Curtis Scott March 23, 2013 March 23, 2013 I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong. I just got this checker and can't seem to get a reading out of it. Any ideas?
astroboy March 23, 2013 March 23, 2013 I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong. I just got this checker and can't seem to get a reading out of it. Any ideas? Mine read zeros, but only when I have zero phosphates. I've had good luck with the BRS GFO reactor. I suppose you could take a *tiny* bit of plant fertilizer and mix it into a gallon of water and see what reading you get. Plant fertilizers always have some amount of phosphate. Not sure if NoVA tap water has phosphate or not. Might be worth a try. But perhaps I misunderstood your post. I get all zeros when my phosphates are good, so it's possible you have less than measurable phosphates. When you say you don't get any reading, do you mean all zeros, or nothin'? Anyway, I've been quite pleased with my Hannas, both for phosphate and KH.
Curtis Scott March 23, 2013 Author March 23, 2013 Yes, that could be the issue here. I do have cyanobacteria growing in my tank. I just started running rowaphos and purigen tonight to help with this issue an wanted to make sure I didn't pull out the phosphates to fast by monitoring it while I run these.
Curtis Scott March 23, 2013 Author March 23, 2013 But perhaps I misunderstood your post. I get all zeros when my phosphates are good, so it's possible you have less than measurable phosphates. When you say you don't get any reading, do you mean all zeros, or nothin'? All zeros, will check my tap water now.
Curtis Scott March 23, 2013 Author March 23, 2013 (edited) I think I figured it out. The reagent I was using from the checker (5 came with it) most have been old or off some how. I had a box of 100 new ones and used the first one to check my tap. I got the reading and wow... 1.58, ouch for Centreville tap water. It's no wonder I have not been able to get rid of this cyno. :\ Used the next one to check my tank and got .02, glad I set up these reactors! Thanks guys! Edited March 23, 2013 by Curtis Scott
Supernova26 March 23, 2013 March 23, 2013 Cyanobacteria is a bacteria and it does not require phosphates to grow. Usually good water flow and lighting will do the job.
Curtis Scott March 23, 2013 Author March 23, 2013 (edited) do you use tap water for your tank? No. Well technically yes but after it goes through a 5 stage RODI unit but since it doesn't remove phosphates they have been adding up and causing the cyno I think. btw, correct reading (held down and let it count down) and it read .02 Edited March 23, 2013 by Curtis Scott
Curtis Scott March 23, 2013 Author March 23, 2013 Cyanobacteria is a bacteria and it does not require phosphates to grow. Usually good water flow and lighting will do the job. hmm, interesting. I'll have to research that. I always thought things like cyno could be caused by phosphates and nitrates.?
Marc Weaver March 23, 2013 March 23, 2013 Your RO/DI should remove phosphates. Mine does. I test zero with the hanna ULR checker in my RO/DI output water with 0 TDS.
Curtis Scott March 23, 2013 Author March 23, 2013 Your RO/DI should remove phosphates. Mine does. I test zero with the hanna ULR checker in my RO/DI output water with 0 TDS. You are correct it does. I guess the over feeding caught up to me then.
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