Triton ICP.. High Zinc.. Advice needed.

[Scubabum]

I have a 58 gallon mixed Reef that has been running for over 23 years. In the last couple of months I noticed my Coral was not looking as well as normal. Everything I test for at home was good and has been stable with the exception of low potassium. I sent off a Triton ICP test and it confirmed my low potassium along with EXTREMELY high Zinc. 91 µg/l. I'm using Aquaforest Reef Salt, Component 1 2 3, and Aquaforest ABVE. My equipment is in pristine condition, no signs of rust or corrosion and I clean and service on a regular basis. I do not use lotions or creams on my skin. I do have a DIY screen top that has some corrosion but I'm not sure it contains zinc. I have a second tank, Red Sea Reefer 525XL that is 6 months old that I'm using the same products on and everything is doing well. Could be the levels have not risen enough to show negative signs. I plan on doing 15% water changes once a week as suggested by Triton. Any other suggestions or experience in dealing with this? Your advice and suggestions are greatly welcomed. Thanks in advance.

 

[jsker]

Anything environmental changes. Like you stated, you use lotions on your hands, but has there been a new cleaning product used in the house? Do you have a picture that you could post?

 

[Scubabum]

Anything environmental changes. Like you stated, you use lotions on your hands, but has there been a new cleaning product used in the house? Do you have a picture that you could post?

Just to clarify, I DO NOT use lotions or creams on my hands. No new cleaning products or environmental changes. I'm really stumped. Here is a picture of the Reef. The Duncans are super retracted, Zoa's not thriving and I lost a Red Planet SPS, A green no name Acro and a Strawberry shortcake. Coral just not as happy as it has been throughout the years.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The screen top is made of plastic, or metal?

 

[Scubabum]

The screen top is made of plastic, or metal?

Frame is Metal. Screen is plastic. There is some corrosion on the frame. Looks like salt creep but its definitely corroding the metal.

 

[jsker]

How long has the screen been on top of the tank

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think the frame is a very likely candidate. Zinc plating is common on such materials.

 

[Scubabum]

How long has the screen been on top of the tank

The screen top has been on for years. I did step on it and bent the sides. The replacement sides came from Ace hardware and are the parts that are corroding. Screen top coming off. I'll start there and perform several water changes over the next few weeks and send out another ICP test.

 

[Scubabum]

I think the frame is a very likely candidate. Zinc plating is common on such materials.

Thanks Randy, thats what I was thinking but wasn't sure. Easy enough to remove screen top, water change and test again. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Scubabum]

Here is a picture of the corrosion on the replacement frame. Original frame seems ok. Hopefully this is the culprit.

 

[jsker]

I would say that @Randy Holmes-Farley hit it.

On a side note, I stopped dosing all the AF products and now only use the Reef Salt, 1+2+3+, Mg+, Phosphate minus, Life bio fil, a little zeomix, and the tank is looking great. I balanced out the 1+2+3+ with the Mg+.

 

[sghera64]

I have a 58 gallon mixed Reef that has been running for over 23 years. In the last couple of months I noticed my Coral was not looking as well as normal. Everything I test for at home was good and has been stable with the exception of low potassium. I sent off a Triton ICP test and it confirmed my low potassium along with EXTREMELY high Zinc. 91 µg/l. I'm using Aquaforest Reef Salt, Component 1 2 3, and Aquaforest ABVE. My equipment is in pristine condition, no signs of rust or corrosion and I clean and service on a regular basis. I do not use lotions or creams on my skin. I do have a DIY screen top that has some corrosion but I'm not sure it contains zinc. I have a second tank, Red Sea Reefer 525XL that is 6 months old that I'm using the same products on and everything is doing well. Could be the levels have not risen enough to show negative signs. I plan on doing 15% water changes once a week as suggested by Triton. Any other suggestions or experience in dealing with this? Your advice and suggestions are greatly welcomed. Thanks in advance.

Just a hunch, but have you closely inspected All metal shafts of all pumps and propellers in your system. I know you said all equipment is on pristine condition but just a check. Also have you checked your heaters. I think some have zinc in their bimetallic switches.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy, thats what I was thinking but wasn't sure. Easy enough to remove screen top, water change and test again. Thanks for the advice.

You're welcome.

Good luck!

 

[Scubabum]

I would say that @Randy Holmes-Farley hit it.

On a side note, I stopped dosing all the ** products and now only use the Reef Salt, 1+2+3+, Mg+, Phosphate minus, Life bio fil, a little zeomix, and the tank is looking great. I balanced out the 1+2+3+ with the Mg+.

Curious to why you stopped? I take it you stopped the ABVE. I've backed off quite a bit myself.

 

[Scubabum]

Just a hunch, but have you closely inspected All metal shafts of all pumps and propellers in your system. I know you said all equipment is on pristine condition but just a check. Also have you checked your heaters. I think some have zinc in their bimetallic switches.

Thanks for the input. Yes I checked all equipment very carefully. Years ago I had an MP10 wetside split and rust so I inspect all equipment often.

 

[jsker]

Curious to why you stopped? I take it you stopped the ABVE. I've backed off quite a bit myself.

I was dealing with cyano for over a year and could not get rid of it When I started with AF is was told to keep it simple

 

[Larry L]

FWIW you could remove the existing zinc in the water using something like Poly Bio Marine Poly-Filter, Two Little Fishies Metasorb, maybe Triton Detox.

 

[Scubabum]

FWIW you could remove the existing zinc in the water using something like Poly Bio Marine Poly-Filter, Two Little Fishies Metasorb, maybe Triton Detox.

Thanks Larry, Going to research those and order one of them. Did a large water change today and removed the corroded screen top.

 

[Sabellafella]

Thanks Larry, Going to research those and order one of them. Did a large water change today and removed the corroded screen top.

Hey man have you ever figured out the zinc issue you had? Buddy of mine system Is around the same as what you stated in your original post. Trying to figure out what the problem is comming from

 

[Scubabum]

Hey man have you ever figured out the zinc issue you had? Buddy of mine system Is around the same as what you stated in your original post. Trying to figure out what the problem is comming from

I believe mine was coming from my DIY screen top. It had some corrosion. I replaced the top, did a few large water changes. Sent out another ICP test after a few months, and it came back in normal range. Things have recovered and all is well.