My first Triton results came back

bfsaunde · Jul 22, 2017

Below is the link to my Triton results from my 57 gallon aquarium. Based on my readings and tank observations before the tests, I am not surprised by the results. I use ESV salt and ESV 2-part. I also use NoPox for controlling Nitrates and Phosphates. I've struggled with diatom blooms for over a year. They only seem to be bad after a water change and clear up in about five days. By clear up, I mean they reduce to a tolerable level for me visually. I do stir/vacuum from the top of the sand. I'm not sure if the sand or RO/DI water is the source of the Silicates but they are definitely elevated as I expected. I have not used GFO but plan on using Rowa Phos to try and get the silicates down.
The Triton results has a lot of suggestions for correction of the different issue with the parameters but I would really just like to focus on getting the Iodine up a bit and get those Silicates down. I'm not sure how to resolve the Lithium issue as I've seen other salts have high Lithium. I may switch salts once this batch of ESV is gone. I'm also in the middle of setting up a larger tank (Red Sea 425 XL) to move into. Longterm I would also like to get away from the NoPox. I think it is a great product but I already use it diluted to a tenth of the strength and I have trouble running the PO4 and Nitrates to low.
Any thoughts about my situation are welcome.
https://www.triton-lab.de/en/showroom/aquarium/auswertung-b/icp-oes/41333/

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2017

I personally wouldn't waste effort on iodine (I don't think it useful), but it is easy to dose iodide if you want.

What do you use for evaporation replacement?

bfsaunde · Jul 23, 2017

Tunze osmolator

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2017

I mean the water itself?

Tap water is typically a big source of silicate.

bfsaunde · Jul 23, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I mean the water itself?

Tap water is typically a big source of silicate.

Ok, this is funny. I thought that was an odd question. RO/DI. Replaced all media in it in February. TDS meter reads zero but not sure how effective it is at detecting silicates

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2017

Silicate is one of the poorer things removed by RO/DI, so if the TDs begins to rise above 0 ppm, it might become significant.

bfsaunde · Jul 23, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Silicate is one of the poorer things removed by RO/DI, so if the TDs begins to rise above 0 ppm, it might become significant.

Thanks for the advice. I think I am going to ditch my sand when I move to the larger tank. I'm going to put some Rowa Phos in a fluidized reactor and see if I can get it down some in the current tank.