Can I get some help deciphering my ATI ICP test results?

Daniel@R2R · May 23, 2018

Hey guys, so I'm looking at my ATI test results and trying to figure out conversion factors, but everything is in mg/l. I'm not sure what to do with that. For example, my nutrient levels came back really high, but I'm not sure what the numbers actually mean (other than that my other tests have been inaccurate). Any tips on how to interpret the test would be helpful. Anybody got a tutorial?

CNDReef · May 23, 2018

I just got mine today as well

Crabs McJones · May 23, 2018

Would you be willing to share your results?

CNDReef · May 23, 2018

Mg/l is the same as ml/l
I think

Daniel@R2R · May 23, 2018

Crabs Mcjones said:
Would you be willing to share your results?

Reluctantly...

It's in my build thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/d...minant-mixed-reef.266709/page-37#post-4759432

JimWelsh · May 23, 2018

You can think of mg/L as PPM.

Daniel@R2R · May 23, 2018

Here's the link: http://lab.atiaquaristik.com/publicAnalysis/17898

Crabs McJones · May 23, 2018

So if i'm reading this correctly mg/l is the same as ppm from what i've been reading so, your salinity is 1.0239 , your alk is about 10 which is fine magnesium is fine, 1380ppm but they say the standard is 1191ppm. Calcium is 467 which is fine. Nitrates are up around 40, but phosphate is undetectable but phosphorus is at .49PPM....Iodine is also showing low, but i'm not familiar with what iodine should be at...honestly these levels don't really look bad to me. Salinity could be increased and nitrates lowered. But everything else appears to look fine.

CNDReef · May 23, 2018

Way better than my test for sure
A lot of high heavy metals in my test

Caravanshaka · May 23, 2018

posted on your build thread, but thought I'd post here too:

They are reading my salinity at 33.2, and I have a calibrated refractometer that read 35ppt, as well as a milwaukee digital salinity reader that read it at 35ppt at the time I sent them off. I wonder if they are checking the salinity at a colder temp.

They seem to be consistent though, as I believe my first one I read just a hair under 35ppt and my second one was right at 35ppt:

March 8th - http://lab.atiaquaristik.com/share/0321283b7ffe11858817
April 30th - http://lab.atiaquaristik.com/share/923d91197d4795724968

Daniel@R2R · May 23, 2018

So then...what's killing my corals?

I was hoping to find something in this thing that would tell me something was tremendously off...

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2018

The results are not all mg/L. many are ug/L (ppb)

Crabs McJones · May 23, 2018

mdbannister said:
So then...what's killing my corals? I was hoping to find something in this thing that would tell me something was tremendously off...

Oh no! I wasn't aware that your corals were dying off

!! I don't know if the lower salinity could be an issue, or that nitrates are at 40 but phosphates are undetectable? What does your home testing kit tell you your salinity is?

Daniel@R2R · May 23, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The results are not all mg/L. many are ug/L (ppb)

True. Sorry about the imprecise statement above. My point was simply that mg/L (or ug/L) aren't what I'm accustomed to seeing, but you're absolutely correct. Those are the 2 terms used most frequently.

Caravanshaka · May 23, 2018

your barium is 10x the recommended amount. I'm not sure what the cap is on barium, but that is quite high. I am currently dosing mine to get from 2 to 9 ug/l.

As you can see, your nitrates are quite high, what are you using for exports? That phosphorous number with 0 phosphate looks sketchy....but if that is true that could definitely be a concern.

Daniel@R2R · May 23, 2018

Caravanshaka said:
your barium is 10x the recommended amount. I'm not sure what the cap is on barium, but that is quite high. I am currently dosing mine to get from 2 to 9 ug/l.

As you can see, your nitrates are quite high, what are you using for exports? That phosphorous number with 0 phosphate looks sketchy....but if that is true that could definitely be a concern.

Running a skimmer and doing water changes. I am also occasionally dosing prodibio, but haven't been consistent with that lately.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2018

I commented there. Here's a copy and paste:

I don't see anything especially amiss.

Low salinity.
Super high phosphate (1.5 ppm)
Low iodine
elevated aluminum

might be lacking certain trace elements

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 23, 2018

Caravanshaka said:
your barium is 10x the recommended amount. I'm not sure what the cap is on barium, but that is quite high. I am currently dosing mine to get from 2 to 9 ug/l.

As you can see, your nitrates are quite high, what are you using for exports? That phosphorous number with 0 phosphate looks sketchy....but if that is true that could definitely be a concern.

It is weird that they put a "u." there. The calculated value is likely 1.5 ppm.

Crabs McJones · May 23, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I commented there. Here's a copy and paste:

I don't see anything especially amiss.

Low salinity.
Super high phosphate (1.5 ppm)
Low iodine
elevated aluminum

might be lacking certain trace elements

On the test results, it says phosphorus is 498.2 ug/l but phosphate just says u. What does that mean and what is the difference?