Hi Barium Concerning?

nbd13 · Jan 8, 2021

Hi,

just got my ICP test back. Barium is off the charts. Only thing in dosing is NOPOx and then using the Triton supplements 1-3b for maintaining Alk, Mg and Ca.

Barium is 108 normal is 10. Any thoughts?

thanks

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 8, 2021

I do not consider barium a toxicity concern at the low levels encountered in reef tanks.

Jeffcb · Oct 27, 2021

Just got my ICP test back and Ba is the only high concern but I guess its not a concern.
My tank is pretty much FOWLR but I do want my fish happy.

What causes the high level of Barium?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 27, 2021

I'm not sure where it would come from. It looks a lot like calcium, so may be a contaminant in some types of calcium additives.

It's not widely used in things most people have that I know of.

It wasn't elevated in my test, so it is not elevated in the salt mix I used (normal IO) or kalkwasser from BRS.

DrZoidburg · Oct 27, 2021

There was a thread some time back. Estimated this to be from a bad impeller. Could check those first.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 27, 2021

True, some pumps, such as the Little Giant3-MDX 0.04 HP Non-Submersible Magnetic Drive Pump have barium ferrite encased in plastic. Whether that's a typical source or not, I do not know.

FWIW, elevated barium is fairly common.

TheBiochemist · Oct 27, 2021

Hi Nbd13,

here, you can find my thread related to high Ba.

ICP results - extremely high barium?

Hello reefers, today, I received my first ICP-OES data. Before commenting on the obtained results, I would like to say that my livestock (including several acroporas) is doing great, and I dont observe any problems. Thus, my decision to perform ICP-OES (AF Labs) test was more curiosity-driven...

www.reef2reef.com

Actually mine was a lot higher than yours. I exchanged powerheads and also switched to RS salt. I dont know the Ba value right now and havent done ICP for several months, but the most important thing is that I havent observed any detrimental effects to my inhabitants and even my acro frags are doing really well. So I suggest to keep an eye on it and dont panic.