Determining Ionic Balance Using ICP Test Results

[Scrubber_steve]

The following is the percentages of the major elements that make up seawater, representing the ionic balance.

Chlorine 55%
Sodium 30.6%
Sulphate 7.7%
Magnesium 3.65%
Calcium 1.17%
Potassium 1.13%
Other 0.6%

Depending on the brand & type of salt used to make up tank water, & also depending on the method & brand of dosing additives used to maintain macro elements depleted by calcifying organisms, these percentages can change, changing the ionic balance of the water.

To accurately gauge the ionic balance of your tank water from an ICP test I believe the following information at a minimum must be provided –

Salinity
Na (sodium)
Cl (chlorine/chloride)
Mg (magnesium)
Ca (calcium)
K (potassium)

From what I have seen of other peoples results Triton neither provides a result for salinity or chlorine/chloride, unlike at least one other company’s results I’ve looked at.
Is this correct?
Without a figure for either chlorine/chloride or sulphate, & salinity, it isn't possible. (perhaps Randy would disagree?)

 

[NY_Caveman]

ATI lists Salinity, Chloride and Sulfur

 

[Scrubber_steve]

ATI lists Salinity, Chloride and Sulfur

Excellent. Do their figures balance out?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

ATI lists Salinity, Chloride and Sulfur

Is is sulphate or sulpher they list?

Because I looked at one mobs result that listed sulpher & it was way out of balance.

 

[NY_Caveman]

You are free to peruse my results.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/zinc-in-ro-di-water.438770/

Second PDF is the tank.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

This is how I roughly calculate it
excluding the trace elements 0.06%
based on salinity at 35ppt @ 25C

This test has "sulphur" referenced at only approx 899ppm

 

[Scrubber_steve]

You are free to peruse my results.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/zinc-in-ro-di-water.438770/

Second PDF is the tank.

Thanks. Yours has 'sulpher' referenced at approx 899ppm, again much lower than I calculate for sulphate 2,958ppm

??

 

[NY_Caveman]

Thanks. Yours has 'sulpher' referenced at approx 899ppm, again much lower than I calculate for sulphate 2,958ppm

??

Not sure how that relates, but I am no chemist. I know Sulphate has the Oxygen component.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I'm no chemist either buddy

 

[NY_Caveman]

Looks like the Sulfur component of SO4 is 1/3 of the mass which would put Sulfate at 2,697. Seems more in line.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Looks like the Sulfur component of SO4 is 1/3 of the mass which would put Sulfate at 2,697. Seems more in line.

Looks much closer.
Need a chemist on this one for accuracy.
For the reasons I mentioned in the op I think being able to ascertain the ionic balance is important.
It was part of an article by Randy I was reading about how salt mixes can be out that made me think about this.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Looks much closer.
Need a chemist on this one for accuracy.
For the reasons I mentioned in the op I think being able to ascertain the ionic balance is important.
It was part of an article by Randy I was reading about how salt mixes can be out that made me think about this.

Definitely interesting since I love math and spreadsheets. Not sure how much the ionic balance matters in my small tank though.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Definitely interesting since I love math and spreadsheets. Not sure how much the ionic balance matters in my small tank though.

Don't know if tank size matters if one is using a synthetic salt mix for regular water changes & dosing something like a Randy Recipe.
One of Randy's recipes balances by using a mix of magnesium chloride & magnesium sulphate. But if the salt mix being used is why out, what's the point?