Need Advice Reading Salifert Phosphate Results

Hi all,
I am having trouble deciphering the reading this test kit is showing me.
Maybe I am getting old but if you look at the card, it can be hard to tell
the difference between two shades like .25 and .5

I mean, yeah, I CAN see a difference but it is SO minute.

Anyway, are there any tips for getting a match between your test vial and
the card? Like, if you put the vial on top of the card but have it on BOTH
the white and the blue, can you get an idea of where you are?
For example, if I compare the color of my liquid to say .03, I can clearly
see the blue for .03 is darker than my vial when looking through the liquid
from above. But if I have the vial over the WHITE only, it appears to be
about .25

Another question, Take Saliferts calcium tesk kit for example. I think
that is called a "tritation" method? Where you slowly add a third component
until the media turns to a different color and THAT is your reading
result...

Does anyone know of a test kit like that for Phosphates?


TIA

~Mort

I know this probably won't help you much. However, if I remember correctly
there is a phosphate test kit that uses a simple method of snapping a small
glass tube under the surface of the water being tested. At least I am fairly
certain it's a phosphate test. I wish I could remember the name of the
company that makes these type of tests. Perhaps you are familiar with them
already. The test consists of a small glass tube about 5/16" or 8mm in
diameter and 3" or 75 mm in length. The tube contains the necessary test
chems. One end of the tube tapers down to about 3/32" or 2 mm in dia. Inside
the tube there is a strong vaccuum so that when you break the narrow end of
the tube the vaccuum in the tube draws in the perfect ammount of water for
the test to provide you with the results. I wish I could be more help to
you and I apologize if I end up leading you on a wild goose chase.
Anyhow...good luck
"Mort" wrote in message
. com...
Hi all,
I am having trouble deciphering the reading this test kit is showing
me.
Maybe I am getting old but if you look at the card, it can be hard to tell
the difference between two shades like .25 and .5

I mean, yeah, I CAN see a difference but it is SO minute.

Anyway, are there any tips for getting a match between your test vial and
the card? Like, if you put the vial on top of the card but have it on
BOTH
the white and the blue, can you get an idea of where you are?
For example, if I compare the color of my liquid to say .03, I can clearly
see the blue for .03 is darker than my vial when looking through the
liquid
from above. But if I have the vial over the WHITE only, it appears to be
about .25

Another question, Take Saliferts calcium tesk kit for example. I think
that is called a "tritation" method? Where you slowly add a third
component
until the media turns to a different color and THAT is your reading
result...

Does anyone know of a test kit like that for Phosphates?


TIA

~Mort

Mort,

You need to do that test under daylight conditions. Either the fluid is white,
or it is slightly blue. You'll have to judge that for yourself. Your goal is
white.

Regarding the Ca test, you add a drop at a time, until the color changes
(shaking after each drop). If the color starts to turn from dark blue to
purple-pinkish after 20 seconds, add one more drop, and then take that reading
off the syringe.

Marc


Mort wrote:

Hi all,
I am having trouble deciphering the reading this test kit is showing me.
Maybe I am getting old but if you look at the card, it can be hard to tell
the difference between two shades like .25 and .5

I mean, yeah, I CAN see a difference but it is SO minute.

Anyway, are there any tips for getting a match between your test vial and
the card? Like, if you put the vial on top of the card but have it on BOTH
the white and the blue, can you get an idea of where you are?
For example, if I compare the color of my liquid to say .03, I can clearly
see the blue for .03 is darker than my vial when looking through the liquid
from above. But if I have the vial over the WHITE only, it appears to be
about .25

Another question, Take Saliferts calcium tesk kit for example. I think
that is called a "tritation" method? Where you slowly add a third component
until the media turns to a different color and THAT is your reading
result...

Does anyone know of a test kit like that for Phosphates?

TIA

~Mort

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

Regarding the Ca test, you add a drop at a time, until the color changes
(shaking after each drop). If the color starts to turn from dark blue to
purple-pinkish after 20 seconds, add one more drop, and then take that
reading
off the syringe.

Marc


Thanks Marc, I understand that part but what I was wondering is if there was
a brand of test kit for Phosphates that uses the same method as Salifert's
Calcium test kit.

Any ideas?

TAIA

~Mort

No idea. I have no issue with the Phosphates kit - I used it today, and got a
reading of 0.

