Salifest P04 test kit

[Harlequinmania]

Hi guys,

i was having a hard time trying to read with accuracy the P04 reading for my salifest test kit since the "light tinted blue color" on the color chart look so similar between 0 to 0.1 which make it difficult to read with our naked eye. However this different in reading make alot of different as 0.10 ppm is already critical for coral growth.

Anyone have any experience on a good P04 test kit which is easy to read and accurate ?

[tropic]

have consider the hanna phosphate reader? digital.

[sherman]

So far Hanna give a better reading.

Have not try other beside Salifert and was shock when Hanna

reading was so much different.

[straydum]

So far Hanna give a better reading.

Have not try other beside Salifert and was shock when Hanna

reading was so much different.

same here, the difference between hanna and salifert is very shocking. perhaps can try madpetz's standard solution to gauge the accuracy?

[Rxcp14]

Hmmm is the 0ppm colour transparent? If its in between either coloursthen it shld be in between for the reading also...

[Harlequinmania]

So far Hanna give a better reading.

Have not try other beside Salifert and was shock when Hanna

reading was so much different.

i agreed with you , in fact i have a hanna tester as well and the different in reading between those was so great that i cant decide to trust which one. Salifest is always my trusted test kit for mg/ca and kh ect...

[jquek]

For my current tank, I started out using D&D test kit and keep getting 0.08 - 0.16 ppm regardless of what I do. I bought a salifert test kit and it is always transparent without a tinge of blue (0 ppm), but algae is still growing like crazy. I don't know what to believe anymore.

[Harlequinmania]

This is a photo of the color matching chart.

[Harlequinmania]

For my current tank, I started out using D&D test kit and keep getting 0.08 - 0.16 ppm regardless of what I do. I bought a salifert test kit and it is always transparent without a tinge of blue (0 ppm), but algae is still growing like crazy. I don't know what to believe anymore.

Is the color reading on the DD P04 test kit easy to read ? Not all the time the algae bloom is cause purely by P04 alone, high N03, using of normal tape water and wrong lighting spectrum will cause algae bloom as well.

[jquek]

Is the color reading on the DD P04 test kit easy to read ? Not all the time the algae bloom is cause purely by P04 alone, high N03, using of normal tape water and wrong lighting spectrum will cause algae bloom as well.

I think the color difference is more distinct. Will try to get a picture of the color strip tonight.

Yup. Understand that algae is not cause by PO4 alone. My NO3 is <1 ppm last time I checked (still working on bringing it down further) and I am preforming water change / top up using DI water. Because I am using live rock from a previously neglected tank (kinda regret this), I suspect that the rocks are leaching stuff out and the algae is feeding on it. I am using LED light (which I read can cause algae growth) ... not sure if the spectrum is optimal ... but I guess I will wait and see. Telling myself that hopefully, the algae will slowly recede since its only a 3 month old tank.

[jquek]

Is the color reading on the DD P04 test kit easy to read ? Not all the time the algae bloom is cause purely by P04 alone, high N03, using of normal tape water and wrong lighting spectrum will cause algae bloom as well.

Here's the color strip of the DD PO4 test kit.

[sherman]

What NO3 test kit you using?

I used to use Salifert.

I give me near to zero reading.

Then one day I get a Red Sea Pro test kit it give me a 25 ppm whilst my Salifert

still give me 0 ppm.

Look like Salifert test kit is not accurate for both PO4 and NO3 testing.

This is my experience.

Please share yours

[Harlequinmania]

Here's the color strip of the DD PO4 test kit.

Thanks for sharing the photo, at least the color different between the reading for the DD test kit is not as close to each other as compare to the salifest test kit.

[Harlequinmania]

What NO3 test kit you using?

I used to use Salifert.

I give me near to zero reading.

Then one day I get a Red Sea Pro test kit it give me a 25 ppm whilst my Salifert

still give me 0 ppm.

Look like Salifert test kit is not accurate for both PO4 and NO3 testing.

This is my experience.

Please share yours

i have tried comparing my N03 result with my salifest with a Redsea test kit and both appear to have the same reading... So i presume the N03 reading on the Salifest should be right.

[jquek]

What NO3 test kit you using?

I used to use Salifert.

I give me near to zero reading.

Then one day I get a Red Sea Pro test kit it give me a 25 ppm whilst my Salifert

still give me 0 ppm.

Look like Salifert test kit is not accurate for both PO4 and NO3 testing.

This is my experience.

Please share yours

Using DD NO3 test kit. Didn't compare with others yet.

[straydum]

i've tried comparing salifert and api for no3. both results are quite similar thus i didn't suspect any problems with salifert's no3 although the api kit may be too weak a benchmark.

[jquek]

Just want to share some experience I had with PO4 test kits. Did a comparison and Salifert shows 0 mg/l, Elos shows 0 or 0.024 mg/l (its hard to tell but I thought its closer to zero), and DD (always) shows 0.08 mg/l. Just to be sure the DD test kit is not faulty, I just got myself the refill and it still shows 0.08 mg/l. Wonder if anyone ever tested < 0.08 with a DD PO4 test kit (by the way, their reference solution is conveniently at 0.08 mg/l)?

Conclusion: Salifert and Elos are consistent, so it's 2 against 1.

[Tian85]

Just want to share some experience I had with PO4 test kits. Did a comparison and Salifert shows 0 mg/l, Elos shows 0 or 0.024 mg/l (its hard to tell but I thought its closer to zero), and DD (always) shows 0.08 mg/l. Just to be sure the DD test kit is not faulty, I just got myself the refill and it still shows 0.08 mg/l. Wonder if anyone ever tested < 0.08 with a DD PO4 test kit (by the way, their reference solution is conveniently at 0.08 mg/l)?

Conclusion: Salifert and Elos are consistent, so it's 2 against 1.

Think of getting D-D phosphate test kit but after reading jquek review i am thinking twice.

Anyone else have review for D-D test kit?

[Harlequinmania]

If you compare Elos , salifest and DD test kit, i think only DD and Redsea P04 test kit come with a chamber similar to below for accurate and easy reading . By looking through the side of the glass with our naked eye without this, the color different between those two can be so close that can is difficult to gauge.

[jquek]

If you compare Elos , salifest and DD test kit, i think only DD and Redsea P04 test kit come with a chamber similar to below for accurate and easy reading . By looking through the side of the glass with our naked eye without this, the color different between those two can be so close that can is difficult to gauge.

Elos PO4 test kit also comes with a comparator.