Heavy metal reduction

[Myka]

In another thread where zeolites are being discussed there is mention that zeolites may be efficient at reducing or removing copper, lead, and zinc in seawater.

http://reef2reef.com/threads/do-zeolite-work-in-sea-water.231479

Here is very good reading with results from US EPA team's research:

https://www.acc.umu.se/~vatten/zeolite.pdf

[...]

In the same paper there are results showing zeolites could remove 100% of Copper, Lead and Zinc from sea water, which explain why Zeovit method is using copper containing supplements like ZeoSpur2 without constrains that copper will accumulate in the water column. .

My question is not so much related to zeolites in particular, but heavy metal reduction in general. There are products on the market such as Cuprisorb and PolyFilter. There are probably some other newer products I'm not familiar with as well. We currently do not have an affordable way to measure NSW levels of heavy metals in our tanks (Triton can't test that low), and the occasional use of heavy metal reducing medias may not be a bad idea. I'm just wondering, what do these products remove that we may not want them to remove, and just how effective are they?

My understanding is that PolyFilters in general only reduce copper to 30-40 ppb (NSW is 5 ppb), so maybe that is not the best option. I'm not sure about Cuprisorb. Is there any data anywhere that these products or their ingredients/makeup are tested and the results are known for the efficiency in heavy metal reduction? In regards to zeolites, the "100% removal" of copper, lead, and zinc in the above paper refers to detection limits of copper 0.4 ppb, lead 1.0 ppb, and Zinc 1.0 ppb. This paper makes the particular zeolite tested look pretty good for copper, lead, and zinc.

Are zeolites maybe the best option? I know there are many zeolites though, and maybe others are not as effective in this respect. The zeolites used in the above paper (taken from the paper) was SIR-600 which is "the sodium–potassium form of a moist (approximately 10% water content), granular mineral produced from natural, purified, and back-washed zeolite (0030 to 1.2 mm particle
size)." Is that a product that is available to us hobbyists?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The polyfilters would previously add heavy metals to their product so that they would not lower them too far. I've not seen that stated for many years, so perhaps they no longer do that process (I have no idea).

I expect products like metasorb and cuprisorb have no such preloading, but I've not seen metal binding data to know how much they will lower these metals.

As to the zeolites, they were used in very high concentrations, and in that study, were toxic to mysids.

 

[biom]

Triton's Detox uses humic acids https://reefbuilders.com/2015/04/07/triton-detox-innovative-remove-trace-heavy-metals/

 

[jackson6745]

Does an iodine supplement aid in detoxifying metals in seawater. I realize this is a vague question, just interested in hearing your take on it.

 

[Myka]

The polyfilters would previously add heavy metals to their product so that they would not lower then too far. I've not seen that stated for many years, so perhaps they no longer do that process (I have no idea).

Hmm, I never heard that before. Nor did I hear that they could lower the metals too far. I know there are trace metal additives, though I've not been sure that metals are something that need to be dosed.

I expect products like metasorb and cuprisorb have no such preloading, but I've not seen metal binding data to know how much they will lower these metals.

Yeah, that data is what I was looking for. Maybe it does not exist yet then.

As to the zeolites, they were used in very high concentrations, and in that study, were toxic to mysids.

The zeolites were used in high concentration or the metals were used in high concentration? I did see the metals were 200 ppb, so I assume you mean the metals. I know the study showed that the zeolites were able to lower the metals from 200 ppb to below the detection limits (listed above).

Triton's Detox uses humic acids https://reefbuilders.com/2015/04/07/triton-detox-innovative-remove-trace-heavy-metals/

What do we know about humic acid? Unique Corals said they would report back on the situation with the tank at 9 ppb copper, but there is no follow up article that I can find.

@uniquecorals

 

[Paul B]

I think Randy is correct about Polyfilters adding iron to the water. The last time I used one, this precipitated out.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Does an iodine supplement aid in detoxifying metals in seawater. I realize this is a vague question, just interested in hearing your take on it.

