First ATI ICP Test - Help Me Understand!

[pelphrey]

I sent out the test on April 20th, received the results just now. I was very curious is my DIY aluminum screen top had anything to do with the declining of the SPS ( I lost all of my SPS frags). My salinity dropped also at one point, I thought my refractometer was calibrated when in fact it wasn't. Did I over dose nitrates? I am testing nitrates with the RedSea Nitrate Pro test kit - when I test low range I get a very dark color, when I test high range I get a color but it never indicated I went overboard!

I use the hanna for alk, comparing the hanna to the test the hanna has been pretty accurate. I don't test calcium or mag as often as I should.

 

[pelphrey]

For reference and because ATI does the RODI test I'll post it as well. I run my RODI once every 2-3 months, it is a SpectraPure 90gpd manual flush. I make sure to flush it before, during and after. All filters are new since I bought the replacement unit not long ago and have only run it 2-3 times tops.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The RO/DI looks fine.

I don't see anything that's necessarily a problem for SPS. Perhaps the copper, but I've had it substantially higher without apparent issue.

The problem with trace elements is a number often doesn't say anything about the form present, which can impact bioavailability.

 

[waxhawreefer]

Hey Randy just luvs the Rodi test, I’m on my third ATI test, just got mine back also, since many trace elements are always low I bought Seachem Reef Trace, and Reef plus, they seem to have allot of the elements that I’m low on and instead of buying individual bottles I’ve been dosing this for about six weeks to see if I have any improvements, my results state - not really- but my old rodi recommendations when I had high silicon like u pelphrey is to change ur DI cartridge, not sure if urs did, but on my latest test I did have high copper 1.54ug/l and zinc 39.26ug/l, and when I looked at my rodi results they were both high in it also and recommended to change the DI cartridge again, but those elements are also present in the reef trace and reef plus, so maybe that’s one reason? Who knows, I like best is that they test for nitrates, they are usually pretty close to my Red Sea nitrate test also my regular Hanna for phosphates, not the ulr one , my salinity is always lower on the test and sometimes my alk, don’t know why.?

 

[pelphrey]

Hey Randy just luvs the Rodi test, I’m on my third ATI test, just got mine back also, since many trace elements are always low I bought Seachem Reef Trace, and Reef plus, they seem to have allot of the elements that I’m low on and instead of buying individual bottles I’ve been dosing this for about six weeks to see if I have any improvements, my results state - not really- but my old rodi recommendations when I had high silicon like u pelphrey is to change ur DI cartridge, not sure if urs did, but on my latest test I did have high copper 1.54ug/l and zinc 39.26ug/l, and when I looked at my rodi results they were both high in it also and recommended to change the DI cartridge again, but those elements are also present in the reef trace and reef plus, so maybe that’s one reason? Who knows, I like best is that they test for nitrates, they are usually pretty close to my Red Sea nitrate test also my regular Hanna for phosphates, not the ulr one , my salinity is always lower on the test and sometimes my alk, don’t know why.?

As a reference on the RODI the inline meter says 160-170ish TDS coming in, and 0 on the output. When I double check this with a handheld TDS meter it reads 3, I need to double check this since the container I used to check the TDS with the handheld had saltwater in it previously.

Below are the recommendations on the RODI -

 

[Christoph]

Hello!

As Randy already said your RODI is fine. Also your tank water results seem good, copper is not an issue at this level. Also your aluminium value is found in many (healthy) tanks, so thats not the culprit.

Maybe you lost your SPS due to the salinity/alkalinity swings?

Best,
Christoph

 

[waxhawreefer]

Did u click on the recommendation at the top of the page? That’s where I get my recommendations from ati, sometimes to dose or to change something like a DI media, wow 160 after ur ro filters seems high, not sure, but mine at most is 30, then I turn on my pump and goes to zero fast, these tests just make us more confused, I’m doing what I normally do, a five gallon change per week to suck up detritus on the floor and test my levels weekly, maybe every six months I’ll send one of these icp tests in, unless u feel something is really wrong, I know u lost allot recently, but ur salinity was way off, ur trace elements might have been off and ur major ones also, now u got that under control, u should be in the drivers seat!!