Any idea of what's happening to my barium?

[sunny sam]

Hi all,

Barium seems to be consumed by something. See attached pictures from ATI. I regularly do weekly 20% water changes, then any analysis is set off in between changes. Mixed water is the top analysis. Any thoughts?

Thank you.

S

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Barium is not, IMO, worth supplementing. It has no known biological role in any known organism.

That said, barium looks chemically like calcium and magnesium (just physically larger), and it will get incorporated into calcium carbonate by mistake, in place of calcium, and hence will be consumed.

 

[sunny sam]

Interesting idea. Calcium is a bit low too (Mg is normal). I'll try increasing Ca and see if the Ba comes back up.

Thank you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Interesting idea. Calcium is a bit low too (Mg is normal). I'll try increasing Ca and see if the Ba comes back up.

Thank you.

I’m not sure why adding calcium would make barium rise unless it was a contaminant in your additive.

 

[Mikeltee]

Check out the thread of ICP tests reliability. I wouldn't stress too hard on it.