rainbow longterm PH monitor

[vinz]

Errr... that should be 5 to 10ppm NO3 and 0.5 to 1ppm PO4.

[PeterGwee]

PO4 can be 0.3-1.0ppm but make sure it does not drop below 0.2 or the NO3 uptake would slow down drastically.

[robin]

thanks a lot guys. Some of my broad leave my plants got holes.

Regards
Robin

[robin]

Is there any other way to add PO4?

[vinz]

Yes. Get Seachem Flourish Phosphorus... try Nature Aquarium, Petmart, Polyart at Clementi blk 328. More expensive then KH2PO4, but affordable for small tanks.

[robin]

any idea what fish load is sufficient to balance up the PO4 without extra additions?

Robin

[vinz]

Trial and error. Either increase the bioload or feed more. NO3 will go up as well.

[robin]

Thanks vinz, so if Ph is about 6.9 - 7 does the NO3 change to NO4? or is it the other way round??

Anyway, hope you know what i mean

Robin

[vinz]

NO4? Or are you talking about NH3 and NH4?

I can remember which is which at the moment, but lower pH lowers the proportion of the toxic one. Same with lowering temp. If you make the changes slowly (i.e. bio-load or feeding amount), it should not impact too much. Just note your final NO3 could be higher.

OTOH, increasing PO4 will increase NO3 uptake, if it's the only limiting nutrient, so NO3 levels will depend on the uptake rate vs the new input rate.

[robin]

Sea chem phorporus adds PO4 am i right? is it effective?

[robin]

okay, i should test for no3 there is a test kit for no4 what is it for?

[robin]

any comments on the above?

[robin]

hello? need help on the above?

[bclee]

There is no such thing as NO4!!

BC

[robin]

That's strange, coz i really saw the sera NO4 test kit.

therefore, i should go get no3 test kit.

Need confirmation for the following.

Dose seachem phosphorus = increase PO4?
Dose ?? increase NO3?

Or rather what other products do you guys use to manage this?

[bclee]

----------------
On 4/15/2003 10:50:16 AM

That's strange, coz i really saw the sera NO4 test kit.

therefore, i should go get no3 test kit.

Need confirmation for the following.

Dose seachem phosphorus = increase PO4?
Dose ?? increase NO3?

Or rather what other products do you guys use to manage this?
----------------

No, there isn't. Check here.

They have:
NO2
NO3
NH3/NH4
PO4

Yes, Seachem Flourish Phosphorus increases PO4. It is a potassium phosphate solution. Read this

You can dose KNO3 to increase NO3. Alternatively, you can use Seachem Flourish Nitrogen. But note that Flourish Nitrogen provide N in complexed ammonium + nitrate and not all N will turn up in NO3 test.

BC

[robin]

I should have consulted you guys earlier about the PH long term monitor. I have since shelf mine as everything you all say about it is true.

[]

[robin]

I saw another thing that might want to have lau jiao input before buying as it is over $100. There is this electronic constant PH monitor (some taiwan brand) at LFS in clementi. Was told that you place the testing end submersed and plug in then will give you a constant digital readout. Any experience or advise about this device?

Robin

[PeterGwee]

Its a pH monitor...do note that the you would need to recalibrate the pH probe at least monthly to ensure it is accurate and do clean it as algae or dirt might accumulate on the probe. Replacement of the pH probe is necessary once the probe takes longer than necessary to stablize at the measured pH.

It is worth the money though...get the KH fixed with KH plus stuff or baking soda and you are just left with pH which is easy to read from the pH monitor. []

[vinz]

I don't think its worth it. Just get a relatively cheaper pH test pen. It's just as easy to read, and you don;t have to calibrate it as often. Ask yourself this: do you really need to monitor the pH constantly?

IMO, the constant pH monitor is only useful IF you can hook it up to the solenoid. But then, the pH in a stable planted tank with good KH won't fluctuate enough to cause you problems, so why do you need such precise control of the pH?