Salifert Phospate test kit, green hair algae problem

[JG]

I'm having a Green Hair algae problem in my 125 gallon, so I bought a
Phosphate test kit because I suspected this was the cause.
The Salifert kit is reading zero which is pretty suprising.
I tested mulitple times, including a "higher sensitivity" test which
all gave zero.
I also tested my tap water and freshly mixed salt water made with
RO/DI water, all reading zero.

The problem with this test is the colors for the low range are very
close together.

One question, the instructions for the "high sensitivity" test say to
double the water sample and the reagents.
This doesn't make sense to me.
Won't this just mix water and reagents in the same ratios?
Shouldn't you leave the water sample the same and then double the
reagents only?

I tried this to see what happens and I do get a slight color reading.

Any suggestions/comments?

My other readings are:
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Salinity 35ppt
Tank has been running for 7 months.

[Richard Ryerson]

> Won't this just mix water and reagents in the same ratios?

Kinda.

Take a calc titration test for example. At low resolution, a single drop of
the titrant may account for 50 ppm calcium.

But at high resolution (doubling the water, color chemical, agent) you are
still using a single drop by drop reagent. Since a drop is still a drop, it
now represents 25 ppm calcium per drop.

It these titration tests everything is doubled except for that drop by drop
re-agent.

I am not familiar with phosphate tests since I dont use them anymore after
learning that the phosphates accumulate on the glass and plastic vials and
is very VERY difficult to remove, thus making the tests invalid.

-Rick

But at higher resolt
"JG" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm having a Green Hair algae problem in my 125 gallon, so I bought a
> Phosphate test kit because I suspected this was the cause.
> The Salifert kit is reading zero which is pretty suprising.
> I tested mulitple times, including a "higher sensitivity" test which
> all gave zero.
> I also tested my tap water and freshly mixed salt water made with
> RO/DI water, all reading zero.
>
> The problem with this test is the colors for the low range are very
> close together.
>
> One question, the instructions for the "high sensitivity" test say to
> double the water sample and the reagents.
> This doesn't make sense to me.
> Won't this just mix water and reagents in the same ratios?
> Shouldn't you leave the water sample the same and then double the
> reagents only?
>
> I tried this to see what happens and I do get a slight color reading.
>
> Any suggestions/comments?
>
> My other readings are:
> Nitrate 0
> Nitrite 0
> Ammonia 0
> Salinity 35ppt
> Tank has been running for 7 months.

[Patrick]

(JG) wrote in message >...
> I'm having a Green Hair algae problem in my 125 gallon, so I bought a
> Phosphate test kit because I suspected this was the cause.
> The Salifert kit is reading zero which is pretty suprising.
> I tested mulitple times, including a "higher sensitivity" test which
> all gave zero.
> I also tested my tap water and freshly mixed salt water made with
> RO/DI water, all reading zero.

With regards to the algae problem. If your water chemistry isn't at
fault, how about your lights???

I have noticed that, as my VHO lights age and spectrum-shift, hair
algae is more prone to grow in my tank. I actually use that as a good
indicator that the lights need to be replaced, along with time in
service obviously.

When I do replace them with some fresh URI actinics or 50/50's, the
growth markedly declines, and completely disappears within a month.

Just an idea...

[JG]

Shouldn't the bulbs last longer than 7 months?
They are Coralife Aqualight PC's.
How long do your VHO's seem to last?


(Patrick) wrote in message >...
> (JG) wrote in message >...
> > I'm having a Green Hair algae problem in my 125 gallon, so I bought a
> > Phosphate test kit because I suspected this was the cause.
> > The Salifert kit is reading zero which is pretty suprising.
> > I tested mulitple times, including a "higher sensitivity" test which
> > all gave zero.
> > I also tested my tap water and freshly mixed salt water made with
> > RO/DI water, all reading zero.
>
> With regards to the algae problem. If your water chemistry isn't at
> fault, how about your lights???
>
> I have noticed that, as my VHO lights age and spectrum-shift, hair
> algae is more prone to grow in my tank. I actually use that as a good
> indicator that the lights need to be replaced, along with time in
> service obviously.
>
> When I do replace them with some fresh URI actinics or 50/50's, the
> growth markedly declines, and completely disappears within a month.
>
> Just an idea...

