High Tin in Triton ICP

[Zach W]

Hi all, over the past couple of weeks I have noticed a downturn in some of my SPS frags and decided to get a Triton ICP turns out I have high levels of tin, but no other metals. And on the whole nothing else is out of whack. I have seen many other threads about tin, but they seem to be anecdotal for a distinct cause. I have ordered cuprisorb to remove the tin that is present but I am unsure if this will be a persistent issue. Thanks!

 

[Larry L]

How new is the tank and plumbing? Have you had a previous ICP test with lower levels of tin? Tin is used as a stabilizer during the production of PVC. There's also some speculation that if a glass aquarium is built with any of the panes facing float-side in, then some tin might leach from the surface (since float glass is usually floated on tin).

 

[Dipan Desai]

I have a buddy having high tin issues also. Were trying to pinpoint why and the only thing that makes sense is the salt. He was doing water changes with Fritz. Out of curiosity are you doing water changes and if so which salt brand are you using?

 

[Zach W]

How new is the tank and plumbing? Have you had a previous ICP test with lower levels of tin? Tin is used as a stabilizer during the production of PVC. There's also some speculation that if a glass aquarium is built with any of the panes facing float-side in, then some tin might leach from the surface (since float glass is usually floated on tin).

I have not had previous icp tests so I am not sure on if this has been a persistent thing or something new, this is a good point. This could have been something in my tank from the start and I’m only realizing it now with the ICP. My tank is also a all in one so I don’t have “plumbing” in the tradition sense. I am running dosing tubing which I think is silicone tubing so not PVC. My dosing containers are also plastic VOSS bottles because I couldn’t find glass but I don’t think that would be it either.

 

[Zach W]

I have a buddy having high tin issues also. Were trying to pinpoint why and the only thing that makes sense is the salt. He was doing water changes with Fritz. Out of curiosity are you doing water changes and if so which salt brand are you using?

I’m using Aquaforest Reef Salt

 

[joe0813]

could also be from your tap water.

 

[Zach W]

could also be from your tap water.

I don’t use tap water, I am lucky to be able to get my water from my work from a Barnstead ultra pure water system. If I’m in a pinch I’ll use distilled

 

[joe0813]

i use RODI water but didnt change out my cartridges enough.... ICP test found tin in my RO water

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That tin level (11 ppb) is not very high (relative to others) and I would not worry about it unless you seem to have a coral problem.

Tin at that level is quite common and may come from PVC pipes, metal parts in or near the water, or even the aquarium glass that is made by floating on molten tin.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

i use RODI water but didnt change out my cartridges enough.... ICP test found tin in my RO water

What level of tin? What was the TDS?

 

[DanConnor]

Yeah, was experiencing loss of old sps colonies and decline of most species, and my tin tested at 35. I had recently moved my basement sump to a different room, and had a new 150 g livestock tank and some new PVC. I used cuprisorb and metasorb, but my feeling is the mAny water changes is what did the trick.

Of course, I don't actually know if the tin was the problem, or some other untested for toxin from the new equipment

 

[joe0813]

What level of tin? What was the TDS?

I don't remember the TDS level but the tin was only 15ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't remember the TDS level but the tin was only 15ppm.

presumably you mean ppb?
One would never expect there to be enough tin to detect by tds. The reason to ask is the tds is an indicator that the ro/di is working properly, and it is. Thus, I think it is possible, even likely, that the tin has a different source in that water than the effluent as it comes off the di. Like plastic it touched afterwards, etc.

 

[ADAM]

If you used any metal (even stainless) pipe clamps on your tubing check those. Fasteners (screws, hinges, etc) on the stand that may be rusting. Also check all your pump impellers, Ive had 2 powerheads that were less than a few months old start to rust. Other metals generally showed up on ICP when Ive had rusting issues but worth a check.
If the Cuprisorb doesn't do the trick, I have used TLF MetaZorb and Poly-Filter with good results for removing heavy metals. Beware that Poly-filter will remove PO4 also.

 

[joe0813]

presumably you mean ppb?
One would never expect there to be enough tin to detect by tds. The reason to ask is the tds is an indicator that the ro/di is working properly, and it is. Thus, I think it is possible, even likely, that the tin has a different source in that water than the effluent as it comes off the di. Like plastic it touched afterwards, etc.

I wish i could remember, it was a year ago. i do know that after i changed out my cartridges and resin i sent another sample and tin was around 5.

 

[HM3105]

If the tin is coming from PVC or some other plastic GAC will remove it since its probably organotin. I had issues with organotin coming from flex PVC and the GAC removed it very effectively. Normal tin cuprisorb seems to be the method of choice.

As far how long it'll last, far as I was able to find its a short lived issue that seems to resolve fairly quickly depending on the source.

 

[Zach W]

T

That tin level (11 ppb) is not very high (relative to others) and I would not worry about it unless you seem to have a coral problem.

Tin at that level is quite common and may come from PVC pipes, metal parts in or near the water, or even the aquarium glass that is made by floating on molten tin.

Thanks Randy! Good to know this is not a level that should be overly concerning!

 

[Zach W]

Thank you @joe0813 and @HM3105 for the input. Since I have an AIO I don’t have a traditional sump. The only things I have in the cabinet that are connected to my main system are my ato and 4 dosing containers but they are all closed. That being said some of my hinges have small rust spots. If the source was from rust though, I would expect other metals (Al, Zn, etc.) to be present
I do run ROX Carbon passively