Need some help.

Triggreef · Jul 22, 2016

A recent triton test has me a little stumped. I have been having some issues with certain elevated elements I can't explain. Test revealed some other problems now in addition.

I have been fighting high aluminum and zinc. Zinc has always been elevated but it's higher than usual. Aluminum is well into the red on the test at about 10 times normal. Zinc is about 4 times nsw level. I have no explanation for those as I do not use any aluminum based material to my knowledge.

The new problem is ba which is 7 times the normal level. And some how my N/a is down to 9384.0 mg l which I don't understand how that can be. I keep my salt level at 1.026 always. Ca is 462 and mg is in the 1200 range.

Only media I use is exportpo4 and marineland carbon. I was using lanthanum chloride for po4 but stopped using it months ago to eliminate it from the possible causes of my issues. Been doing almost weekly or by weekly 60g water changes to try to get back to normal for the last couple months with no relief.

On a side note I have 3 tanks going and use the same ro on each. Whatever the issue is, it seems to only be a factor in this one system.

Seadragon1 · Jul 22, 2016

What are the levels in your tap water?

fab · Jul 22, 2016

Triggreef said:
On a side note I have 3 tanks going and use the same ro on each. Whatever the issue is, it seems to only be a factor in this one system.

What is different amongst the tanks in terms of sizes and contents. Are they all plumbed together in any way? or are they all totally separated from each other in terms of water flows.

ksc · Jul 22, 2016

Is there a problem with the tank? Have you checked for anything which could be leaching? I'd never trust those Triton tests as they've been shown to be inaccurate on many elements.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 22, 2016

i do not know if any of those levels are really a problem, but I have heard that some types of GFO deliver barium, so if that concerns you, you might switch to a diffrent brand of GFO.

Triggreef · Jul 22, 2016

Been having issues with some acro, and a lot of monti lately. Some huge monti colonies nearly gone. Never had issues with monti prior to getting these elevated levels. Not all monti having issues either. Purple haze never been better. Setosa just fine. Stellata in trouble. Purple cap and x factor cap on trouble. Not parasite. Large sections will turn white over night and slough away almost like what cyano does if you blast cyano with turkey Baster.

3 separate systems not plumbed together. Issues only in one system. Ro water is nearly perfect i did have that analyzed before in the past.

Triggreef · Jul 22, 2016

ksc said:
Is there a problem with the tank? Have you checked for anything which could be leaching? I'd never trust those Triton tests as they've been shown to be inaccurate on many elements.

I've done a lot of triton test, probly about a dozen or so since they came out. They are mostly always showing the same things. Also i generally test what i can before sending the test and the results always are spot on with my red Sea results. Great readings when my tank is doing well, and readings very similar to this one when things are not doing well. So regardless of the skeptics, i trust the triton results.

Also my alk and ca have been very stable last few months. Not stable at all in the other 2 tanks that are doing well though. Lol

Triggreef · Jul 23, 2016

@Randy Holmes-Farley what does this mean and how can i fix it??

". And some how my N/a is down to 9384.0 mg l which I don't understand how that can be. I keep my salt level at 1.026 always. Ca is 462 and mg is in the 1200 range."

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 23, 2016

Triggreef said:
@Randy Holmes-Farley what does this mean and how can i fix it??

". And some how my N/a is down to 9384.0 mg l which I don't understand how that can be. I keep my salt level at 1.026 always. Ca is 462 and mg is in the 1200 range."

Low sodium at normal salinity means that a higher proportion of magnesium potassium, and/or calcium are present than in NSW at the same salinity. Maybe your salinity determinaton is off.

Triggreef · Jul 23, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Low sodium at normal salinity means that a higher proportion of magnesium potassium, and/or calcium are present than in NSW at the same salinity. Maybe your salinity determinaton is off.

Maybe it's all the zinc and aluminum? Lol I'm kidding.

I use a refractometer. I never recalibrate it since i bought it but i would think of it were off in this tank then it should be off in the other tanks as well.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 24, 2016

There's not much else that can lower sodium,

mcarroll · Sep 18, 2016

Mg of 1200ppm is quite low, isn't it? With something like 1300+ppm being the NSW target?

I've noticed my other test results being off when Mg has gotten this low. I never saw tissue-sloughing like you describe, but I don't think my corals loved it either. I'd fix magnesium (and retest everything else; adjust as needed) and see if things turn around in a few weeks.

And at least check your refractometer with some RODI water. If it's way off, this'll show it.