Please help me understand my 1st ATI ICP results

[Hoyhoy]

Hi all,

I just received my 1st ATI test results and I am very worried about some readings (full report here: https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/publicAnalysis/27039):

- Salinty shows 31.17 PSU even though my refractometer shows 35 ppt (I always calibrate it with 0 ppt solution).
- High calcium level of 513 ppm (my hanna checker showed 470 ppm!)
- Incredibly high silicon level of 757.9 µg/l. I am using a Spectrapure 4 stage RODI unit with silica buster at the last stage (0 tds output and ICP test result can be found here > https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/share/299fb6985f67ca0ea5b9).
- Low Iodine levels. Is this a major concern?
- High nitrates at 58 mg/l (working on dosing NoPox)
- Aluminum at 29.25 µg/l. Is this an issue? I do have one marine pure block in the sump. Could this be the source of aluminum?
- Some results are shown with the "u." value. Does this mean a zero?

I am currently planning on doing a 20% water change then I will start dosing ATI 1,2,3.
Looking forward your feedback...thanks!

 

[Potatohead]

- You need to calibrate with a 35ppt reference solution. This is why.
- Calcium is no big deal, never used the Hanna calcium test, but I hear it's a bit of a pain. I use Salifert.
- Aluminum is almost certainly from the MP block, this will likely fall with consistent water changes. Doubtful it will continue to leach over time, they are worst when new.
- A lot of people dose iodine, but most tanks seem to use it quickly. Probably a good idea to dose if you have soft corals
- u means undetectable
- I am not sure on silica, I have never researched it with RODI because it is not a problem for me

 

[Brew12]

Hi all,

I just received my 1st ATI test results and I am very worried about some readings (full report here: https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/publicAnalysis/27039):

- Salinty shows 31.17 PSU even though my refractometer shows 35 ppt (I always calibrate it with 0 ppt solution).
- High calcium level of 513 ppm (my hanna checker showed 470 ppm!)
- Incredibly high silicon level of 757.9 µg/l. I am using a Spectrapure 4 stage RODI unit with silica buster at the last stage (0 tds output and ICP test result can be found here > https://lab.atiaquaristik.com/share/299fb6985f67ca0ea5b9).
- Low Iodine levels. Is this a major concern?
- High nitrates at 58 mg/l (working on dosing NoPox)
- Aluminum at 29.25 µg/l. Is this an issue? I do have one marine pure block in the sump. Could this be the source of aluminum?
- Some results are shown with the "u." value. Does this mean a zero?

I am currently planning on doing a 20% water change then I will start dosing ATI 1,2,3.
Looking forward your feedback...thanks!

I'm curious, what salt brand do you use? And what is your water change schedule? for your salinity, your chlorides are low but your sodium is high.

 

[Hoyhoy]

- You need to calibrate with a 35ppt reference solution. This is why.
- Aluminum is almost certainly from the MP block, this will likely fall with consistent water changes. Doubtful it will continue to leach over time, they are worst when new.

I want to remove the MP block but wont that impact the biological filtration?

I'm curious, what salt brand do you use? And what is your water change schedule? for your salinity, your chlorides are low but your sodium is high.

My tank is almost 2 years old. I started with Aquaforest probiotic salt and dosed AF component 1+2+3 in equal proportions. I eventually stopped it due to lack of supply of AF products in my area. I then decided to use Red Sea blue bucket.

I do 15-20% WC every 2-3 months (I know that I am slacking). My goal is to have my tank run on balling method (will be using ATI 123) with 0 water changes.

 

[Potatohead]

I want to remove the MP block but wont that impact the biological filtration?

Absolutely. Replace it with something else, Matrix, Brightwell brick, whatever, and then remove the block slowly over the course of a month or two. You'll probably have to break it into pieces and remove like 1/5 of it at a time. At least that's what I would do.

Truthfully though if you just do some water changes you will get rid of a lot of the problem even leaving it in there.

 

[Brew12]

I want to remove the MP block but wont that impact the biological filtration?



My tank is almost 2 years old. I started with Aquaforest probiotic salt and dosed AF component 1+2+3 in equal proportions. I eventually stopped it due to lack of supply of AF products in my area. I then decided to use Red Sea blue bucket.

I do 15-20% WC every 2-3 months (I know that I am slacking). My goal is to have my tank run on balling method (will be using ATI 123) with 0 water changes.

Ok, that explains part of it. Once you begin the ATI system it should help with those non detectable trace elements. Fixing your salinity should help, also. Highly recommend a 35ppt calibration for your tests.

 

[User1]

Going to second what @Brew12 said about the calibration fluid. I also just got back my first ATI results a couple weeks back and guess what, my salinity was also registering 31'ish and off. I sent it off to see how my overall testing is going especially around Nitrates and Phosphates so when salinity was off I was caught off guard. I also had high tin being reported which for the life of me I can't figure out since my RI/RO results came back excellent...

In any case I ordered some 35 ppt calibration fluid, re-read the milwaukee digital meter I use, zero'd it out, then used the fluid, and it matched. Then tested the tank water and saw the difference which matched ATi's results and proceeded to correct. So if you haven't done so yet that fluid recommendation is golden. Helped me a lot.

Now I'm still trying to sort out the tin or if it is a problem or not since some of my rose bubble tip anomenes are not as full as usual and my hammers are not happy. Best of luck - love the ATI kit and results. I'll probably be doing them every three months for a bit has the tank matures.

 

[Hoyhoy]

Going to second what @Brew12 said about the calibration fluid. I also just got back my first ATI results a couple weeks back and guess what, my salinity was also registering 31'ish and off. I sent it off to see how my overall testing is going especially around Nitrates and Phosphates so when salinity was off I was caught off guard. I also had high tin being reported which for the life of me I can't figure out since my RI/RO results came back excellent...

In any case I ordered some 35 ppt calibration fluid, re-read the milwaukee digital meter I use, zero'd it out, then used the fluid, and it matched. Then tested the tank water and saw the difference which matched ATi's results and proceeded to correct. So if you haven't done so yet that fluid recommendation is golden. Helped me a lot.

Now I'm still trying to sort out the tin or if it is a problem or not since some of my rose bubble tip anomenes are not as full as usual and my hammers are not happy. Best of luck - love the ATI kit and results. I'll probably be doing them every three months for a bit has the tank matures.

Thanks for the feedback, I was wondering if any of your results were showing "u." value?

 

[Potatohead]

Thanks for the feedback, I was wondering if any of your results were showing "u." value?

Yes it is normal

 

[User1]

Thanks for the feedback, I was wondering if any of your results were showing "u." value?

Yes, a few did such as Cobalt for example. I believe like others said it is not measurable or below the reference value they use. So all good.

 

[Hoyhoy]

Many thanks for all the feedback guys! I am still worried about the high silicon value. If my RODI results are good. What could be the source of the silicate?