[Patrick]

I don't know about PC's, but I usually replace my VHO bulbs at 6-7
months and my MH bulbs at 12 months, give or take a month...




(JG) wrote in message >...
> Shouldn't the bulbs last longer than 7 months?
> They are Coralife Aqualight PC's.
> How long do your VHO's seem to last?
>
>

[Mermaid]

JG,
What kind of filtration are you running? I just recently went through a
night mare with HA for about 3 months. Almost lost GSP's because of it. I
had no registration of Phosphates either. I think it was in the HA. When I
finally converted my sump with bio-balls to a fuge with macro-algae and a
sand bed, and started a Kalk drip it started to go away. I helped it with
scrubbing my rock too. Now it is almost gone. HA is a pain. I also cut down
on my feeding my fish some. Anyway I think it was suspended in the HA its
self.
My two cents and good luck,
Paulette

"JG" > wrote in message
om...
> I'm having a Green Hair algae problem in my 125 gallon, so I bought a
> Phosphate test kit because I suspected this was the cause.
> The Salifert kit is reading zero which is pretty suprising.
> I tested mulitple times, including a "higher sensitivity" test which
> all gave zero.
> I also tested my tap water and freshly mixed salt water made with
> RO/DI water, all reading zero.
>
> The problem with this test is the colors for the low range are very
> close together.
>
> One question, the instructions for the "high sensitivity" test say to
> double the water sample and the reagents.
> This doesn't make sense to me.
> Won't this just mix water and reagents in the same ratios?
> Shouldn't you leave the water sample the same and then double the
> reagents only?
>
> I tried this to see what happens and I do get a slight color reading.
>
> Any suggestions/comments?
>
> My other readings are:
> Nitrate 0
> Nitrite 0
> Ammonia 0
> Salinity 35ppt
> Tank has been running for 7 months.

[JG]

I was thinking the same thing, that the phosphates were actually
already tied up in the algae, that's why I didn't get much of a
reading in the water.

I am currently using a wet/dry with bioballs.
I'm in the process of setting up a refugium and will have a dsb in it
and will add some assorted macro algae.
I'm hoping this will be my best long-term solution.
Once everything matures a little more, I will start to remove the
bioballs.


"Mermaid" > wrote in message >...
> JG,
> What kind of filtration are you running? I just recently went through a
> night mare with HA for about 3 months. Almost lost GSP's because of it. I
> had no registration of Phosphates either. I think it was in the HA. When I
> finally converted my sump with bio-balls to a fuge with macro-algae and a
> sand bed, and started a Kalk drip it started to go away. I helped it with
> scrubbing my rock too. Now it is almost gone. HA is a pain. I also cut down
> on my feeding my fish some. Anyway I think it was suspended in the HA its
> self.
> My two cents and good luck,
> Paulette
>
> "JG" > wrote in message
> om...
> > I'm having a Green Hair algae problem in my 125 gallon, so I bought a
> > Phosphate test kit because I suspected this was the cause.
> > The Salifert kit is reading zero which is pretty suprising.
> > I tested mulitple times, including a "higher sensitivity" test which
> > all gave zero.
> > I also tested my tap water and freshly mixed salt water made with
> > RO/DI water, all reading zero.
> >
> > The problem with this test is the colors for the low range are very
> > close together.
> >
> > One question, the instructions for the "high sensitivity" test say to
> > double the water sample and the reagents.
> > This doesn't make sense to me.
> > Won't this just mix water and reagents in the same ratios?
> > Shouldn't you leave the water sample the same and then double the
> > reagents only?
> >
> > I tried this to see what happens and I do get a slight color reading.
> >
> > Any suggestions/comments?
> >
> > My other readings are:
> > Nitrate 0
> > Nitrite 0
> > Ammonia 0
> > Salinity 35ppt
> > Tank has been running for 7 months.