Triton test results

Coralville · Mar 4, 2017

Please help me interpret. I think my salinity might be high and I found a calculator for it, but don't have excel so I couldn't use it. I have a calibrated refractometer, but it is pretty old.

Coralville · Mar 5, 2017

Maybe I should have posted this in the chemistry forum - @mods can you move this post please?

My tank has been declining for some time, which is why I had the triton test done. Some info:
75g, with a 20g sump. Moved everything to current tank 7 years ago, prior to that had a 45g.

Skimmer: Aquamaxx CO-1

Have ~70 lbs live rock

Lights: 48" Tek Elite 6 t5 bulbs 3 blue plus, 3 coral plus. Bulbs replaced 3 months ago.

Parameters:
SG 1.026
Alkalinity 8.9 dKH 3.18 meq/L
Ca 450
Mag 1320
NO3 .2
PO4 .04
According to Triton test ca and mag way higher than that. Use Salifert, suspect salinity is high and interfering with Salifert results. I currently have a big bubble algae outbreak, so I suspect algae is sucking up nitrate and phosphate.

GFO reactor: Use bulk GFO from BRS, approx. 3/4c changed monthly.

Use carbon rarely. Large particle lignite from BRS. 1/3c.

Use 6 stage RO/DI. Test output using a TDS meter, output is .1. Just replaced both stages of di resin.

Have 2 mp40's, flow is turned down so LPS polyps aren't blasted.

Sps/most lps all died around Jan. My frogspawn that I've had for 10 years is losing heads/polyp bailout/ tissue recession and is on it's way out. I do not see brown jelly or any pests. It's my favorite coral and if I lose it I'm gonna really crushed. 7 years ago, in my old 45g I had less light - 5bulb t5 fixture - and more nutrients. The frogspawn looked great and prob doubled in size every 6 months or so.

Maybe I have too much light now, I don't know. Suspect salinity is too high according to triton test, but my very old refractometer and new crappy refractometer that I can barely read say SG is 1.026. I calibrated with a new saltwater standard.

Use ESV salt and ESV b-ionic 2 part. After getting the test results plan on doing 20g water changes every weekend for the next month. 1st water change completed today.

Ok, don't know what else to add. Please help.

Coralville · Mar 5, 2017

Fish are fine. Have a sailfin tang, clownfish, Midas blenny and a McCoskers wrasse. The tang and clownfish are 16 years old.

Coralville · Mar 5, 2017

Have some dino's. Not too bad. Didn't do lots of water changes before because I was afraid it would make the dino problem worse.

saltyhog · Mar 5, 2017

That is a pretty big disparity. I don't think salinity would affect the Triton test. Does Triton not test alkalinity?

Coralville · Mar 5, 2017

Yes, there is a big disparity. Maybe salinity would affect Salifert test kits? That's what I meant, not the Triton test. I agree, I don't think salinity would affect the Triton test. No, unfortunately Triton does not test alkalinity.

Coralville · Mar 6, 2017

HolisticBear · Mar 6, 2017

I wish I could help, but your Li number caught my eye since it was the only one in red. Searching r2r, found this thread (post #15) from a few years ago, Randy talks about lithium:

The lithium might be from long term use of a calcium supplement, assuming none is removed.

I showed that use of certain calcium supplements can add 2 ppm (2,000 ppb) of lithium over the course of a year. Brands change suppliers, but at the time in 2004, these were Dowflake, Warner, and ESV.

FWIW, I wouldn't be sure the lithium is cause for concern, as many people have used these supplements for many years.

Hopefully someone else will chime in and advise.

Coralville · Mar 7, 2017

Thanks for the info. Looks like the lithium is from the Esv salt/2 part and @Randy Holmes-Farley seems to think it isn't a problem. Not sure about the salinity though. I think it may be high. Randy, do you see any problems with my triton results? I know I need to lower ca and mg. I would greatly appreciate your help!

I'll take a sample to lfs to double check salinity and alk, and I've ordered another alk test kit. I'll continue the water changes but not sure what else to do....

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 7, 2017

Salinity impacts Triton tests because everything moves up and down as salinity moves up and down with the same water chemistry. Easy way to see it: all of the major cations (positive charged ions) are well above normal.

Yes, your salinity is quite high. Close to 40 ppt. That needs fixing, IMO.

Coralville · Mar 7, 2017

Ok, thank you Randy! Ok to slowly lower it 1ppt/day?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 7, 2017

Coralville said:
Ok, thank you Randy! Ok to slowly lower it 1ppt/day?

I'd replace 1% of the water volume each day with RO/DI.

Coralville · Mar 7, 2017

Ok, will do. Do you think the long term exposure to salinity at 40ppt is what is causing the tissue recession and polyp bailout of my corals? If not, do you see anything else on the triton test results that could cause it?

Maacc · Mar 7, 2017

Problem could be as Randy indicates, other parameters could actually be low at normal salinity, instead of high as they appear.

Coralville · Mar 7, 2017

Makes sense! I will adjust parameters as salinity comes down. Thank you soooo much everyone, I really appreciate your help!!

2una · Mar 8, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Yes, your salinity is quite high. Close to 40 ppt. That needs fixing, IMO.

@Randy Holmes-Farley possible you could share how you got that please?
I'm guessing its Na + Ca +Mg + K but then what?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 8, 2017

Coralville said:
Ok, will do. Do you think the long term exposure to salinity at 40ppt is what is causing the tissue recession and polyp bailout of my corals? If not, do you see anything else on the triton test results that could cause it?

40 ppt is pretty high. Some parts of the red sea get that high, but I don't know if all corals would thrive there. I don't see any special issues in the Triton results aside from salinity. Lithium seems to not be an issue at those levels.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 8, 2017

2una said:
@Randy Holmes-Farley possible you could share how you got that please?
I'm guessing its Na + Ca +Mg + K but then what?

Salinity is driven mostly by sodium and chloride (together, 84% of salinity), slightly by magnesium and sulfate (the big four together comprise 96% of salinity) , and not much by anything else. I just looked at the sodium and saw that the level given would be present in 40 ppt seawater. All the others are also high, so they are not offsetting the high sodium. Chloride cannot offset high cations. It and sulfate together must roughly match the cations.