{"product_id":"nt-labs-marine-lab-phosphate-test","title":"NT Labs Marine Lab Phosphate Test","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is phosphate?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhosphate is an essential component in fish nutrition, but is also produced as a waste product by fish. Phosphate is practically non-toxic to fish, but excess phosphate can cause unwanted algae and will inhibit coral growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy test for phosphate?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaintaining a low level of phosphate is essential for reducing unwanted algae and maintaining coral growth rates. Phosphate tends to accumulate as an aquarium ages, so regular monitoring of phosphate is required to determine the health of the aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the correct level of phosphate?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhosphate in natural seawater generally varies from 0.01 mg\/l to 0.06 mg\/l (in terms of phosphorus) in reef areas. However, in a reef aquarium, aim for 0.03 mg\/l to maintain good coral growth and keep nuisance algae at to a minimum.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to do if the phosphate level is wrong?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRegular maintenance and use of partial water changes with a good quality reef salt should help to keep phosphate low. To remove additional phosphate, use a phosphate remover in your filter or add anti-phosphate liquid regularly to instantly remove phosphate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow to test for phosphate?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul style=\"list-style-type: square;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUsing the syringe provided, add approximately 5 ml of water to the glass test tube. Cap the test tube and shake briefly to wash the test tube. Uncap the test tube and discard this water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd 10 mL (2 x 5 ml using the syringe) to the test tube. 3. Add 10 drops of Phosphate-1 Reagent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdd 10 drops of Phosphate-2 Reagent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCap the test tube and shake well to mix.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWait for 5 minutes for the colour to develop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce the 5 minutes has elapsed, uncap the test tube. View from the top and compare to the colour chart to determine the amount of phosphate present in the water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFAQs:\u003cbr\u003eQ: Why do I run out of 1 reagent before the other(s)?\u003c\/strong\u003e A: We fill our test kit reagent bottles to a minimum amount before they are put through a vigorous QC regime. This means that the vast majority of bottles will in fact be overfilled by varying amounts meaning that the reagents may well run out at different rates but you should be able to carry out at least the number of tests stated on the packaging.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NT Labs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57074540118399,"sku":"717093","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0963\/5420\/6079\/files\/nt_labs_marine_lab_phosphate_test_kit.jpg?v=1772676431","url":"https:\/\/finestaquatics.co.uk\/products\/nt-labs-marine-lab-phosphate-test","provider":"Finest Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}