ICP results - really high chlorine??

[christianscorals]

I sent in my “free” ICP tests from RAP and received insanely high chlorine readings for both my display and frag tank.. aside from that, a reading of 324PPB phosphorus (about 1.0ppm phosphate) when both hanna phosphorus and phosphate ulr read 0 - 0.01ppm phosphate. Not too sure what to believe..

 

[rtparty]

Chlorine = chloride and is fine.

I wouldn’t trust much on an ICP Analysis test

 

[taricha]

with a bunch of major ions looking elevated, I'd want to recheck my salinity.

 

[bushdoc]

Are you dosing 2 part?
It can raise NaCl concentration over time if you don't correct it, Balling method corrects it, but you need to adjust sg now and then.

 

[christianscorals]

with a bunch of major ions looking elevated, I'd want to recheck my salinity.

salinity is at 1.026

 

[christianscorals]

Are you dosing 2 part?
It can raise NaCl concentration over time if you don't correct it, Balling method corrects it, but you need to adjust sg now and then.

i’m dosing all for reef in both systems

 

[KStatefan]

salinity is at 1.026

If you are sure on that then I would value the ICP results as worthless. Just the NaCl part from the ICP would make your salinity 36.8 ppt or 1.0277

 

[Uncle99]

Maybe got what you paid for.
Trust your tests.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I sent in my “free” ICP tests from RAP and received insanely high chlorine readings for both my display and frag tank.. aside from that, a reading of 324PPB phosphorus (about 1.0ppm phosphate) when both hanna phosphorus and phosphate ulr read 0 - 0.01ppm phosphate. Not too sure what to believe..

The Chloride is fine, but your salinity is very high.

I would check the calibration of your salinity measurement device.

 

[Seansea]

Using tap water or ro/di? Tap water has a bunch of clorine in it

 

[taricha]

I would check the calibration of your salinity measurement device.

Yes. This is what I was getting at. It is possible that your salinity is actually good, and this ICP test showing everything elevated by 20% or so is wrong, and the ICP report overall contains no data of value. It's also possible that your salinity measuring device is miscalibrated and your tanks are running at high salinity. If so, then the ICP report may actually contain some actionable information. Both results are possible, and both results actually happen on this forum.

 

[christianscorals]

Using tap water or ro/di? Tap water has a bunch of clorine in it

RODI

 

[christianscorals]

Yes. This is what I was getting at. It is possible that your salinity is actually good, and this ICP test showing everything elevated by 20% or so is wrong, and the ICP report overall contains no data of value. It's also possible that your salinity measuring device is miscalibrated and your tanks are running at high salinity. If so, then the ICP report may actually contain some actionable information. Both results are possible, and both results actually happen on this forum.

Thanks for your input. Maybe I should’ve stuck with my regular ATI icp testing but thought i’d give this company a try since it was only $8 to unlock all results. I test with a refractometer and double check with a hydrometer when i’m suspicious of something

 

[christianscorals]

If you are sure on that then I would value the ICP results as worthless. Just the NaCl part from the ICP would make your salinity 36.8 ppt or 1.0277

The Chloride is fine, but your salinity is very high.

I would check the calibration of your salinity measurement device.

Yes. This is what I was getting at. It is possible that your salinity is actually good, and this ICP test showing everything elevated by 20% or so is wrong, and the ICP report overall contains no data of value. It's also possible that your salinity measuring device is miscalibrated and your tanks are running at high salinity. If so, then the ICP report may actually contain some actionable information. Both results are possible, and both results actually happen on this forum.

what would be the reason for such high phosphate reading? it seems ridiculously high for both systems compared to what i read. could it be that it’s detecting the neophos being dosed in the water column or something? would it not also be picked up by my hannas?

 

[taricha]

what would be the reason for such high phosphate reading?

In samples with both phosphate and iodine, there is significant potential for interference. That particular company reports nonsense phosphorus and iodine values more often than some others, especially if a sample contains both. I've seen both nonsense high and low values for each P and Iodine.

 

[taricha]

Maybe I should’ve stuck with my regular ATI icp testing but thought i’d give this company a try since it was only $8 to unlock all results. I test with a refractometer and double check with a hydrometer when i’m suspicious of something

So ATI gives you results that are close to your salinity measurements and your Hanna phosphate checkers?

 

[christianscorals]

So ATI gives you results that are close to your salinity measurements and your Hanna phosphate checkers?

correct. no outrageous numbers like this company

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

salinity is at 1.026

Just reinforcing what others have said, but by icp it isn’t. Not sure which is correct, but the salinity by icp is much higher.

I’d double check how you are measuring salinity and recalibrate it.

 

[EricR]

Question out of curiosity:
Is there a formula or, better yet, calculator to determine overall salinity based on values of key major elements from an ICP test?

 

[christianscorals]

Just reinforcing what others have said, but by icp it isn’t. Not sure which is correct, but the salinity by icp is much higher.

I’d double check how you are measuring salinity and recalibrate it.

could my high precision hydrometer be wrong?