Need To Vent!!!!!!!!

[jhnrb]

well I guess if it is not confusing enough already Ill add to it a bit. I use 5 stage spectra pure system. They are in the business of water purification. Most of the filters we use are not lab grade, thats why we can afford um. You have to realize that the end result is much better than what is going in. If you do not resolve your problem Im confident spectra Pure can put a system together that will give you 0 phosphates, however, I do not believe you will be happy with the cost for such a system. As another thought, after each test you need to clean your test vials with distilled water real good use cotton swabs or other, do not use anything that has been through the washing machine to clean or wipe your test equipment. Residue can build up on your test vials and give you a false reading if not properly cleaned. Hope something here helps. keep us posted and good luck.

[bobby]

Well I have a update. I went to walmart bought a new 5 gal clear pvc jug for water, then took the jug to petco had them swish it and then fill, then when I got home cleaned the test tube with ro water and a q-tip,then rerinsed the tube and took a test, still 1.ppm. So now I'm not sure what to do except call petco and see when the last time they changed the filters there, and see if they have a tds meter to test there water. Well I guess I'll give them a call. Thanks again everybody for your input.

[bkv1997]

Couple things.

Municipalities add phosphates on purpose to help prevent calcium from building up on the inside of the pipes.

Have you tested the water before it is filtered? You might just have an old/bad test kit. Try a different one and which one are you using.

Also Phosphate kits are usually a different scale for fresh and saltwater. Are you testing before salt or after? If after it could be the quality of the salt mix you are using.

Just some suggestions.
Brandon

[bobby]

I'm using a doc wellfish test kit for salt or fresh water, its the only one they sell in a 60 mile radius. I'm checking before I add salt. I hav'nt tested water out of the tap yet......hold on I'm doin it now........Well I just test my tap and it only comes to 0.5 ppm. whats the deal hear? How could my tap be better than the lfs ro water? One lfs that dos'nt sell there ro said they just replaced there filters and it still has a reading of 1. ppm. So if my kit is right then a unit wont have a prob removing the phos. Right?

[Bifferwine]

bobby, I just tested the brand new water I got from my LFS today and it was at .1 also. So I think I either have a bad phosphate test, or (like you) I just can't get good water.

[bobby]

Biff it sucks dont it, sorry to hear it though. Dose your lfs test for phos to see if your kit works? None of mine do and to top it off I bought the only kit at the lfs, and its the only lfs around here that sells them. Man this is aggrivating.

[bkv1997]

sounds like you guys might want to get a new test kit and also add a phosban reactor to your tank... 33$ might be well spent.

Brandon

[bobby]

Were can you get it for 33.? I've seen them for 69. so I was going to try and DIY it. Do you know of any DIY site with phos reactors?

[jhnrb]

Hope this helps;

Salifert Phosphate Test Kit - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store

Two Little Fishies Phosban Reactor 150 - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store

[Bifferwine]

Instead of the Two Little Fishies phosban reactor, I bought the Kent Marine phosphate reactor from Marine Depot

Kent Marine Phos Reactor - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store

It got better customer reviews than the Two Little Fishies one and it doesn't require you to buy any extra plumbing pieces. Don't forget for both of them, you have to buy a powerhead separately.

I've been using nitrate sponge in it (to keep my nitrates at 0 since I stopped the AZNO3) but I'm going to have to switch to a phosphate sponge if I can't get my levels down any other way...

And, my phosphate test is Salifert and relatively new (less than two months old). I'm lucky that my levels are just low enough that the algae seems to grow back slower than my sea hare can eat it! BTW bobby, that's the only animal I've found so far that looooooves to eat the hair algae, in case you want to try one.