Another ICP Result

[MikeO5422]

I am running ATI essentials with OK results. After about 4 to 6 weeks of no water changes the tank just looks off. Corals don't open all the way and just look generally not good. A water change produces a noticeable difference. Additionally, some SPS (not all, just some) brown out, some straight up die/RTN, and some grow just fine.

Anyway, attached is an ICP of about 6 weeks without a water change. Some points:

-Minor elements are all zero despite many of them being added regularly via dosing. Could carbon be impacting this?
-Aluminum is elevated, not sure why
-Calcium is a bit high and I am guessing that's why some other elements are high. Calcium is dosed with other trace elements in the ATI system.
-Nitrate and Phosphate are a bit low
-Iodine seems very low

I was just looking to get some opinions on what issues are the biggest. I am thinking, aside from ensuring my dosing is correct, that aluminum, phosphate, and trying to figure out why all my minor trace elements are zero would be good.

 

[glb]

Do you have Marinepure blocks in the system? I’ve read that they can leech aluminum.

 

[MikeO5422]

Yup, thinking about removing it. It's one large block so maybe I'll cut it in half, remove half, wait a few months then remove the other half.

 

[CNDReef]

Only thing I see that I would look into is salinity. It’s on the low side but not bad. I had biospheres in my tank and came back with 92 ug/l so I tossed them

 

[MikeO5422]

What do you guys think about the absence of the minor elements? Could using activated carbon 24/7 absorb some of them? I have no idea. But ati says it should only be used a few days per month or for a specific purpose.

 

[CNDReef]

Not sure, your corals could be completely sucking them up or when you started doing the essentials they were already too low. Also heard a lot of trace elements precipitate out , not a chemist so not sure if it’s true or not.
I’m starting the essentials this weekend. My last icp came back good on all trace elements but high in metals. I’ll test after a month and see if it drops any
What salt were you using before you started ati?

 

[MikeO5422]

I am finishing off a batch of Red Sea coral pro. Not sure what I will use when that is done. I am exploring dosing phosphates and nitrates as well. One thing at a time tho!