Some help deciphering ICP Analysis

[Lithoman]

I'm at a loss on reading these guys' test results. First off which code/numbers are my tank salt SG? Next, they are saying my P04 is low, should be 300ppb?
Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[StatelineReefer]

Phosphates are low in these results, exceptionally low at 0.009, I'm not on board with 300ppb though, I think 120ppb (0.12ppm) is a good target for coral health and growth, Most people will say 30ppb to 120ppb though, with 30 being within the margin of error of most home test kits or hanna checkers.

 

[Lithoman]

Thanks for the feedback. When I get home tonight, I will check the results with my Hanna. I thought P04, the lower the better? Any idea what my Salinity SG or P03 are.. I don't see a measurement for that.

 

[StatelineReefer]

Thanks for the feedback. When I get home tonight, I will check the results with my Hanna. I thought P04, the lower the better? Any idea what my Salinity SG or P03 are.. I don't see a measurement for that.

They do not measure NO3 or Specific gravity, but you can add Sodium and Chloride together, bringing you to 31.4 parts per thousand. This is not your total salinity however, but it is a good chunk of it.

All measurables added up come to about 34.770 ppt, or roughly 1.026sg

 

[Uncle99]

Phosphates are low in these results, exceptionally low at 0.009, I'm not on board with 300ppb though, I think 120ppb (0.12ppm) is a good target for coral health and growth, Most people will say 30ppb to 120ppb though, with 30 being within the margin of error of most home test kits or hanna checkers.

120ppb phosphorus converts to .368ppm phosphate which is on the higher end.

 

[StatelineReefer]

120ppb phosphorus converts to .368ppm phosphate which is on the higher end.

I do not recall mentioning phosphorous.

 

[Idech]

I can’t help you but next time, buy Fauna Marin ICP test. It’s easy to understand your results and they tell you what to fix.

 

[Uncle99]

I do not recall mentioning phosphorous.

Correct, you did not, just got confusing to me about what number is being referred to.

 

[Lithoman]

Thanks all..

 

[Lithoman]

Wow.. I'm a dumb butt .. I've been testing phosphorous not phosphate.. Now a question.. which Hanna test kit do i go with..

HI774 Ultra Low Range Phosphate Checker or the​

HI713 Phosphate Low Range Checker?​

 

[StatelineReefer]

Wow.. I'm a dumb butt .. I've been testing phosphorous not phosphate.. Now a question.. which Hanna test kit do i go with..

HI774 Ultra Low Range Phosphate Checker or the​

HI713 Phosphate Low Range Checker?​

Either will provide you an accurate measurement of this nutrient. I suggest the HI774 for it's ease of use.

 

[Lithoman]

Thanks for answering. Salt, I've been using Red Sea Coral Pro and every ICP test show that I'm low or have none of Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn.. Would another Salt have these missing elements. I find it crazy that i would have to dose everyone of them.

 

[Uncle99]

Wow.. I'm a dumb butt .. I've been testing phosphorous not phosphate.. Now a question.. which Hanna test kit do i go with..

HI774 Ultra Low Range Phosphate Checker or the​

HI713 Phosphate Low Range Checker?​

The only tester that ever worked for me was the Hanna UL Phosphorus tester in PPB, and it’s just a simple calc to get phosphate.

There’s so little (or should be) in the water, any colour change I can’t see much at all.

At least this unit provides a number which has been very close to the ICP.

 

[Lithoman]

The only tester that ever worked for me was the Hanna UL Phosphorus tester in PPB, and it’s just a simple calc to get phosphate.

There’s so little (or should be) in the water, any colour change I can’t see much at all.

At least this unit provides a number which has been very close to the ICP.

If that's the case, then why are Phosphorus and Phosphate tested separately? Also, my ICP test says Phosphorus on the high side and Phosphate real low? very confusing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wow.. I'm a dumb butt .. I've been testing phosphorous not phosphate.. Now a question.. which Hanna test kit do i go with..

HI774 Ultra Low Range Phosphate Checker or the​

HI713 Phosphate Low Range Checker?​

With any normal test kit, including all Hannas, you are testing phosphate, no matter if it reads in units of measure involving phosphorus or phosphate. Those are like cm vs inches.

if you use ICP, you are detecting phosphors, of which phosphate is one form and usually the main form, and the company can show it as phosphorus or phosphate or both.

As a complicating factor, some ICP companies might use methods besides ICP to detect phosphate, in which case it is just that: only phosphate.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If that's the case, then why are Phosphorus and Phosphate tested separately? Also, my ICP test says Phosphorus on the high side and Phosphate real low? very confusing.

THey are not tested separately, they are reported as two different things to look like they did more. lol

I see P at 3 ppb and phosphate at 10 ppb, both of which are on the low side and are the same value in different units.

What do you see?