Ati icp and manual testing comparison. Any suggestion?

[arafas]

Attached my Ati icp, also my test using salifert and hanna below:

Salt 35ppm
Alk 8.9-9.3
Calcium 410-420ppm
Potassium 280ppm
Magnesium 1400-1480
Nitrate 15.8ppm
Phosphate 30ppb or 0.09ppm

I see my mag is high will do some water changes to bring it down. What else you would recommend doing.
Maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley can comment on some of the things.

 

[blaxsun]

Your nitrates are a bit high (17.5ppm), but your phosphates are fine - so you can probably bring them down slightly just with more frequent changes of filter socks/floss. There's nothing that really jumps out at me - but I don't know what size your tank is, how frequently you perform water changes or what if anything you dose.

 

[arafas]

Your nitrates are a bit high (17.5ppm), but your phosphates are fine - so you can probably bring them down slightly just with more frequent changes of filter socks/floss. There's nothing that really jumps out at me - but I don't know what size your tank is, how frequently you perform water changes or what if anything you dose.

It's a reefer 750xxl haven't done water change in probably 6months. The tank has been running almost 2 years. Honestly been reefing for over 15 years and I always did minimal water changes.
Only dose esv 2 part. Just installed the reefmat so hopefully that will help with nitrates. I am also running chaeto and a maxspect duo skimmer. Feed frozen, some pellet and nori. I think I have 17 fish lol.

 

[blaxsun]

It's a reefer 750xxl haven't done water change in probably 6months. The tank has been running almost 2 years. Honestly been reefing for over 15 years and I always did minimal water changes.
Only dose esv 2 part. Just installed the reefmat so hopefully that will help with nitrates. I am also running chaeto and a maxspect duo skimmer. Feed frozen, some pellet and nori. I think I have 17 fish lol.

I have the same tank and maybe do a 10% water change every 3-4 month. My nitrates are around 20ppm, phosphates around 0.1ppm and I've got 42 fish. I feed 6 times a day.

I run a Nyos Quantum 160 and two Torq reactors with Nyos Zeo and Carbon/Phosi-Ex. No refugium. I have a ReefMat 1200 on order (whenever it shows up) and I suspect that will bring my nitrates down quite a bit.

I dose Nyos Zero, Active Elements, Active Strontium and Active Iodine.

 

[Big E]

You're Potassium needs to be higher. I'd target 400. A Salifert potassium test will help with this.

Your Molybdenum, Iodine, Silicon are too high. Based off all your trace element readings I would guess your dosing?

Tin should be zero

 

[gbroadbridge]

Might be time for a couple of water changes, IMO

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If the ICP is correct, the water is heavy in sulfate.

Are you using any additives that might be excessive in sulfate?

 

[arafas]

I have the same tank and maybe do a 10% water change every 3-4 month. My nitrates are around 20ppm, phosphates around 0.1ppm and I've got 42 fish. I feed 6 times a day.

I run a Nyos Quantum 160 and two Torq reactors with Nyos Zeo and Carbon/Phosi-Ex. No refugium. I have a ReefMat 1200 on order (whenever it shows up) and I suspect that will bring my nitrates down quite a bit.

I dose Nyos Zero, Active Elements, Active Strontium and Active Iodine.

I will be doing some testing after i put in the reefmat. So I will let you know if my nitrates have gone down. Also would recommend buying more rolls of the reefmat since I am pretty sure they will run out. looks like mine will last probably 4 weeks, the unit is really good actually. Wow that many fish they dont fight, my tangs are always messing with each other.

 

[arafas]

If the ICP is correct, the water is heavy in sulfate.

Are you using any additives that might be excessive in sulfate?

The only thing i dose sometimes is brightwell amino and acropower. Maybe like 30mil acropower every other week. and like 15-20 amino acid every other week. I was thinking to do some water changes to bring all levels down.

You dont trust ICP? I sent another one to a different company and pretty similar so I assumed ICP was good.

 

[arafas]

You're Potassium needs to be higher. I'd target 400. A Salifert potassium test will help with this.

Your Molybdenum, Iodine, Silicon are too high. Based off all your trace element readings I would guess your dosing?

Tin should be zero

Would raising potasium do anything? I have the potasium test kit. which you can see was reading 280 compared to 340 from ICP.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Would raising potasium do anything? I have the potasium test kit. which you can see was reading 280 compared to 340 from ICP.

That is well below normal. I’d aim for 400 ppm.

Not sure where your elevated sulfate came from.

What salt mix are you using?

 

[arafas]

That is well below normal. I’d aim for 400 ppm.

Not sure where your elevated sulfate came from.

What salt mix are you using?

HW reefer, I feed pellets, frozen and nori. Also sometimes add some garlic juice to the frozen food. I am not sure either where my sulfate is coming. Also tested my RO icp no issue there at all. everything was 100%.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It might just be test error (not all icp values are accurate) or it’s the salt mix. It’s not likely a big concern, just unusual.

 

[Big E]

Would raising potasium do anything? I have the potasium test kit. which you can see was reading 280 compared to 340 from ICP.

Yes, low potassium is roughest on montis but acros will suffer at low levels as well, so it's going to affect overall health, color and growth.
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If you want more answers on elements, mix a batch of your saltwater for 24 hours and send in an ICP of that. It will give a baseline level of the your salt mix.

 

[arafas]

Yes, low potassium is roughest on montis but acros will suffer at low levels as well, so it's going to affect overall health, color and growth.
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If you want more answers on elements, mix a batch of your saltwater for 24 hours and send in an ICP of that. It will give a baseline level of the your salt mix.

O great idea. I will do that with salt mix.

 

[arafas]

It might just be test error (not all icp values are accurate) or it’s the salt mix. It’s not likely a big concern, just unusual.

I attached another pic of the icp from different company with similar values for sulfur.

 

[blaxsun]

Wow that many fish they dont fight, my tangs are always messing with each other.

Zero spats with the current batch - it’s been really great.