Phosphate tester and was a little surprised when the reading was .44 < little high..>(scary). The problem is last time I ran GFO on the tank it didn't seem to like it. But I have to get the phosphates down... and I just wasn't sure how to without pissing the tank off. (scratch) I have the tank set up with the out water changing (3) gallons a day but that was just as high so that did not help. So after talking with Alex and a little brainstorming...we came up with this.. Since I'm doing the auto water changing I'm running GFO on the new make up water... it is down to .02 so as I change out water it will slowly lower the Phosphate in the tank so all should be good.....yeah! (clap)Feels good to have this figured out. Maybe not the most conventional way to fix the issue...but hey...it works right?(rock2) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Frank...did you test multiple times? The first time I used my Hanna meter, it tested high as well. It's very important that the glass vial (Cuvette) is spotless. It is also important that the reagent in complete dissolved. When I am testing, I use a micorfiber towel to clean the glass vial every time I have to touch it with my hands, then I only handle the vial by the cap through the rest of the test. I also start a stop watch as soon as the Hanna Meter says C.1. you have exactly 90 seconds from that point to poor and dissolve the reagent. I hope that makes sense. Being that you are using MB7/Biofuel, I have a hard time believing you actually have .44 of phosphates. I use MB7/vodka, and have zero phosphates. Hopefully these tips help with your testing, and you actually have much lower phosphates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Yea I did it a couple times and go the same each time... I know with the GFO on the make up water if Im getting some in the tank the new wate will get rid of it... Will try aging.. didnt know about the 90 sec.... Do you use the same glass or do you fill one with the test and the other with the reagent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I have always used the same vial...thought about using both, but only using one seemed more "consistent" to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Use the same glass. The device will stay on for 180 seconds. I was able to do the zeroing (c1) and fill the reagent in about a minute. Then you have about 120 seconds to dissolve it. Keep in mind that there is an error tolerance of 0.04 if I remember correctly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 wait... are you saying that your new water change water has a bunch of phosphate in it? Have you tested your RO/DI output? there should not be very much phosphate in your newly made up saltwater unless your RO/DI is exhausted I too have a hard time believing that your phosphate is that high, how are you disolving your reagent (shaking or gently swirling) I find if I shake the vial I get alot of micro bubbles that affect the reading. I gently rock the vial back and forth until it dissolves. Before you do anything I would get someone else to verify your results with their meter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 wait... are you saying that your new water change water has a bunch of phosphate in it? Have you tested your RO/DI output? there should not be very much phosphate in your newly made up saltwater unless your RO/DI is exhausted I too have a hard time believing that your phosphate is that high, how are you disolving your reagent (shaking or gently swirling) I find if I shake the vial I get alot of micro bubbles that affect the reading. I gently rock the vial back and forth until it dissolves. Before you do anything I would get someone else to verify your results with their meter. I'm also curious about this, what kind of salt are you using that has such high PO4? Also were you able to find a deal on the tester? I've been wanting to pick one of those up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 The Hanna checkers are cute little instruments and they work pretty well. Their reagents are just garbage. If you want to have good results with the phosphates test use D-D or Elos or Tunze reagents with it. They are the same thing. Put into the cuvette 10 drops of liquid and one test spoon of powder and you will have perfect results. With the d-d reagents and the hanna checker you will have the perfect instrument for the $$$ Again, the silica cell is good, the reagent is garbage: you can just put oxy clean and it will be the same lol Note also that the hanna checkers don't "like" fresh water a lot: false positive are possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Just got some infos from my friend Alessandro (same name). Rowa, Elos, DD, Tunze reagents are the same product: rebranded macherey-nagel. The one you can find easier and cheaper will work better that the magic powder that comes with the hanna kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Ok here are the instructions: Elos test kit po4 high resolution (the new one). Use 10 drops elos liquid reagent in 20ml of water + 0.4ml elos powder (using the elos spoon). In the Hanna cuvette you can fill only 10ml, so you throw away half of it. Unless you use 10ml of water + 5 drops of liquid reagent + 0.2ml of powder (but the Elos spoon is 0.4 in one side and 0.15 in the other, so better to do with the 0.4 and throw away half of the solution, unless you find a way to measure 0.20ml of powder reagent) With this you will have consistent results. I have to try with my phosphorus meter and see. It should be the same. