I just recently sent off and received my first ICP test results for my work-in-progress tank. As a summary, I have a 1000 gallon tank that I have been in the process of converting from a previously successful freshwater build over to saltwater. It is my hope to have a mixed reef tank. The tank itself is an in-wall aquarium in a house I purchased. Within the tank itself is mortared decorative rock structure on 3 sides. One big concern I had and reason I sent a baseline ICP was to see if these structures would leach anything into the tank that might preclude me from successfully growing corals. I'm not going to include a bunch of pictures of the tank here but you are welcome to check out my tank thread to see what I am referring to.
The test was sent to ATI along with a RODI water sample. Here are the results:
A number of abnormalities noted though as I have looked at each individual element I don't see anything that I think would absolutely prevent me from growing corals.
KH is low but this was taken only a few weeks after completing my cycle. I am working under the assumption that is why it is so low and water changes can bring it back up. Otherwise, it can be dosed.
Mag and Sulfur are a little off but I am hopeful regular water changes can also bring those in line.
Bromine, Strontium, Barium, Vanadium, and Zinc are elevated but prior posts from Randy Holmes-Farley regarding similar issues don't appear to be big issues within a reef tank.
Silicone/silicates and Iodine both test high and I am unsure where this came from. It is a brand new tank with new sand. Could that account for the silicates? I am at a loss for where the iodine comes from.
Testing of the RODI water reveals everything is undetectable except for Zinc which is lower than what the tank is testing out at.
My baseline ICP has returned. This was sent to ATI so that the display tank and RODI were both tested.
One big reason I have sent off an ICP was to see if anything was being leached into the water from the surrounding rock structure that would make it difficult to grow corals. A number of abnormalities noted though as I have looked at each individual element I don't see anything that I think would absolutely prevent me from growing corals.
KH is low but this was taken only a few weeks after completing my cycle. I am working under the assumption that is why it is so low and water changes can bring it back up. Otherwise, it can be dosed.
Mag and Sulfur are a little off but I am hopeful regular water changes can also bring those in line.
Bromine, Strontium, Barium, Vanadium, and Zinc are elevated but prior posts from Randy Holmes-Farley regarding similar issues don't appear to be big issues within a reef tank.
Silicone/silicates and Iodine both test high and I am unsure where this came from. It is a brand new tank with new sand. Could that account for the silicates? I am at a loss for where the iodine comes from.
Testing of the RODI water reveals everything is undetectable except for Zinc which is lower than what the tank is testing out at.
The only thing in my RODI tank that could potentially leach zinc would be my tethered float switch provided to me from Buckeye Hydro but it appears to be well-sealed (no water drains from it when I lift it out of the water to inspect). Everything else appears to be plastic.
My next big purchase was going to be lights for corals. Does anyone see any red flags that would prevent me from growing coral where I should pivot and look at a FOWLR tank instead? I don't believe there to be, but I figured more eyes on this the better as the lights I will need will be a big purchase. I think most of this is manageable with continued water changes and other abnormalities appear to be inconsequential at the detected levels based on my searches through old posts. Thanks!
The test was sent to ATI along with a RODI water sample. Here are the results:
A number of abnormalities noted though as I have looked at each individual element I don't see anything that I think would absolutely prevent me from growing corals.
KH is low but this was taken only a few weeks after completing my cycle. I am working under the assumption that is why it is so low and water changes can bring it back up. Otherwise, it can be dosed.
Mag and Sulfur are a little off but I am hopeful regular water changes can also bring those in line.
Bromine, Strontium, Barium, Vanadium, and Zinc are elevated but prior posts from Randy Holmes-Farley regarding similar issues don't appear to be big issues within a reef tank.
Silicone/silicates and Iodine both test high and I am unsure where this came from. It is a brand new tank with new sand. Could that account for the silicates? I am at a loss for where the iodine comes from.
Testing of the RODI water reveals everything is undetectable except for Zinc which is lower than what the tank is testing out at.
My baseline ICP has returned. This was sent to ATI so that the display tank and RODI were both tested.
One big reason I have sent off an ICP was to see if anything was being leached into the water from the surrounding rock structure that would make it difficult to grow corals. A number of abnormalities noted though as I have looked at each individual element I don't see anything that I think would absolutely prevent me from growing corals.
KH is low but this was taken only a few weeks after completing my cycle. I am working under the assumption that is why it is so low and water changes can bring it back up. Otherwise, it can be dosed.
Mag and Sulfur are a little off but I am hopeful regular water changes can also bring those in line.
Bromine, Strontium, Barium, Vanadium, and Zinc are elevated but prior posts from Randy Holmes-Farley regarding similar issues don't appear to be big issues within a reef tank.
Silicone/silicates and Iodine both test high and I am unsure where this came from. It is a brand new tank with new sand. Could that account for the silicates? I am at a loss for where the iodine comes from.
Testing of the RODI water reveals everything is undetectable except for Zinc which is lower than what the tank is testing out at.
The only thing in my RODI tank that could potentially leach zinc would be my tethered float switch provided to me from Buckeye Hydro but it appears to be well-sealed (no water drains from it when I lift it out of the water to inspect). Everything else appears to be plastic.
My next big purchase was going to be lights for corals. Does anyone see any red flags that would prevent me from growing coral where I should pivot and look at a FOWLR tank instead? I don't believe there to be, but I figured more eyes on this the better as the lights I will need will be a big purchase. I think most of this is manageable with continued water changes and other abnormalities appear to be inconsequential at the detected levels based on my searches through old posts. Thanks!
