ICP Analysis Results Advice

[TwinReefDad]

I just got my first ICP Analysis test results back for a 24 gallon frag tank that I have had up and running for about four months now. I have recently started having some issues with a few corals, and I have been unable to figure out what may be happening, so I sent in a test. I could use some help interpreting the results, as it looks like some trace elements are outside the recommended ranges. I am not sure if these results could be directly attributed to coral issues.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

For one PO4 is way to high from what I can see. That's a weird test back they sent you IMHO. Here look at the PO4 from ppb to ppm.

My recommendation is do a water change and start dosing some trace elements.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not a huge fan of that ICP company, but assuming the result are accurate, then...

potassium is too low and I'd boost it
salinity looks to be quite low. What do you think it is?
you may benefit from a trace element supplement mix since many are low

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Who do you like for icp? From what I have seen if you send any of them multiple samples from the same tank you are getting different results.

I don't have a particular company i recommend. Here's a recent thread where I commented, as well as others who use ICp frequently:

Best ICP analysis options in the US?

I dont know for sure, but worth looking into I can only see for myself and go off informationfrom others, I wasn't even aware of the company until it was mentioned, also why I went with ATI. I didnt want to tell anyone they are wrong on something i have no experience with. I've never icp tested...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[TwinReefDad]

I am not sure how they calculate PO4, but per their calculation

I'm not a huge fan of that ICP company, but assuming the result are accurate, then...

potassium is too low and I'd boost it
salinity looks to be quite low. What do you think it is?
you may benefit from a trace element supplement mix since many are low

I have the salinity at 1.026 SG measured using a refractometer from BRS. I calibrated it using a calibration solution a few months ago.

 

[TwinReefDad]

For one PO4 is way to high from what I can see. That's a weird test back they sent you IMHO. Here look at the PO4 from ppb to ppm.

My recommendation is do a water change and start dosing some trace elements.

When I measure PO4 using the hanna HI774 test kit I get .04 ppm.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am not sure how they calculate PO4, but per their calculation

I have the salinity at 1.026 SG measured using a refractometer from BRS. I calibrated it using a calibration solution a few months ago.

Someone is mistaken, and in other threads, it has sometimes clearly been ICP analysis dot com that had one or more errors.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

When I measure PO4 using the hanna HI774 test kit I get .04 ppm.

It's not impossible, though perhaps unlikely for the total P (ICP detects all forms, including organics) to be significantly higher than the detectable P (just inorganic orthophosphate) by Hanna test kit.