ICP-analysis results high tin

[SudoGeeks]

My frogspawns have been looking not so great for about a month, so I decided to send in an ICP test. I thought I might save some money and time and go with ICP-analysis.com as they are a US company.

I got my results back the same day they received my sample which I thought was amazing, but after looking at the results I am not sure I can trust the outcome.

There are several parameters that are not quite where I would like them as I am sure you will all see, however the main thing that sticks out is that it's saying I have 77ppb of tin.

I have a few other friends that have done Triton tests in the past and they informed me they started having SPS death at only 15ppb of tin. So far all the acros in my tank seem to be growing and doing fairly well, but that level of tin being reported has me kinda sketched out.

I guess my question is if I am seeing high levels of tin are there any other elements that would also normally go up in ratio with the tin that would help prove or disprove the level of tin is correct?

I did have 4 metallic hose clamps in my sump area that I have since removed and replaced with plastic. They were not submerged but were showing sings of rust and could have possibly dropped rust particles into the water.

If the tin in the water is real are there any methods of removal other than significant water changes?

 

[Mykesocalreef]

My frogspawns have been looking not so great for about a month, so I decided to send in an ICP test. I thought I might save some money and time and go with ICP-analysis.com as they are a US company.

I got my results back the same day they received my sample which I thought was amazing, but after looking at the results I am not sure I can trust the outcome.

There are several parameters that are not quite where I would like them as I am sure you will all see, however the main thing that sticks out is that it's saying I have 77ppb of tin.

I have a few other friends that have done Triton tests in the past and they informed me they started having SPS death at only 15ppb of tin. So far all the acros in my tank seem to be growing and doing fairly well, but that level of tin being reported has me kinda sketched out.

I guess my question is if I am seeing high levels of tin are there any other elements that would also normally go up in ratio with the tin that would help prove or disprove the level of tin is correct?

I did have 4 metallic hose clamps in my sump area that I have since removed and replaced with plastic. They were not submerged but were showing sings of rust and could have possibly dropped rust particles into the water.

If the tin in the water is real are there any methods of removal other than significant water changes?

I am right there with you, I have it in my RODI sample along with silicon. I have zero metal parts in my reservoir so am confused as well.

 

[SudoGeeks]

I am right there with you, I have it in my RODI sample along with silicon. I have zero metal parts in my reservoir so am confused as well.

I am thinking about sending a sample into ATI, just to see if the numbers jive.

 

[TheHarold]

My RODI was clean but my tank showed aluminum, tin, zinc. I searched pumps, nothing was wrong. I then searched my sanded with a big magnet, and found a rusty razor . Guess I dropped it while cleaning the glass!

 

[SudoGeeks]

My RODI was clean but my tank showed aluminum, tin, zinc. I searched pumps, nothing was wrong. I then searched my sanded with a big magnet, and found a rusty razor . Guess I dropped it while cleaning the glass!

Do you recall what kinda numbers that thing produced? Also were you having any issues with corals?

 

[TheHarold]

Do you recall what kinda numbers that thing produced? Also were you having any issues with corals?

Huge issues with corals. Primarily SPS tank- I lost two colonies (4"+), all my large 6"+ montipora colonies are pale brown instead of their former beautiful color. The only color left was light brown in the whole tank. Acropora are just starting to recover, with hints of color coming back. It will be a 4 month setback at least.

I can post photos of how the corals looked if you like, I have tons of photos lol. They're sad.

I have my lab results pulled up:

Copper 4.37 µg/l
Tin: 15.91 µg/l
Zinc: 14.42 µg/l
Vanadium: 2.56 µg/l
Aluminum: 7.38 µg/l

 

[Mykesocalreef]

The beauty of bare bottom is I can see the bottom! lol I wish I had sand to find a razorblade.

 

[SudoGeeks]

The beauty of bare bottom is I can see the bottom! lol I wish I had sand to find a razorblade.

My tank is bare bottom as well, no razor blades hanging out. But going over the numbers @TheHarold posted seems to confirm what my friends were saying about 15ppb of tin killing corals. I don't think there is any possible way I would have anything living with the reported 77ppb I got back.

 

[TheHarold]

My tank is bare bottom as well, no razor blades hanging out. But going over the numbers @TheHarold posted seems to confirm what my friends were saying about 15ppb of tin killing corals. I don't think there is any possible way I would have anything living with the reported 77ppb I got back.

Just to clarify myself- LPS corals, soft corals, clams, and anemones were absolutely fine throughout this. My issues were only with SPS corals.

 

[Mykesocalreef]

Huge issues with corals. Primarily SPS tank- I lost two colonies (4"+), all my large 6"+ montipora colonies are pale brown instead of their former beautiful color. The only color left was light brown in the whole tank. Acropora are just starting to recover, with hints of color coming back. It will be a 4 month setback at least.

I can post photos of how the corals looked if you like, I have tons of photos lol. They're sad.

I have my lab results pulled up:

Copper 4.37 µg/l 0
Tin: 15.91 µg/l 27.68
Zinc: 14.42 µg/l 2.35
Vanadium: 2.56 µg/l 1.64
Aluminum: 7.38 µg/l

8.62
I posted my results next to yours. I only have 4 types of SPS in my tank all doing well and growing.. Maybe the copper and zinc are the main culprits that do the damage?