Marc


Mort wrote:

Regarding the Ca test, you add a drop at a time, until the color changes
(shaking after each drop). If the color starts to turn from dark blue to
purple-pinkish after 20 seconds, add one more drop, and then take that
reading
off the syringe.

Marc

Thanks Marc, I understand that part but what I was wondering is if there was
a brand of test kit for Phosphates that uses the same method as Salifert's
Calcium test kit.

Any ideas?

TAIA

~Mort

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

Just for archiving purposes.....


I thought of an idea that has helped me to read the results more accurately.
If you are not sure how blue your result is, get another test vile and fill
it with clean water. Then look at both of them on the card at the same
time. This can help give you an idea of how blue your reading actually is.

~Mort

"Mort" wrote in message
. com...
Hi all,
I am having trouble deciphering the reading this test kit is showing
me.
Maybe I am getting old but if you look at the card, it can be hard to tell
the difference between two shades like .25 and .5

I mean, yeah, I CAN see a difference but it is SO minute.

Anyway, are there any tips for getting a match between your test vial and
the card? Like, if you put the vial on top of the card but have it on
BOTH
the white and the blue, can you get an idea of where you are?
For example, if I compare the color of my liquid to say .03, I can clearly
see the blue for .03 is darker than my vial when looking through the
liquid
from above. But if I have the vial over the WHITE only, it appears to be
about .25

Another question, Take Saliferts calcium tesk kit for example. I think
that is called a "tritation" method? Where you slowly add a third
component
until the media turns to a different color and THAT is your reading
result...

Does anyone know of a test kit like that for Phosphates?


TIA

~Mort

That is how the Organics test works.

Btw, my nitrates were ZERO in my 55g today. Wow!

Marc


Mort wrote:

Just for archiving purposes.....

I thought of an idea that has helped me to read the results more accurately.
If you are not sure how blue your result is, get another test vile and fill
it with clean water. Then look at both of them on the card at the same
time. This can help give you an idea of how blue your reading actually is.

~Mort

"Mort" wrote in message
. com...
Hi all,
I am having trouble deciphering the reading this test kit is showing
me.
Maybe I am getting old but if you look at the card, it can be hard to tell
the difference between two shades like .25 and .5

I mean, yeah, I CAN see a difference but it is SO minute.

Anyway, are there any tips for getting a match between your test vial and
the card? Like, if you put the vial on top of the card but have it on
BOTH
the white and the blue, can you get an idea of where you are?
For example, if I compare the color of my liquid to say .03, I can clearly
see the blue for .03 is darker than my vial when looking through the
liquid
from above. But if I have the vial over the WHITE only, it appears to be
about .25

Another question, Take Saliferts calcium tesk kit for example. I think
that is called a "tritation" method? Where you slowly add a third
component
until the media turns to a different color and THAT is your reading
result...

Does anyone know of a test kit like that for Phosphates?


TIA

~Mort




--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

Congrats =)


"Marc Levenson" wrote in message
...
That is how the Organics test works.

Btw, my nitrates were ZERO in my 55g today. Wow!

Marc


Mort wrote:

Just for archiving purposes.....

I thought of an idea that has helped me to read the results more
accurately.
If you are not sure how blue your result is, get another test vile and
fill
it with clean water. Then look at both of them on the card at the same
time. This can help give you an idea of how blue your reading actually
is.

~Mort

"Mort" wrote in message
. com...
Hi all,
I am having trouble deciphering the reading this test kit is
showing
me.
Maybe I am getting old but if you look at the card, it can be hard to
tell
the difference between two shades like .25 and .5

I mean, yeah, I CAN see a difference but it is SO minute.

Anyway, are there any tips for getting a match between your test vial
and
the card? Like, if you put the vial on top of the card but have it on
BOTH
the white and the blue, can you get an idea of where you are?
For example, if I compare the color of my liquid to say .03, I can
clearly
see the blue for .03 is darker than my vial when looking through the
liquid
from above. But if I have the vial over the WHITE only, it appears to
be
about .25

Another question, Take Saliferts calcium tesk kit for example. I
think
that is called a "tritation" method? Where you slowly add a third
component
until the media turns to a different color and THAT is your reading
result...

Does anyone know of a test kit like that for Phosphates?


TIA

~Mort




--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com