Triton analysis help

Csi · Jan 8, 2015

Hello all,

After receiving the results of my first analysis ( ICP-OES) to my tank water, I would like to ask for your help in order to correct some deviation found.

My aquarium is four years old, is a SPS tank, I make 15% water changes every week using RO/DI water and salt (Tropic Marin Pro Reef / Red Sea sea salt/ Reef Crystals reefsalt) and to supplement Kh, Ca and Mg, I use the Balling Light Method.

From the first day I use a GFO in a reactor to control PO4 and active carbon in a sock.

I use also some Zeovit products: Zeobac, Zeostart 3 and Zeolites at recommended doses for reducing nutrients and others to â€œhelp colorsâ€ at 50% of recommended doses: Zeo Macroelements, Amino Acid SPS, FlatwormStop , Coral Booster and Jod Complex.

My questions are:

My main deviation is the Ba level (106,5 ug/l â€“ 10,0 ug/l) and according to Triton suggestion I should make several WC and use Al 99 (aluminium based resin).

Should I use an aluminum based resin instead of GFO, considering I have (as I do) aluminum levels increased (6,75 ug/l -2,00 ug/l), in my tank?

Have you any suggestion about where should I ask for the origin of so high barium level?

And about the aluminum level? I never used in my tank aluminum based resins, so where did it came from? Any suggestions?

Best regards and thank you in advance for your help.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 8, 2015

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef!

I have heard rumors that a particular brand of GFO is responsible for elevating barium, but I do not know the brand.

I'm not actually sure which is worse, elevated aluminum or elevated barium, but your aluminum is not really that high compared to many others. In my tests, i did not see aluminum effects on corals until the levels were substantially higher than yours, so switching to an aluminum-based binder for a bit may be fine. Switching to a different brand of GFO may also help.

I don't know anything about barium in the zeovit products.

Csi · Jan 8, 2015

Thank you Randy for your prompt reply,

The GFO that I usually use is ATI GFO and I am going to try another brand in order to eventual correct these problems.

I have negative experience using aluminum based products to reduce PO4 (Phosguard - Seachem), but I am not sure if it is the best way use it in a sock, as I did; should I put it in a reactor?

This should be a good thing, because I have silicates a bit increased and I suppose the aluminum would also help to decrease Si.

Regards

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 8, 2015

What happened when you used Phosguard?

Csi · Jan 8, 2015

I am not sure, but PO4 level does not decrease, when I use it in a bag inside my sump.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 8, 2015

Ok, maybe you just didn't get enough flow through it.

Csi · Jan 8, 2015

Maybe, I put it near the return pump in the last sump division; do you think I should put the Phosgard inside my phosphate reactor?

Regards

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 8, 2015

Csi said:
Maybe, I put it near the return pump in the last sump division; do you think I should put the Phosgard inside my phosphate reactor?

Regards

That could be a fine way. Don't make it tumble too much.