 

[Mykesocalreef]

My tank is bare bottom as well, no razor blades hanging out. But going over the numbers @TheHarold posted seems to confirm what my friends were saying about 15ppb of tin killing corals. I don't think there is any possible way I would have anything living with the reported 77ppb I got back.

Not sure the conversion but my tin is @ 27.68 ug/l

 

[SudoGeeks]

Not sure the conversion but my tin is @ 27.68 ug/l

27.68ppb, ug/l is the same as ppb

 

[Mykesocalreef]

27.68ppb, ug/l is the same as ppb

I would check for rust and any other metal contaminant.. I know they also suggest multiple large water changes and a retest.

 

[SudoGeeks]

8.62
I posted my results next to yours. I only have 4 types of SPS in my tank all doing well and growing.. Maybe the copper and zinc are the main culprits that do the damage?

I know that there are a few different polymer beads and poly-filters that are designed to remove copper so that's likely easy to deal with. I have yet to see anything that claims removal of tin. I am going to try metasorb I think.

 

[imaan]

Hi. I`m sorry for my English language.
I have Tin problem for 8 months and I lost all of my SPS corals. In first they close the polyps and after that start the STN. I search in web sites and my tank for anything that you can think to it. I sent 3 times tank water to ICP Aquaforest and Triton. but I can`t find the solution. some body said our Aquamedic titanium heater causes it. some body said flot glass is problem, but after a few weeks it should stopped. some body said magnets, metals, bad Salts, suplments ...
But none of them could solved my problem.
finally I find that carbon filters in stages 2 and 3 in RO/DI machine causes it. ;Blackeyewhen I open its hosing, I saw that the iron rust was deposited from the inside of the filter to the outside of the filter. after I changed the filter My problem has been solved.
Important: TDS Meters can`t show Tin in Ro/DI water. I check RO/DI water with 3 TDS Meter and they all showed Zero

 

[SudoGeeks]

Hi. I`m sorry for my English language.
I have Tin problem for 8 months and I lost all of my SPS corals. In first they close the polyps and after that start the STN. I search in web sites and my tank for anything that you can think to it. I sent 3 times tank water to ICP Aquaforest and Triton. but I can`t find the solution. some body said our Aquamedic titanium heater causes it. some body said flot glass is problem, but after a few weeks it should stopped. some body said magnets, metals, bad Salts, suplments ...
But none of them could solved my problem.
finally I find that carbon filters in stages 2 and 3 in RO/DI machine causes it. ;Blackeyewhen I open its hosing, I saw that the iron rust was deposited from the inside of the filter to the outside of the filter. after I changed the filter My problem has been solved.
Important: TDS Meters can`t show Tin in Ro/DI water. I check RO/DI water with 3 TDS Meter and they all showed Zero

Thanks for sharing, I plan to send in a test to ATI which will test RODI and tank water, hopefully ATI shows some more realistic results than icp-analysis did.
I don't believe that I have 77ppb tin, but the fact it showed any means there's a problem somewhere.

After you located the source of your tin did you just do water changes to remove it from the tank or did you find some filter that removes it?

 

[imaan]

Thanks for sharing, I plan to send in a test to ATI which will test RODI and tank water, hopefully ATI shows some more realistic results than icp-analysis did.
I don't believe that I have 77ppb tin, but the fact it showed any means there's a problem somewhere.

After you located the source of your tin did you just do water changes to remove it from the tank or did you find some filter that removes it?

I did 10% Weekily WC routine. but you can use Continuum Power•Cleanse HM heavy metal or Seachem CupriSorb or Triton Detox to remove it. But Big problem is finding the source. After that with each WC Tin decreased.
good luck

 

[dragon99]

Cuprisorb completely removed tin and aluminum in my tank earlier this year. I definitely believe the tin was killing sps even at 15-17ug/ml that I was showing.

 

[SudoGeeks]

Cuprisorb completely removed tin and aluminum in my tank earlier this year. I definitely believe the tin was killing sps even at 15-17ug/ml that I was showing.

These levels are in line with what my friend was at when he had acro die off.

I have an ATI test on the way and also some metasorb. I have removed 4 metal hose clamps from my sump area that could have been dropping rust into the water. I did also have a small fish net that was on the rim of one of the tanks that had a bit of rust on it. I have since moved that away from the tanks.

Hopefully I can get this issue sorted.

 

[Mykesocalreef]

Hi. I`m sorry for my English language.
I have Tin problem for 8 months and I lost all of my SPS corals. In first they close the polyps and after that start the STN. I search in web sites and my tank for anything that you can think to it. I sent 3 times tank water to ICP Aquaforest and Triton. but I can`t find the solution. some body said our Aquamedic titanium heater causes it. some body said flot glass is problem, but after a few weeks it should stopped. some body said magnets, metals, bad Salts, suplments ...
But none of them could solved my problem.
finally I find that carbon filters in stages 2 and 3 in RO/DI machine causes it. ;Blackeyewhen I open its hosing, I saw that the iron rust was deposited from the inside of the filter to the outside of the filter. after I changed the filter My problem has been solved.
Important: TDS Meters can`t show Tin in Ro/DI water. I check RO/DI water with 3 TDS Meter and they all showed Zero

My RODI shows tin. How did you open the carbon blocks to find the rust?