High Lithium in ICP results

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'll switch to see what happens. I requested to cancel the other order and have ATI in my basket.

What icp company did you use for the 4,000 ug/L Li?

 

[Nonya]

Triton Labs

 

[AKReefing]

How We Use ICP-OES Results Of Unknown Accuracy And Precision

A quantitative Method of Evaluating ICP-OES Results

www.reef2reef.com

Ironic that in the entire article lithium appears only once. I'm a bit ADD and didn't critically read the entire thing. Did they ever determine a winner?

 

[AKReefing]

I've used a couple of different kits for my previous tests.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ironic that in the entire article lithium appears only once. I'm a bit ADD and didn't critically read the entire thing. Did they ever determine a winner?

The idea of my posting it was not to address lithium, but to note issues with icp. Their study was not intended to compare companies, but IMO, one was poorer than the others.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Triton Labs

Then I think it is likely to be accurate. I’ll try asking one expert just to be sure.

@Christoph

Hi Christoph,

I’m sure you do not want to comment on competitors, but can you comment on whether there are generally substantial issues with lithium quantitation by ICP-OES at the ppm level seen here?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Christoph]

Then I think it is likely to be accurate. I’ll try asking one expert just to be sure.

@Christoph

Hi Christoph,

I’m sure you do not want to comment on competitors, but can you comment on whether there are generally substantial issues with lithium quantitation by ICP-OES at the ppm level seen here?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Randy,

Lithium can be measured well also with ICP-OES in the typical seawater concentration range. There are uninterferred Li emission lines that also have good intensity.

However that does not automatically mean that every ICP-OES measurement of Lithium is correct (there are many factors such as method parameters/development, calibration, sample handling, etc that affect the overall quality of the analysis).

We have so far not identified typical salt mixes as sources of elevated Lithium (but i must say we didnt have many US salts in the lab yet). In my experiences the top Li sources are a) reef cements and sometimes also ceramics b) impure additives, especially noteworthy magnesium salts.

I totally share your opinion that moderately elevated lithium is not concerning, but would recommend countermeasures when at or above the 500 µg/l mark.

Have a good new year full of interesting reef chemistry ;-)

All the best,
Christoph

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi Randy,

Lithium can be measured well also with ICP-OES in the typical seawater concentration range. There are uninterferred Li emission lines that also have good intensity.

However that does not automatically mean that every ICP-OES measurement of Lithium is correct (there are many factors such as method parameters/development, calibration, sample handling, etc that affect the overall quality of the analysis).

We have so far not identified typical salt mixes as sources of elevated Lithium (but i must say we didnt have many US salts in the lab yet). In my experiences the top Li sources are a) reef cements and sometimes also ceramics b) impure additives, especially noteworthy magnesium salts.

I totally share your opinion that moderately elevated lithium is not concerning, but would recommend countermeasures when at or above the 500 µg/l mark.

Have a good new year full of interesting reef chemistry ;-)

All the best,
Christoph

Thank you very much, Christoph.

 

[Nonya]

Thank you very much, Christoph.

Hmm. I've been using Epsom Salt USP and "Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate | Pharmaceutical Grade" from Amazon. Have you had your two normal Mg sources tested for contaminants?

 

[Nonya]

My reef cement is just thick CA. No ceramics.

 

[Nonya]

I've seen online that a lot of natural magnesium sources are laden with lithium. How can I be sure any MgCl2 source is lithium-free?

 

[john90009]

I just got back my ati icp test and have elevated as well. I use io reefcrystals and only add esv bionic to the tank . My level is 1281 µg/l.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I just got back my ati icp test and have elevated as well. I use io reefcrystals and only add esv bionic to the tank . My level is 1281 µg/l.

Can you post the whole set of results?

I personally would do nothing, but if you want to reduce it, water change is the only way.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

At least in this series of tests, all salt mixes tested, including RC, had about 200-400 ug/L lithium.

The Ultimate Salt Test

I wanted to get this thread up and going before the holidays soak up all my time. I did a live YouTube with Deven from ReefDudes going over things but it is about 1.5 hours long. I will write up a more detailed explanation here in this first post soon. I am a hobbyist first and foremost. I have...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[john90009]

https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/share/9ebfc8d6ae458af9e9c1

 

[john90009]

I have done a few 10 gallon waterchanges already and have gotten phosphates down to .20

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have done a few 10 gallon waterchanges already and have gotten phosphates down to .20

Thanks.

Has the lithium been changing with the water changes?

 

[john90009]

I have done the larger waterchanges to help combat the high phopahates, so I am unsure what the numbers are for today. The previous tests were at 500 for two tests ago and last test was at 1000. Normally do a 5 gallon weekly waterchange but since I have seen my pink lemonade reduce polpys and brown out I upped it to 10 gallons every few days.

 

[john90009]

My salinity was also showing 35.8 on apex, and on milwaki digital meter it would show 1.028, my handheld refract was saying 1.028. I am not sure how the salt got high but I was also second guessing all three of my testers. It seemed that apex was accurate at that time. However after waterchanges my apex is saying 34.8 however the milwaki and refract are still around 1.028 and 37 psu. That was my main reason to send out the water test. I find it weird that now my apex prob shows lower near 34.8 while my other two still show around 36

 

[Nonya]

At least in this series of tests, all salt mixes tested, including RC, had about 200-400 ug/L lithium.

The Ultimate Salt Test

I wanted to get this thread up and going before the holidays soak up all my time. I did a live YouTube with Deven from ReefDudes going over things but it is about 1.5 hours long. I will write up a more detailed explanation here in this first post soon. I am a hobbyist first and foremost. I have...

www.reef2reef.com

Is there any way to chemically bind magnesium?