Unknown Phosphate level with Hanna Checker ULR

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Here are my parameters

just checked everything again
Salinity 1.025
temp 77
Alk 11.3
Nitrate 12
PH 8.0
Phosphate still reads error code 0.90
Mag 1500
Calcium 420

Note the phosphate has the error code 0.90
This has been going on for a month with several water changes
The tank is a 7 gallon nano
How do I figure out what my Phosphate is if the Checker will not tell me?
I have the Red Sea Pro kit but of course I broke the smaller glass jar not the common one, so I cannot use it.
Any ideas on getting an accurate read?

 

[14 foot reef]

Try taking your water sample to a LFS and have them test, Take your Hanna with you, and test their water also, so you have an idea if the error is accurate or if the meter or reagent is bad.

 

[Miami Reef]

That means the phosphates is too high/above the range.

Try testing in new saltwater and see if the phosphates can be measured.

 

[Saltyreef]

Here are my parameters

just checked everything again
Salinity 1.025
temp 77
Alk 11.3
Nitrate 12
PH 8.0
Phosphate still reads error code 0.90
Mag 1500
Calcium 420

Note the phosphate has the error code 0.90
This has been going on for a month with several water changes
The tank is a 7 gallon nano
How do I figure out what my Phosphate is if the Checker will not tell me?
I have the Red Sea Pro kit but of course I broke the smaller glass jar not the common one, so I cannot use it.
Any ideas on getting an accurate reading?

How do you keep your cuvettes clean?
Do you dry them before placing into the checker?

Has the checker always read .9?

You mentioned you broke the smaller glass jar but the pro kit has two of the same size testing jars. you can use a different small jar or cup for the blank and set the two jars over the colorimeter chart vs using the black holder.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

How do you keep your cuvettes clean?
Do you dry them before placing into the checker?

Has the checker always read .9?

You mentioned you broke the smaller glass jar but the pro kit has two of the same size testing jars. you can use a different small jar or cup for the blank and set the two jars over the colorimeter chart vs using the black holder.

I flush the cuvettes out and then keep RO/DI water in them until the check again.
I have used the ULR checker on other tanks and I get normal reads.
The Red Sea Pro kit the glass jars are differently different sizes, maybe because it is an older kit maybe they have changed it to be more uniform in sizes.

New SW mix. 0.23
RO/DI. 0.13

The mix is Instant Ocean with a mixing of Tropic Marine.
9 on the ALK

 

[bushdoc]

Do a 1:1 dilution DT water, freshly made saltwater and multiply results by 2.

 

[90's reefer]

Do a 1:1 dilution DT water, freshly made saltwater and multiply results by 2.

Thats what I was going to say, lol.
This will tell you if the unit is working properly. They sell vials that will test the checker to see if its working and in range.

 

[Dburr1014]

Here are my parameters

just checked everything again
Salinity 1.025
temp 77
Alk 11.3
Nitrate 12
PH 8.0
Phosphate still reads error code 0.90
Mag 1500
Calcium 420

Note the phosphate has the error code 0.90
This has been going on for a month with several water changes
The tank is a 7 gallon nano
How do I figure out what my Phosphate is if the Checker will not tell me?
I have the Red Sea Pro kit but of course I broke the smaller glass jar not the common one, so I cannot use it.
Any ideas on getting an accurate read?

I agree with testing 50/50 with tank water, however, water changes won't help you lower it if and when you do get a solid reading.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Do a 1:1 dilution DT water, freshly made saltwater and multiply results by 2.

With the 50/50 it reads 0.72 so x2 equals 1.44

 

[90's reefer]

With the 50/50 it reads 0.72 so x2 equals 1.44

Good now you know its working and you can now attack lowering it slowly.

 

[Dan_P]

Try taking your water sample to a LFS and have them test, Take your Hanna with you, and test their water also, so you have an idea if the error is accurate or if the meter or reagent is bad.

Dilute your aquarium water sample with new saltwater. Put 1 mL of tank water into the vial and add new saltwater to the white line. The value you obtain is 1/10 the aquarium water value

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Dilute your aquarium water sample with new saltwater. Put 1 mL of tank water into the vial and add new saltwater to the white line. The value you obtain is 1/10 the aquarium water value

0.22 divide by 10 equals 0.022

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Good now you know its working and you can now attack lowering it slowly.

So yesterday I took this and split by 1/3
35% offBoyd Chemi-Pure Elite All in One Filter Media, 6.5-oz jar$11.58Chewy.com$7.53 at checkoutCode copied to clipboard35% Off First AutoshipChewy.comNo code requiredDiscount is automatically applied at checkout. CONTINUE TO STORECANCEL365-day return policy

So 6.5 oz treats 25 gallons I split it by 1/3 so for 8 gallons.
Within one hour my coral was what the heck, so I pulled it.
I am changing and adding the 3 DI reactor to my system.

 

[Dan_P]

0.22 divide by 10 equals 0.022

If 0.22 ppm is the observed phosphate level for your diluted sample, the aquarium water is 2.2 ppm

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Dan_P Ok thanks I got the math wrong. Funny I do not have any algae in my tank or even have to clean the glass.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Good now you know its working and you can now attack lowering it slowly.

I took some Chemo-Pure Elite 6.5 oz rated fro 25 gallons, and I spilt it by a 1/3 and put it in my tank and the coral did not like that so after a hour I pulled it, it is still ticked.
I am changing and adding a 3 reactor to my DI .

 

[Dan_P]

Dan_P Ok thanks I got the math wrong. Funny I do not have any algae in my tank or even have to clean the glass.

There seems to be more to algae growth than nutrient levels. Any chance that algae hasn’t been introduced into the aquarium yet?

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

The tank has been running for 7 years now, I am not sure how to introduce algae into the tank, I have only been running corals in for 2 months now, it usually is a clown tank. 2 at the most.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I want to thank everyone for their help

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]