[fergo]

Hi All,

not sure if this is the right place for this question. But here goes

I am planning on having my water tested to ensure i do indeed have high phosphate this weekend, the issue is i am not going to be at home so i took a sample today and will be getting it tested tomorrow morning approx 25 hours later? do you think this will effect the results? of should the phosphate remain the water at the same level as their is nothing to absorb it in the container?

will let you guys know the results when they come in? but i hope to have a reposonce so i know if i should waste my time on getting it tested or just prolong it until i can do something more direct

[leebca]

Speaking in generalities, samples not immediately tested are best kept cool (refrigerator temperature) until tested. Phosphorous will not 'go away' but phosphorous may change chemical formulation. There are different forms of phosphorous in aquarium water. Some are phosphates, some organophosphates, etc.

The phosphate radical is pretty stable when organically complexed, but it is useful to bacteria and other microbes as a nutrient source.

So to answer your question. . .it depends. What exactly is the test kit measuring? Is it measuring organophosphates, free phosphate radicals, phosphorous total, or ?