You’re using a High Range Copper meter, you need a more sensitive test kit. All that meter is giving you is it’s fudge factor margin of error. I’d at least try another kit to see if it agrees with the Hanna.
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I have a salifest copper test kit. I tested on the new salt water mix that gave me 0.08 and 0.04 ppm (via hanna checker) and i got zero. Mind you, it's hard to see but it appears to be clear compared to the reference colors. Best way is to bite it and send in an ICP testYou’re using a High Range Copper meter, you need a more sensitive test kit. All that meter is giving you is it’s fudge factor margin of error. I’d at least try another kit to see if it agrees with the Hanna.
I did not use any equipment from the QT. I checked the heaters and pumps in the sump. Completely cleaned out the sump and found nothing. DT has MP40 (which I changed out the wet side).Ok I know I said lastly... but another thought crossed my mind, and at my age that's rare so I want to tell the world all about it lol.
Just to be certain no items, equipment, rocks, etc from your qt system is used or placed in the dr? Also are you using any old jebao pumps, first gen DC pumps as return or wave maker?
Sounds like a plan: Tomorrow I'll test the RODI water twice before it goes into the container. Once the container is filled I'll take another 2 test to confirm. After adding the salt mix and letting it mix i'll take the final 2 test. Hopefully it will show us where the copper is coming from.Here's my thoughts. I would use your rodi as my control (except icp and hanna are in conflict so the data won't be that valid), but I would test rodi water twice and see if my results are duplicated. Then test rodi in my mixing container and see if I can duplicate those results, then add the salt mix to the container and test for duplicate results. See where the big gain in numbers are at.
I would also test my tap water to see how much copper is in my tap water.
Lastly, you said you changed filters... you didn't mess with your sediment filter at all? I'm wondering if maybe some raw water got past your sediment filter as you were changing filters.
Its the 5 gallon white container. I would mix it for 16-24 hrs before I use it. So it does not stay in there long.What type of container are you mixing your saltwater in? Are you storing it in this container for an extended period? Has anything from your qt system been in this container at all?
Normally whenever I change out the carbon block and DI resin, I would rinse the new carbon block and would flush the RODI unit for about 5 minutes.Also you said you replaced some filters on your rodi system. How much water did you flush through it before you began collecting the water?
Randy, beside the ICP test, do you recommend any other test for copper? I have the hanna and salifest test. So these values i am getting are negligible then?As noted above, none of these meter values are real or useful. That meter is not suitable for detecting the low levels of copper in an ordinary reef tank.
I received my ICP test back today for my RODI water: ICP came back as zero copper, while the same RODI water tested 0.03ppm on my Hanna Checker.
The Initial ICP test was zero for my RODI and 4.85 Microgram/liter (0.00485 ppm) in my DT. My recent ICP test yielded zero for both RODI and DT.What was your initial copper amount from ICP? Don't forget they are giving you copper in parts per BILLION not parts per MILLION. Big difference.