Aluminum in water

[vtct]

Greetings everyone: How can I remove aluminum from my aquarium water?
Last ICP test = Al. 250.5 ug/l critical...

 

[lapin]

Active carbon

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Greetings everyone: How can I remove aluminum from my aquarium water?
Last ICP test = Al. 250.5 ug/l critical...

Water changes are the most practical solution. Simple, reliable, and they work nearly 100% of the time.

There are all kinds of media and additives that might help, but it is easy to spend weeks or even months chasing your tail trying different things instead of solving the problem this afternoon :)

 

[lapin]

While water changes can be a good strategy. Aluminum is used in water treatment plants. Be sure you have your source water tested.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

While water changes can be a good strategy. Aluminum is used in water treatment plants. Be sure you have your source water tested.

Sometimes I forget that some people don't use RO :) This video shows some elements that are commonly found in tap water. It is hard to understand why anyone would throw those dice.

 

[vtct]

Greetings everyone: How can I remove aluminum from my aquarium water?
Last ICP test = Al. 250.5 ug/l critical...

Water changes are the most practical solution. Simple, reliable, and they work nearly 100% of the time.

There are all kinds of media and additives that might help, but it is easy to spend weeks or even months chasing your tail trying different things instead of solving the problem this afternoon :)

Tks

 

[vtct]

Greetings everyone: How can I remove aluminum from my aquarium water?
Last ICP test = Al. 250.5 ug/l critical...

Water changes are the most practical solution. Simple, reliable, and they work nearly 100% of the time.

There are all kinds of media and additives that might help, but it is easy to spend weeks or even months chasing your tail trying different things instead of solving the problem this afternoon :)

I've always used RODi. The rim of my tank is powder-coated aluminum. Do you think that's the problem, even though the water isn't in contact with the water?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I've always used RODi. The rim of my tank is powder-coated aluminum. Do you think that's the problem, even though the water isn't in contact with the water?

Maybe, but I doubt it. Do you use any type of white media? These often release aluminum.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

I've always used RODi. The rim of my tank is powder-coated aluminum. Do you think that's the problem, even though the water isn't in contact with the water?

It would be a concern of mine, but I don’t think I’m qualified to give a definitive answer.

A reefer at reefaplaooza once told me he was dealing with constant coral mortalities. An ICP test eventually showed elevated copper, but he couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. One day he noticed a drip... His sump was in the basement, and condensation from copper pipes in the ceiling was occasionally dripping into the sump.

Once he fixed that, the copper levels dropped and the mortality problem went away. So a long way of saying that water can absolutely pick up metals just from contact alone.

 

[vtct]

I've always used RODi. The rim of my tank is powder-coated aluminum. Do you think that's the problem, even though the water isn't in contact with the water?

Maybe, but I doubt it. Do you use any type of white media? These often release aluminum.

No. Im just using active carbo

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

in the absence of any white media or artificial rocks and such, then that makes the frame more suspect. I’d look at it carefully near the tank top and see if it looks pitted.

If it has a full and complete powder coat that looks unblemished, that makes it unlikely, IMO.

What additives do you use or have you used?

 

[CoralBiomorph]

Maybe, but I doubt it. Do you use any type of white media? These often release aluminum.

With white media would that include ceramic bioballs? I’m seeing aluminium in my ICP tests as well and have been running those ceramic balls under my reefmat.

I went from 44ug/l to 75ug/l in about 6 months time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

With white media would that include ceramic bioballs? I’m seeing aluminium in my ICP tests as well and have been running those ceramic balls under my reefmat.

I went from 44ug/l to 75ug/l in about 6 months time.

Yes. Any white or off white material is a risk, even if some types may not be a problem.

 

[CoralBiomorph]

Yes. Any white or off white material is a risk, even if some types may not be a problem.

Woah, good to know! Immediately removed all bioballs from my sump. Thanks a bunch.