ICP Test Can’t be right

[Cjeippert]

ICP shows Phosphorus at 10.6ppm. My hanna Phosphorus shows between 5 and 10 ppb consistently equating to .02 and .03 phosphate. No way can my Phosphorus be accurate. Am I missing something? Also is it normal for the RODI water to not be tested for silicon. That was my whole reason I did the test to see if silicates are making it through my rodi because when I use a certain brand of di resin I get diatom algae vs spectrapure silicabister I get no diatoms

 

[Cjeippert]

Thought there would be more analysis with the ICP or recommendations. Can you all provide insight on what I should do now?

 

[Cjeippert]

ICP shows Phosphorus at 10.6ppm. My hanna Phosphorus shows between 5 and 10 ppb consistently equating to .02 and .03 phosphate. No way can my Phosphorus be accurate. Am I missing something? Also is it normal for the RODI water to not be tested for silicon. That was my whole reason I did the test to see if silicates are making it through my rodi because when I use a certain brand of di resin I get diatom algae vs spectrapure silicabister I get no diatoms

Side note, my Salifert and api phosphate test say read zero phosphate. Must be a different type of phosphate these hobby kits are testing for. I must be getting straight sewer water from the city.

 

[Cjeippert]

Wonder if I should run my rodi off my water softener. I was told by lfs that the water softener will ruin ro membranes.

 

[Cjeippert]

I do run gfo and recently upgraded to rowaphos

 

[Dan_P]

ICP shows Phosphorus at 10.6ppm. My hanna Phosphorus shows between 5 and 10 ppb consistently equating to .02 and .03 phosphate. No way can my Phosphorus be accurate. Am I missing something? Also is it normal for the RODI water to not be tested for silicon. That was my whole reason I did the test to see if silicates are making it through my rodi because when I use a certain brand of di resin I get diatom algae vs spectrapure silicabister I get no diatoms

In general, ICP vendors do not guarantee the accuracy of their tests. Is the Hanna Checker valid for freshwater? I would double check the Hanna reading by test the RODI after you mix it salt. And there is a good chance the ICP results are nonsense.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd double check the result some other way.

 

[anthonygf]

Wonder if I should run my rodi off my water softener. I was told by lfs that the water softener will ruin ro membranes.

I have my RODI running from my water softener for several years and my membranes are still fine. Even with a water softener ( very hard water here) my TDS is 596 going in, 9 coming out. DI resin I get 0 out.

 

[anthonygf]

Water softeners use salt to remove TDS by replacing some minerals with the salt. It could be the salt (sodium chloride) may harm membranes, I don't know. I use potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride, safer for people and the environment.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Water softeners use salt to remove TDS by replacing some minerals with the salt. It could be the salt (sodium chloride) may harm membranes, I

No, it doesn't.

 

[anthonygf]

No, it doesn't.

Thank you Randy. If you mean that salt does no harm to membranes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you Randy. If you mean that salt does no harm to membranes.

Correct. Sodium and chloride do not harm RO membranes.

Chlorine and possibly chloramine. damage membranes, but no normal ions do much, except calcium and magnesium carbonate can precipitate onto/into it, reducing flow, which is why many RO/DI companies recommend water softeners prior to the RO/DI if the water is hard.

 

[Cjeippert]

I'd double check the result some other way.

I ordered 3 triton brand ICP tests. I will try them out. And let everyone know. The hanna ulr phosphorus checker seems to be fairly accurate for low nutrient tanks and the salifert and api tests are consistent with the hanna showing no readable phosphates.

 

[BlennyTime]

If you have a local LFS you work with, they’ll also probably test your water for free or a small fee. Would be another data point to have, while you wait for your other tests

 

[Cjeippert]

If you have a local LFS you work with, they’ll also probably test your water for free or a small fee. Would be another data point to have, while you wait for your other tests

Yes, i was considering that, but the 2 stores around here use salifert and the other api. I have all the hobby kits. But then again… user error and I find it difficult to read the color charts. That is why I gravitate to hanna. But good point nonetheless.

 

[Cjeippert]

Correct. Sodium and chloride do not harm RO membranes.

Chlorine and possibly chloramine. damage membranes, but no normal ions do much, except calcium and magnesium carbonate can precipitate onto/into it, reducing flow, which is why many RO/DI companies recommend water softeners prior to the RO/DI if the water is hard.

Thanks Randy, big fan of everything you do for the reefing community!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy, big fan of everything you do for the reefing community!

Thanks!

Happy Reefing.