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Frank, maybe you should just try a different type of GFO...werent you using the BRS stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 wait... are you saying that your new water change water has a bunch of phosphate in it? Have you tested your RO/DI output? there should not be very much phosphate in your newly made up saltwater unless your RO/DI is exhausted Was thinking this too! Unless your tub is leaching it into the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Was thinking this too! Unless your tub is leaching it into the water. This is what I suspected too. But Frank is using a standard blue barrel like most of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 I tested the DI water and it was at .02. Then I tested tested the make up water and it was high using the new kent salt. Put the GFO on the make up water and it is down to 0. Might get a new barrel need to know where to get one? I have done the test ;ots of times and have the same readings. Trust me a was shocked on the reading. About the GFO on the tank Grassi explaind to me why the tank didnt like the GFO. As strange as this sounds the new way seems to work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 So what does the new Kent Salt read for PO4 once you mix up a batch? Geez cant wait to make the switch to the new brand, glad I have 4 buckets-(nutty) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 So what does the new Kent Salt read for PO4 once you mix up a batch? Geez cant wait to make the switch to the new brand, glad I have 4 buckets-(nutty) I use Kent and I tested at 0 with the same device. I mean the same, Frank is using what was my colorimeter, same batch of reagent. With the Phosphorus low range I test the new saltwater at 0.03, but I think it is a problem of reagent. In the process of finding a better one. I clean the barrel once a month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRENT Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I also use Kent salt and it test 0 with a brand new Salifert test kit. JFYI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I tested the DI water and it was at .02. Then I tested tested the make up water and it was high using the new kent salt. Put the GFO on the make up water and it is down to 0. Might get a new barrel need to know where to get one? I have done the test ;ots of times and have the same readings. Trust me a was shocked on the reading. About the GFO on the tank Grassi explaind to me why the tank didnt like the GFO. As strange as this sounds the new way seems to work.... So before you do anything drastic get a confirmation with someone else phosphate meter. You are welcome to bring a water sample, both tank and new makeup water over to my house and I can confirm with my low range hanna meter if you want. Running GFO on newly made saltwater kinda sounds ridiculous because newly made seawater should not have very many phosphates in it... If it was me and the makeup water was confirmed to have that high of phosphate I would dump it ASAP, after all if phosphate somehow is being leached into the new water, what else is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 So before you do anything drastic get a confirmation with someone else phosphate meter. You are welcome to bring a water sample, both tank and new makeup water over to my house and I can confirm with my low range hanna meter if you want. Running GFO on newly made saltwater kinda sounds ridiculous because newly made seawater should not have very many phosphates in it... If it was me and the makeup water was confirmed to have that high of phosphate I would dump it ASAP, after all if phosphate somehow is being leached into the new water, what else is? Which low range Hanna do you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I've got the original low range meter (larger blue box) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grassi Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I've got the original low range meter (larger blue box) This one: http://www.hannainst.com/usa/prods2.cfm?id=009001002&ProdCode=HI%2096713 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerv503 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Frank try using the Ecobak, downside a little spendy. Vin "Keep On Reefing" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 This one: http://www.hannainst.com/usa/prods2.cfm?id=009001002&ProdCode=HI%2096713 ? I hear you can find these for about $50- 60 now. I'm thinking about getting one. But it still sounds like the tub must be leaching phosphates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 So where might I find a new tub? Need 2 of them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 This one: http://www.hannainst.com/usa/prods2....ode=HI%2096713 ? No, I have this one http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15437 Ive never had any of the problems of the smaller units (inconsistent readings, leaking or scratched glass vials). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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