ICP Results Help?

[StewyC]

Hi guys,

I have just got my first ICP test results and would really appreciate it if some of you experienced reefers would be so kind as to help me with the results!

I have a Red Sea Reefer 200 XL G2 which is 7 months old, everything has been going pretty well up until about 2 months ago when my zoas stopped opening. I thought it best to get a ICP test but unsure on the results apart from quite a bit of red!

From the test it would seem I am low on quite a lot of trace elements so plan to start dosing as I currently don't dose anything apart from a touch of baking soda every now and again to keep my Alk up.

Alk 8.2
Nitrates 16
PH 8.4

These have all been pretty stable for quite a few months. I don't have any major algae issues and some corals seem to be doing OK, my Duncan has formed new heads and I have a gsp on the back glass which is spreading,my acan has formed new heads, it just seems to be the zoas...

Thanks for any advice!

 

[jda]

Iron is the only thing on that list that I would dose. If you want to replace some of all of those at once, do a water change.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I'm curious, do you do any waterchanges?

 

[StewyC]

I'm curious, do you do any waterchanges?

Hi, yes 10% weekly

 

[StewyC]

Iron is the only thing on that list that I would dose. If you want to replace some of all of those at once, do a water change.

Thanks for the advice, I will try dosing some iron

I did also get my RODI water tested, again there is quite a bit of red which as a new reefer seems a bit alarming! Would you happen to know if anything looks really bad from the results?

Thanks again for any advice!

 

[jda]

For the record, I am not a huge fan if ICP testing. They have margin for error that often gives more questions than providing answers and most of the elements that the test for have no known set point for organic use. I would rather spend the money on salt and change more water which is more of a known thing to me.

It is totally possible that your RO sample was completely clean.

Probably best if other people answer these questions who believe in the method more. My general advice is to send another sample to another company before acting too much on an ICP test.

 

[StewyC]

For the record, I am not a huge fan if ICP testing. They have margin for error that often gives more questions than providing answers and most of the elements that the test for have no known set point for organic use. I would rather spend the money on salt and change more water which is more of a known thing to me.

It is totally possible that your RO sample was completely clean.

Probably best if other people answer these questions who believe in the method more. My general advice is to send another sample to another company before acting too much on an ICP test.

OK, thanks for the input

 

[KStatefan]

The ones in red look like they will be insignificant when salt is added.

ie Potassium 0.03 ppb = 0.00003 ppm while your salt mix will be 380 ppm or so.

Silicon might be one to look at closer.