ICP results - anything concerning?

bubblemytip · Aug 17, 2017

I got my first ICP test back (tried a MarinLab/Aquaforest ICP). Test sample taken on 19 July 2017. All my main elements were fine and I have no detections of any what Aquaforest describes as 'pollutants', other than 4.61 ug/L of Aluminium, but I supposedly have:

Lithium of 226ug/L (salt mix or remnants of a Tech-M dose from last year?)
Barium of 292 ug/L (salt mix (Red Sea blue bucket when I last changed water 4 months ago, or zeovit stones, I'm guessing. I have read that such a concentration is unlikely. Would testing my tank water by adding it to some clear magnesium sulfate solution and watching for a precipitate reveal anything/verify this?)
Molybdenum of 41.2 ug/L (trace mix? Was using Dupla Strontium/Molybdenum supplement. Have stopped using this, as I ran out shortly after the test. Have now sourced some analytical-grade strontium sulfate to use instead.)
Vanadium of 8.13 ug/L (trace mix? Magnet maybe?)
Iodine of 1.09 ug/L (very low, so have begun dosing to see if I notice any difference)
Sulfur of 1058 mg/L (likely due to using Magnesium sulfate. I am now using magnesium chloride)

Will post full results below.

Any suggestions/useful interpretations would be welcome. Thanks!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 17, 2017

I wonder if that picture is the lady who ran the test. lol

I don't see anything particularly concerning among the results. Phosphate may be a bit low, if accurate.

I would stop dosing molybdenum.

bubblemytip · Aug 17, 2017

Many thanks, Randy. I have had a few bits cyano (nothing major) and wonder if the moblydenum has enhanced that. I imagine the moblybdenum will deplete on its own if I have stopped dosing - would it be removed by skimming/detritus removal?

I sent off a Triton test (I had lying around) yesterday one month after the above test sample, so will see if anything has changed (albeit different testing methodologies between the ICP companies might confuse any possible trends). My dosing (other than stopping the strontium/molybdenum and the trace mix) has remained consistent and I have not done a water change.

Corals are looking good and growing, so that's the main thing (apart from a pale M. digitata that used to be forest green and is now pale, but still noticeably growing day to day).

Thanks!

jason2459 · Aug 18, 2017

I've found Triton and Aquaforest ICP testing to be fairly similar in results. Keep in mind you can send in multiple samples from the same water source to the same place and get different results at the same time.

bubblemytip · Aug 18, 2017

Thanks, Jason. Yes, I am largely only testing to check for unwanted accumulations or heavy metals, so not too fussed as long as long term trends can be identified to some degree.

I aim to send a test off every 2-3 months (at least initially) while I do the DSR method.

bubblemytip · Nov 8, 2017

Update: These are my results from a Triton test (sample from 20 September, so approximately one month after the above test) - https://www.triton-lab.de/en/showroom/aquarium/auswertung-b/icp-oes/38525/

In summary, key concerning items were:

Tin 11ug/l
Lithium 277 ug/l
Nickel 3.175ug/l
Molybdenum 46ug/l
Zinc - undetectable
Manganese - undetectable

Following those results, I did some water changes (10% every week) and kept an eye on things.

I have tried to find the source of the Tin (covering door hinges with Vaseline and electrical tape), inspecting pumps. Also changed from using two-part dosing to a calcium reactor.

Another month later, here are my results from another MarinLab test (sample taken on 19 October 2017, same time of day as previous two tests):

Key results:

Tin remains high and has even increased to 27.6ug/l
Copper is now detectable at 5.72ug/l
Cobalt is detectable
Manganese is detectable
Iron is detectable (could have been from dosing pump administering iron prior to sample being taken - need to check dosing time)
Potassium has increased (deliberately)
Zinc, Vanadium and Nickel have all increased.
Barium has dropped significantly since stopping the zeovit system/use of the zeolites.

Last night I took apart my Vortech MP10s (one of them came apart easily, the other I have been unable to slide the prop off the shaft (corrosion? It is currently soaking in vinegar). I will be inspecting all heaters etc this weekend again to double-check.

In terms of corrections, these results are about a month old now. I have done 10% water changes every week. Corals are showing great extension and do not seem to be suffering - growth has been steady.

Would Cuprisorb be a good option until I identify the source?
I will also send in a test sample of my RODI and freshly mixed salt water to see what that reveals.

My additions to the tank:

I use Red Sea blue bucket salt.

Tank has been running for two years, with same drain plumbing etc, so tin from the PVC and glass seems unlikely.

I feed almost exclusively Newlife Spectrum pellets, with occasional Dupla cyclopeeze and seachem phytoplankton.

I dose the following:

Kalk via peristaltic pump from a still reservoir during night.
Potassium chloride solution.
1ml/day of iron citrate solution (5g dissolved in 4L of RODI).
Magnesium chloride solution.
Sodium iodide solution (30ml per day, concentration is 100ml/100L --> ~0.0126ppm increase)
Calcium reactor running Seachem LG media mixed with KZ coral skeletons, and Zeomag in the degassing chamber.
KZ spongepower a few times a week (believe this is a silicate and vanadium mixture of some sort)
Faunamarin reef bacto balls (x2 per month, changed at the same time as GAC)
KZ Flatworm Stop (1ml/day -administered with a syringe by hand)

I run the following equipment: