Just received ICP results - I'm discouraged and looking for insight

[Nate Chalk]

Not to derail OP post, I used to try to maintain trace elements at the recommended level for few years.

Over the same period I made some observations, too much Iodine is not good, recommend level is ok (nothing magical happens in my tank), below recommended level is also ok until things don’t look so good.
These days I use this coral, polyps out Iodine is good, no polyps something is amiss, likely low Iodine…

Not sure if it works in all tanks, but it saved me quite bit of money not doing monthly ICP tests.

Just to clarify, I do dose trace elements daily I just don’t try to adhere to the various bottle manufacturers recommended levels.

And I've had iodine way over and tanks fine. No iodine is no good. Agree

 

[jkobel]

K and I are so high in wonder if either is out of range of the method, and might actually be "off-the-charts" high.
With very high PO4 and high Iodine, ICP-OES can have really strong interferences making it hard to know either is accurate.

KCl and iodine are popular dips, i wonder if there is a dipping routine @jkobel that's bringing over lots of the dip?
Is anything in the tank being treated for? Like with a medication etc.

This is a good question but I haven't dipped since the last round of frags were introduced back in June. Even then, it was Bayer - dipped at another site and no water from the transfer came over.

What are some typical (or a-typical) sources of Iodine or Potassium in a reef tank?

No meds are being used other than Aptaisia-X, I'm being overrun right now by that and have used half a bottle over the last 6-7 weeks. I think I need to check the label for these elements.

 

[jkobel]

Yeah. Aqua biometrics or something like that. I've not done one but some folks here have. And found certain populations of bacteria winning. And needed a rebalance.

this is great, thx