Trust ICP results or no?

[MJ in Boise]

Got my first icp results back and everything checks out except for calcium and magnesium. Icp says 390 and 1300, red sea and salifert say 440 and 1450ish. Using reef Crystals. Do I trust the icp numbers and adjust?

 

[tsouth]

I would personally trust the ICP.

You should test with a larger sample size. If you were to do 5 or 10 red sea and salifert tests, what do your results look like then? Look for consistency rather than accuracy to test this out.

Once you've completed all the tests, you can decide for your own - maybe you want dose somewhere in the middle instead and slowly monitor ya know?

 

[MJ in Boise]

Over the last month I've tested calcium and mag about 20 times, same numbers. My mag and cal never move. Tank is still young. It does eat 1/2tsp of soda ash a day though to keep alk at 8ish. Newly mixed reef Crystals are reading 490 and 1500ish with both salifert and red sea, so it appears both kits are working properly.

 

[h2so4hurts]

I wouldn't trust ICP at all. If you're worried, get new test kits, 2 different brands, and see where all 3 shake out. Who knows what happened to your sample in transit, how much evaporated, when they last calibrated their instrument...ICP should only be used to see if there are any heavy metals floating around in there. The raw numbers are rarely accurate from ANY of these companies.

 

[dragon99]

I'd tend to trust ICP especially on Mg. Hobby Mg test kits are often inaccurate.

 

[Doctorgori]

Just chimming in, adding to your sample size: Yeah; ICP test on tap & tank.... TBH it was all mumble-jumble to me ....and yeah, as stated; mainly heavy metal search

 

[ksanfranfan]

I would also trust the Icp test as well. I test my water before and after sending a sample in.

 

[Lasse]

I´ll trust the provider I use and adapt my own testing into the numbers my ICP provider analyse.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ReefHomieJon]

Got my first icp results back and everything checks out except for calcium and magnesium. Icp says 390 and 1300, red sea and salifert say 440 and 1450ish. Using reef Crystals. Do I trust the icp numbers and adjust?

Lol I just posted about this same situation last night! Same discrepancy issue

 

[BZOFIQ]

I´ll trust the provider I use and adapt my own testing into the numbers my ICP provider analyse.

Sincerely Lasse

So you adjust the reading on your own test? (sort of use ICP for calibration)