What icp test kit?

Sottish_Reefer · Dec 28, 2018

Hey folks. I was just wondering if there are some icp tests that are better/more reliable than others.

For some reason I seem to be failing at keeping corals alive. They look GREAT in my tank for a couple of months or so then they just slowly perish.

I have attached photos of my parameters and I think they are quite stable? Maybe with the exception of nitrates.

I have been battling dinos but that is almost under control (don't want to speak too soon). Although I have had dinos they don't seem to be smothering corals and I have been running GAC and changing it every 4-5 days.

Anyway corals have never lasted in my tank so I just wanted to do an ICP test as a starting point.

Any help would be great.
Thanks

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Brad Miller · Dec 28, 2018

I think most here use Ati and they send it out
https://atiaquaristik.com/en/?one_page_portfolio=icp-oes-analyse
Just google ati icp and get the test from a number of places

Sottish_Reefer · Dec 28, 2018

Brad Miller said:
I think most here use Ati and they send it out
https://atiaquaristik.com/en/?one_page_portfolio=icp-oes-analyse
Just google ati icp and but the test from a number of places

Thanks for the reply. I was looking at the ATI and triton.

Potatohead · Dec 28, 2018

I have been happy with ATI

Sottish_Reefer · Dec 28, 2018

Potatohead said:
I have been happy with ATI

Thanks. Just been reading reviews about it on Amazon. They all say that I will have to pay extra for shipping to Germany as they don't come with the correct postage. I'm from the UK that's why it will go to Germany.

I'll keep digging and see if I can find somewhere that will include postage in the price.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 28, 2018

Sottish_Reefer said:
Thanks for the reply. I was looking at the ATI and triton.

Both of those are good.

Potatohead · Dec 28, 2018

Sottish_Reefer said:
Thanks. Just been reading reviews about it on Amazon. They all say that I will have to pay extra for shipping to Germany as they don't come with the correct postage. I'm from the UK that's why it will go to Germany.

I'll keep digging and see if I can find somewhere that will include postage in the price.

I am in Canada so I have to pay postage to the USA as well. It's not expensive maybe $12 or something.

Sottish_Reefer · Dec 28, 2018

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Both of those are good.

Thanks.

It's looking like I will try the triton as I can buy that from a trusted supplier that I have used before.

Hopefully something will flag up that can be easily fixed.

Sottish_Reefer · Dec 29, 2018

While I'm waiting for my test to come do my parameters look ok how they are or ar they too unstable?

I use my own rodi unit for mixing saltwater which is always 0tds (checked with inline meter and pen tester after.)

Do you think it could be the dinos that is causing the issue or maybe something else I am missing? I caught my long spine urchin eating my candy cane today which I assume it only done because the candy cane is dying? I added a torch a couple of weeks ago and it seems to be doing great but I can almost guarantee that it to will start to decline and eventually perish.

acabgd · Dec 30, 2018

Your nitrite at 0 is the first thing that sounds an alarm. Now you mention dinos as well, which are also toxic. Calcium swings are also high for my taste but in general if you have dinos there is a serious disbalance in your tank.

Sottish_Reefer · Dec 30, 2018

Anyone have any input at all? Obviously I know that we want parameters as stable as possible but what are acceptable swings?

I also have little patches of coroline growing so I take it that's a good indication to good water quality? I think I would have more coroline but my urchin will probably be keeping on top of it.

Sottish_Reefer · Dec 30, 2018

acabgd said:
Your nitrite at 0 is the first thing that sounds an alarm. Now you mention dinos as well, which are also toxic. Calcium swings are also high for my taste but in general if you have dinos there is a serious disbalance in your tank.

Yeah I started dosing P04 and N03 after I found out that 0 readings were bad. This has also been the reason my dino outbreak has receeded majorly.

My calcium levels were low as I wasn't doing water changes so I started dosing Ca (only done once or twice) then the calcium raised again when I did do a water change. This is the reason for the incline in Ca.

Here is a before and after pic of my candy cane which started deflating before I was dosing Ca.

Is it known for dinos to slowly kill corals even of I can't see them on the corals?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 31, 2018

The calcium is clearly trending upward, and I wouldn't suggest keeping that up any longer at 450 ppm. Everything else stable enough for the last month.