Triton results - excess Fe and Zn

[BlueDevil]

I recently sent out my tank water sample for a Triton Analysis and got some readings that seem to be out of whack. It appears that I have excess Iron and Zinc in my system. Aluminum is also on the higher end of the spectrum. Lithium is another deviation but in this case there appears to be a shortage!

I'm positive there isn't any metal that is in direct contact with my tank water. About the only things I can think of that could be causing this issue is some NO3 and PO4 removers that I am currently using. I currently have a bag of ChemiPure and a bag of Phosguard in my sump to try and get my nitrate and phosphates under control. Could either of these be the cause for the increased metal readings?

Finally, what can I do to rectify these issues?

Here is the link to my Triton test results

https://www.dropbox.com/s/itdd9eyeyf7ky5x/Triton Results.pdf?dl=0

@Randy Holmes-Farley - I would appreciate your thoughts on this.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Phosguard will be contributing to the aluminum. If it is chemipure elite, it may contribute iron.

Do you dose any trace element mixtures?

FWIW, chemipure isn't going to help nitrate noticeably in a marine system.

Elevated zinc is fairly common.

 

[BlueDevil]

Phosguard will be contributing to the aluminum. If it is chemipure elite, it may contribute iron.

Do you dose any trace element mixtures?

FWIW, chemipure isn't going to help nitrate noticeably in a marine system.

Elevated zinc is fairly common.

Thank you for your response! I am indeed using ChemiPure Elite so that would explain the iron. And Phosguard explains the aluminum. Looks like I'll be getting rid of both of them tonight. Especially since ChemiPure isn't much help in any case.

I have also noticed an increased amount of the brown powder algae dust on my tank glass ever since I started using the products. It creates a good coating barely two days after my deep tank cleaning regimen. Could this also be tied to those products?

I'll have to tackle my NO3 and PO4 issues separately, though they were never alarmingly high. It's just the stickler in me that wanted to get them down to near ideal levels.

I do not dose any other trace elements. I only dose the typical Alk, Ca and Mg supplements.

Should I also try and raise the other trace element levels that are listed as low (Iodine, Potassium, Sodium, Sulphur)?

Thanks again!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Now that I can see the actual data (my phone could not pull it up), your salinity is very low. Raise that and all the major ions will rise (sodium, potassium, sulfate/sulfur, calcium, magnesium, etc.).

How are you measuring it and what do you think it is?

 

[BlueDevil]

Now that I can see the actual data (my phone could not pull it up), your salinity is very low. Raise that and all the major ions will rise (sodium, potassium, sulfate/sulfur, calcium, magnesium, etc.).

How are you measuring it and what do you think it is?

I checked my notes and my salinity on the same day that I sent the sample out was indeed low. It read 1.021 using a refractometer. I had even calibrated it prior to the measurement. I have since brought the salinity back up to 1.025 which is where I try to keep it at all times.

So, looks like besides tossing the ChemiPure and Phosguard, no other major changes are needed.

Just out of curiosity, can you comment on the low lithium levels as compared with the setpoint number? Or is that tied to my low salinity as well?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Lithium does not seem to have any known natural biological role to play in known organisms, so I don't think low lithium is ever a concern.

 

[BlueDevil]

Lithium does not seem to have any known natural biological role to play in known organisms, so I don't think low lithium is ever a concern.

Sounds good! Thank you for all your help. I appreciate it very much!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

 

[Sabellafella]

Its expensive Nd its worth it but grab a bag of metasorb from 2littlefishes if it concerns you, my triton showed 200 ugl for maganese and my aluminum was skyrocket high, you could also use the pouch over and over again untill it exhaust, plus its good to have on hand for qt or just dunking it into the tank once in a while

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Its expensive Nd its worth it but grab a bag of metasorb from 2littlefishes if it concerns you, my triton showed 200 ugl for maganese and my aluminum was skyrocket high, you could also use the pouch over and over again untill it exhaust, plus its good to have on hand for qt or just dunking it into the tank once in a while

Did you see a drop in aluminum from that?

 

[Sabellafella]

Did you see a drop in aluminum from that?

Yes i used the smaller packet in my filtersock for 3 days. My aluminum was around 90ugl and 200 ugl for manganese, al dropped to 21 and mn dropped to almost 0, i never got around to asking you what your insite is on this, the pouch has 3 glass balls and a pinch of powder that turned orange, the color change is supposed to indicate iron but my triton showed none

 

[Sabellafella]

This is the second time around using it, i bought it first when the marinepure blocks came into topic and after using it i feel that my tank was doing way better, i bought it again this time from a rusted mp40 magnet and 2 aaa batterys rusted in my tank, and seen a couple red sea coral pro test that had over 70ugl for maganese so i took a shot with triton

 

[BlueDevil]

Does this product have any other side effects on the water chemistry?

In my case I believe the increased levels are simply because of the two products I mentioned earlier. So in my case I would imagine simple water changes should bring the levels back down?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Does this product have any other side effects on the water chemistry?

In my case I believe the increased levels are simply because of the two products I mentioned earlier. So in my case I would imagine simple water changes should bring the levels back down?

The concern would be that it may bind metals that are high, but possibly also those that are already too low. Same for other metal reducing products that are used (polyfilters, Triton Detox, Cuprisorb, etc.) although I've not seen data on what any of these bind aside from some data for the Polyfilters.

 

[BlueDevil]

The concern would be that it may bind metals that are high, but possibly also those that are already too low. Same for other metal reducing products that are used (polyfilters, Triton Detox, Cuprisorb, etc.) although I've not seen data on what any of these bind aside from some data for the Polyfilters.

Would you say that with the readings I currently have just regular water changes (maybe one large one) would do the trick in bringing those out of whack levels back down? Or are they at a point where I need to take some other remedial steps? If so what would your suggest I do?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have no confidence that water changes are the solution since I don't know where it is coming from and how fast it might bounce back up. Iron normally depletes rapidly, and despite dosing it, I see none in my triton testing. I presume you already have, but when looking carefully, folks often find some sort of corroded something above the tank, in the water, etc.

That said, I wouldn't be in a panic to solve it unless the tank appears to not be thriving.

 

[Reduck]

That said, I wouldn't be in a panic to solve it unless the tank appears to not be thriving.

This +1
Jury is still out on the metasorb product. Waiting on another triton test result. It would be nice if someone made a hobby grade Al test kit though....
Meanwhile, I see no apparent reason to change anything in my tank.

 

[BlueDevil]

I checked my tank thoroughly and don't see any exposed metal either in or off the surface.
I wish the Triton test was a little cheaper. I'd like to give my tank a couple of months now that I've taken the media out and see what my water tests out at.
Everything in the tank is looking and growing great so I don't think I need to take any drastic steps at this point.