Interesting lab analysis of my water

[Ewilson]

So just for fun I had the lab at the plant I work at run my water for the things they could. These are not even close to the readings I get from my salifert test kits

 

[Javeii]

If I am reading this right, those are really low values. Right?

 

[Ewilson]

If I am reading this right, those are really low values. Right?

Correct but I am not sure if these machines would even read correctly for saltwater

 

[Ewilson]

Well after speaking to my lab tech, with it being saltwater it doesnt have an affect on their testing and he believes it should be relatively accurate

 

[Javeii]

What instrument did you use in the lab?

 

[Ewilson]

Not sure what insturments they use but its a chemical plant and the results they give have to be pretty accurate

 

[daelie]

Yeah, those aren't accurate.

 

[Ewilson]

The sodium doesnt have a value on the lab sheet

 

[Sabellafella]

The sodium doesnt have a value on the lab sheet

Na is sodium. Very wierd lab test indeed. Could you find out what equipment they used for the testing?

 

[Ewilson]

Ill ask them

 

[Ewilson]

Inductive coupled plasma machine

 

[Ewilson]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductively_coupled_plasma_mass_spectrometry

 

[daelie]

Ok, an ICP that isn't set up to test seawater samples is not going to be accurate in testing seawater samples. So you may as well throw the numbers your tech gave you in the trash.

Rather than type out a summary: https://reefs.com/magazine/triton-lab-icp-oes-water-testing-154/

 

[Ewilson]

Sorry its an ICP-OES not ICP-MS. Triton uses a OES for their test results

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure why they didn't get better results. I've used this type of machine myself and while the results are noisy, the values are not off like that.

 

[Ewilson]

I'm not sure why they didn't get better results. I've used this type of machine myself and while the results are noisy, the values are not off like that.

Im not 100% sure but should i just stick with the salifert or maybe take them a fresh sample of new mixed saltwater and see what they get

 

[Sabellafella]

Im not 100% sure but should i just stick with the salifert or maybe take them a fresh sample of new mixed saltwater and see what they get

I would take a fresh sw sample. There may be more going on then what meets the eye.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Im not 100% sure but should i just stick with the salifert or maybe take them a fresh sample of new mixed saltwater and see what they get

It will take too much effort, IMO, to convince yourself the ICP results are better than hobby kits.

 

[FlyinBryan]

What results did you get on your salifert test kits? Side by side comparison would be interesting!
Thx in advance!

 

[Ewilson]

It will take too much effort, IMO, to convince yourself the ICP results are better than hobby kits.

Your probably right I'll stick to the salifert test kits