No.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The zeolites were used in high concentration or the metals were used in high concentration? I did see the metals were 200 ppb, so I assume you mean the metals. I know the study showed that the zeolites were able to lower the metals from 200 ppb to below the detection limits (listed above).
[/USER]

The zeolites were high. It is a little hard to get an exact value for the water treated, but it sounds like a large mass of zeolite per unit of water treated.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hmm, I never heard that before. Nor did I hear that they could lower the metals too far. I know there are trace metal additives, though I've not been sure that metals are something that need to be dosed.

I discuss it in detail here:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rhf/feature/


and here I was able to find a web archive of their web site:

http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/te2.htm

from it:

"In order to make a Poly-Filter not capable of sorbing trace elements we must first saturate each Poly-Filter with the trace elements found in synthetic seawater. We do this in a special proprietary process that takes 4 days to perform. "

and some old binding data from them:

https://web.archive.org/web/20010218130500/http://poly-bio-marine.com/labtesting4a.htm

 

[Myka]

"In order to make a Poly-Filter not capable of sorbing trace elements we must first saturate each Poly-Filter with the trace elements found in synthetic seawater. We do this in a special proprietary process that takes 4 days to perform. "

Very interesting. It makes sense if you think about it. This makes me think that would be like pre-loading GFO with phosphate so that it will lower silicate without removing too much phosphate (which has me thinking haha). As long as the Poly Filter and GFO wouldn't leech, it's a brilliant solve.

Thanks for the links too, I'll check them out. (I've read through all yours a decade ago hehe)

The zeolites were high. It is a little hard to get an exact value for the water treated, but it sounds like a large mass of zeolite per unit of water treated.

Ok thanks for clarifying (their lack of clarity haha).

 

[Pat924]

I just ordered cuprisorb because of triton test showing high levels of copper Nickel boron lead and more in my reef tank I think my ro unit let's them through or they imported in sand and live rock but have no idea where to start

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I just ordered cuprisorb because of triton test showing high levels of copper Nickel boron lead and more in my reef tank I think my ro unit let's them through or they imported in sand and live rock but have no idea where to start

Well, let's start with the RO/DI.

If you are getting only 0 ppm TDS water from it, then it isn't the source. If it is higher, then it might be (well, not the borate, but perhaps the metals)

What are the actual Triton values?

Are there any metal parts in the water (hose clamps, etc.) or corroded metal parts above the water that might flake into it?

 

[Pat924]

There are no metals any where
But I did hAve a heater break a while back ....
Triton test as follows for red or yellow values

Sn 6.77 g/l
AL 75.13
Pb .75 ug
Ti .5 ug
Cu 5.15 ug/l
CA 510 mg/l
MG 1244 mg
Br 72.57 mg
B 1.32 mg
Li 383 g
Ni 9.49 ug
V 1.96g
I 26.64 g
P 25.52g
Po4 .078 mg

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you currently adding any supplements?

 

[Pat924]

Are you currently adding any supplements?

Kalkwasser but in very low dosage
One table spoon to a 15 gal ato

 

[Pat924]

Kalkwasser but in very low dosage
One table spoon to a 15 gal ato

240 gal system
90 gal and 50 displays
125 gal sump
15 gal ato
Regal 300 skimmer

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Could be the heater, or some source you do not recognize. That's more different metals than most folks report, but the values may not be a big problem.

Do you have an apparent tank issue?

 

[Pat924]

I don't know there's not much in there
I'm getting ready to add more stock so I checked the water

 

[marke]

If I saw numbers for trace metals that high I would be concerned about where its coming from? Its possible your adding it somehow? Besides Kalk what might you be adding? How did your ca get so high without addition? What salt are you mixing? Some of those numbers are significantly higher than NSW or even most salt mixes? Randy says it might not be a big problem? Others like Ron Slimak will tell you its hazardous.

 

[Pat924]

If I saw numbers for trace metals that high I would be concerned about where its coming from? Its possible your adding it somehow? Besides Kalk what might you be adding? How did your ca get so high without addition? What salt are you mixing? Some of those numbers are significantly higher than NSW or even most salt mixes? Randy says it might not be a big problem? Others like Ron Slimak will tell you its hazardous.