Salifert Phosphate Test Kit Information

[Dan_P]

The test solution color of a new Salifert phosphate test kit is compared to that of a kit that has been in use for six months. The old kit indicated a somewhat lower phosphate level (see picture). The new kit gave a phosphate concentration of ~0.5 ppm for a new batch of Instant Ocean spiked with ~0.4 ppm phosphate.

Just making sure that I am in the ballpark with phosphate levels because I am trying to culture cyanobacteria which is another story in the making.

 

[jackson6745]

That test kit gets you in the ballpark of about .1
Kind of useless for low range testing.

The hanna low range phosphate meter is the best that I've used and it's only accurate to .04. It give consistent readings though. I usually test 2 or 3 times in a row for better accuracy.

 

[piranhapat]

Hanna test will give inconsistent test if inside tube is not wipe clean. Talking about the unit itself. Sometimes a tiny drop of water leaks and will dry up leaving a cloudy resin which you can't see. Try wiping it with a soft cloth and use pencil. It worked for me. Also make sure no finger prints on glass tubes. See if it helps.. It work wonders for me.
Salifert new kits make a darker color reading which will give you a easier way to match the color chart. Read the instruction it should say it.

 

[piranhapat]

Also if you are dealing with cyano. Do less water changes.

 

[Dan_P]

Also if you are dealing with cyano. Do less water changes.

Why less water changes?

 

[Dan_P]

Culture cyano? That's a new 1

I believe you are correct!

I have not come across any posts discussing the culture of cyanobacteria, though so far, I cannot get it to grow!!! This failure to grow has to be telling us something new but I don't know what it is

Stay tuned...

 

[lnevo]

Dan, you should get a kickstarter campaign going to solve the worlds cyano problems!!! I have confidence in you!

 

[Dan_P]

Dan, you should get a kickstarter campaign going to solve the worlds cyano problems!!! I have confidence in you!

Thank you for your suggestion and vote of confidence!

At this point, I may just ask everyone for a donation of a sample of their cyano mats. How would that fly I wonder.

 

[lnevo]

Put up a WTB post. I'm sure people would be happy to sell some lol

 

[Boomer]

Dan you only need to be in the ball-part. Any kit or meter is off, some more than others. The first thing to always look for is not the resolution of the kit- meter, such as 1-5 ppm in 0.2 increments but the accuracy of the kit-meter. If such kit-meter is in .2 increments it is not much of a kit if the accuracy is is +|- 0.5 ppm. That means if it read, say 1.7, then the sample has a level somewhere between 1.2 and 2.2 and you do not know where.

 

[Dan_P]

Dan you only need to be in the ball-part. Any kit or meter is off, some more than others. The first thing to always look for is not the resolution of the kit- meter, such as 1-5 ppm in 0.2 increments but the accuracy of the kit-meter. If such kit-meter is in .2 increments it is not much of a kit if the accuracy is is +|- 0.5 ppm. That means if it read, say 1.7, then the sample has a level somewhere between 1.2 and 2.2 and toy do not know where.

I am with you on this. Salifert is close to my "spiked" sample which is what I needed to know.

Thanks!

 

[seldin]

I used the Salifert test kit for years and I hate it. So difficult for me to judge the color. I love the Hanna tester. So much easier. Just look at the number...