Selecting the most toxic elements for ICP analysis

[Charles Silva]

Hello all

I'm going to send a saltwater sample to an ICP lab here in Brazil.
Unfortunately the lab will charge me by each element and I need to optimize the analysis to the most critical elements.
The macro elements are not necessary as I think my Hanna checkers are enough.
Given that I would like your help selecting the most toxic elements for a SPS and LPS tank.
What else can I include in my analysis besides : aluminium and copper ?

Thanks in advance
Charles Silva
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

[Lasse]

If the lab is not specialized for saltwater - you can get false readings. Is there no possibilities to send a test over seas to one of the specialized labs in Europe ?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Charles Silva]

If the lab is not specialized for saltwater - you can get false readings. Is there no possibilities to send a test over seas to one of the specialized labs in Europe ?

Sincerely Lasse

Hi Lasse

There is a lab here in Brazil advertising that they can handle saltwater aquarium samples now. The ICP test in a lab in Germany will cost me around 70 USD and I would like to test an alternative here choosing only the most toxic elements for SPS and LPS.

 

[robbyg]

To get the best answer you should give us a list of what they can test for.

 

[Lasse]

If it toxicity you are after and probability of being in your water - the most important IMO is as follow

Copper and lead (often from water pipes)
Zinc (a trace metal that have its normal concentration around 4 µg/L (4 ppb)) but also is found in many metal alloys)
Chromium Often in metal alloys
Nickel (normal concentration 5 µg (5 ppb)) Often in metal alloys
Lanthanum (exist in some Phosphorous controlling sollutions)
Potassium (normal concentration 400 ppm but IMO rather toxic for fish above 650 ppm) In many combination products because its a macro element for photosynthetic growth.
Tin - can exist from float glass - however how toxic - I do not know

Maybe others can chime in with their experiences

Sincerely Lasse

 

[GlassMunky]

Hi Lasse

There is a lab here in Brazil advertising that they can handle saltwater aquarium samples now. The ICP test in a lab in Germany will cost me around 70 USD and I would like to test an alternative here choosing only the most toxic elements for SPS and LPS.

If you don’t mind me asking, what is their price per element? $80 doesn’t seem very expensive for a full range of tests so just curious how much you’d really be saving