Triton Result review and suggestions please

[zack801]

Hey guys, I've finally got my results back from triton labs and I had a few questions. What prompted my sending the sample in in the first place was some random RTN issues I had that I couldn't explain based off what I test. It looks like a few values came back in the red but I'm not sure which I should be concerned with and which I can do something to remedy. Also my Mag and calcium levels are low in this because I've rarely tested in the past but have since been addressed.

The main concern I have is the Aluminum. The one thing I've read is these marine pure blocks may be the source of elevated aluminum. I've had mine in the tank for a month or two to see how it went. I can remove this if it is a concern. Triton suggests running rowa phos to remove this which I had already been doing to lower phosphates.

The next in red is lithium. I haven't been able to find any conclusive info on whether this is a concern or not.

I've just this week switched from Reef Crystals to Fritz RPM and have done 2 water changes of 5 gallons each. Not sure if that will get any of these other values corrected. I'd love to hear any feedback on anything else you guys see from these results that I should be concerned with and what I can do to address these as well.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Your calcium and magnesium are quite low and might be the issue.

Some trace elements might be too low, such as vanadium and manganese.

I don't think supplemental iodine is useful, but boosting it to NSW levels a few times is a fine experiment.

Do you have any leather corals? Those usually suffer first from aluminum, which likely did come from your marine pure. I'm not sure if it explains any SPS issues.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As you asked in another thread, the lithium is very high, but I personally doubt it is the problem. It comes from additives and salt mixes.

What are you using?

 

[zack801]

Sorry about the other thread I actually thought it was a draft that got deleted so i re wrote this one. I don't have any leathers in this tank currently. As far as the marine pure it was more of an experiment and I'd gladly take it out if that is going to cause any issues. The goal is to grow out SPS in this tank but sounds like maybe aluminum won't cause any issues with these? As far as trace elements should i start dosing these separately? The iodine I don't test for but I do have Lugols Idiodine i use after fragging to help heal that i could try supplementing with. I just switched from using Reef crystals to now using the Fritz RPM salt. Another experiment as I didn't have any issues using RC before.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No problem.

I'm not sure if that level of aluminum is an issue for SPS or not.

i'd consider dosing some of those trace metals separately. We really do not have good info on exactly what valuss are needed.

 

[Larry L]

As far as the marine pure it was more of an experiment and I'd gladly take it out if that is going to cause any issues.

I like having Marine Pure blocks in my sump and I think they help. I think it's likely they are the cause of elevated aluminum readings but like Randy mentioned I wouldn't worry about that unless you were seeing problems. My aluminum readings have gradually gone down over time without me doing anything specific to reduce them, which leads me to think the aluminum might initially have just come from the dust that was on the blocks when I added them to the tank, and that they doesn't continually leach anything into the water unless you do something to crumble it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I My aluminum readings have gradually gone down over time without me doing anything specific to reduce them, which leads me to think the aluminum might initially have just come from the dust that was on the blocks when I added them to the tank, and that they doesn't continually leach anything into the water unless you do something to crumble it.

Could be. Or the blocks are getting coated with a layer of bacteria and such that reduce the transport of aluminum away from it.