First ICP test... guess I know why i've been losing SPS...

Velcro · Apr 12, 2018

Everything else is in the green, but iron is through the roof. I don't use GFO. Guess I need to start looking for something rusty?

Klem · Apr 12, 2018

Do a search for rust in your tank. Take pumps apart and look at the stainless steel shafts, power head shafts etc. Do you have any stainless hose clamps? Those rust like crazy!

Crabs McJones · Apr 12, 2018

Velcro said:
Everything else is in the green, but iron is through the roof. I don't use GFO. Guess I need to start looking for something rusty?

Possibly, you're not dosing iron for a refugium or anything are you ?

Velcro · Apr 12, 2018

crabs_mcjones said:
Possibly, you're not dosing iron for a refugium or anything are you ?

No, though I was using some KZ products which I stopped about the same time I did the ICP test. I was using Pohls xtra special and KZ coral booster.

Velcro · Apr 12, 2018

Here are the rest of the results:

ksfulk · Apr 12, 2018

Well, that also explains why your chaeto was going nuts too... them algaes love their iron

Good news once you find the rusty bit, should be easy to knock that number down without need for a binder like AL99 or something similar.

Velcro · Apr 12, 2018

ksfulk said:
Well, that also explains why your chaeto was going nuts too... them algaes love their iron Good news once you find the rusty bit, should be easy to knock that number down without need for a binder like AL99 or something similar.

I added a polyfilter last week and most STN slowed at that point. I think i'll order a red sea iron test kit and keep using polyfilter until it reads 0.

wyattray · Apr 12, 2018

Man, I had the same result from my first ICP, and I was not able to find out what is causing it. Im going to order that test kit though.

Velcro · Apr 12, 2018

wyattray said:
Man, I had the same result from my first ICP, and I was not able to find out what is causing it. Im going to order that test kit though.

saved myself some money and ordered this:

wyattray · Apr 12, 2018

Ok thanks

BillyP · Apr 12, 2018

If poly filter doesn't remove all of it, use triton detox, they should've told you in your ICP test how much to add, it browns up the tank temporarily but once you run carbon it's fine.

SneakyTortuga · Apr 12, 2018

I had a similar issue with tin and aluminum. Everything started to stn on me. Got a test done and i couldn’t figure it out. I pulled everything out and ended up finding a small rusty nail from my cable management in the corner of the sump but still had issues. I looked at my rodi test and it said I had high tin in my rodi water. The float switch in my rodi holding tank had a rusty pin so I swapped that out.

Moral of the story... just start checking everything and you will eventually figure it out. Go over everything that could potentially leach metal

IslandLifeReef · Apr 12, 2018

Velcro said:
saved myself some money and ordered this:

Are you sure about that test kit. It says it measures to less than .05 milligrams but your test only showed 8 micrograms or .008 milligrams. Your levels would have to be about 7 X higher to get a result on that test kit.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 12, 2018

FWIW, Red Sea recommends 150 ppb of iron. IMO, that is quite excessive, but I think it makes your level unlikely to be killing corals.

KJoFan · Apr 12, 2018

SneakyTortuga said:
I had a similar issue with tin and aluminum. Everything started to stn on me. Got a test done and i couldn’t figure it out. I pulled everything out and ended up finding a small rusty nail from my cable management in the corner of the sump but still had issues. I looked at my rodi test and it said I had high tin in my rodi water. The float switch in my rodi holding tank had a rusty pin so I swapped that out.

Moral of the story... just start checking everything and you will eventually figure it out. Go over everything that could potentially leach metal

Same story here. Struggling/dying sps with no explanation. Sent in ICP test, Tin and some other metals very elevated in tank and RO/DI water. Float valve on the RO/DI holding tank had rusty wingnut, removed float valve completely. Also found rusting magnet near sump which may/may not contribute. But removed it none the less.

Bought some Cuprisorb to handle the metals and maybe wishful thinking but sps seem perkier already.

BigJohnny · Apr 12, 2018

@Velcro you should fix that iodine as well imo.

Don't trust a hobby test kit though, just correct based on the icp and then retest.

Velcro · Apr 12, 2018

IslandLifeReef said:
Are you sure about that test kit. It says it measures to less than .05 milligrams but your test only showed 8 micrograms or .008 milligrams. Your levels would have to be about 7 X higher to get a result on that test kit.

You're right... Whoops.

drtrash · Apr 12, 2018

What does icp test cost?

Hans-Werner · Apr 13, 2018

I don´t think that iron is killing your corals. I think with several salts an initial iron concentration that high may be normal. The anticaking agent contains iron and some salts even get a bluish hue from the anticaking. 0.02 ppm total phosphate is quite low and may more likely cause problems.