Dosing Trace Elements via ATO?

[507Reefer]

Hello
Can I add trace elements like strontium and manganese (cations) to my ATO?
Is it true that you shouldn’t mix cationic (positive) elements with anionic (negative) ones?
Does manganese oxidize over time?
Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello
Can I add trace elements like strontium and manganese (cations) to my ATO?
Is it true that you shouldn’t mix cationic (positive) elements with anionic (negative) ones?
Does manganese oxidize over time?
Thanks!

Strontium is fine in an ATO. I’m not sure it is useful, but there’s nothing wrong with dosing it appropriately.

Manganese can oxidize and it has many oxidation states. The primary concern is it becoming less soluble, but it may be ok.

 

[Miami Reef]

Strontium is fine in an ATO. I’m not sure it is useful, but there’s nothing wrong with dosing it appropriately.

Manganese can oxidize and it has many oxidation states. The primary concern is it becoming less soluble, but it may be ok.

Thank you for this info. :)

What do you say about this question? My mind is thinking it’s more complicated than a matter of cation vs anion. I’m interested in reading what you say.

Is it true that you shouldn’t mix cationic (positive) elements with anionic (negative) ones?

 

[507Reefer]

Strontium is fine in an ATO. I’m not sure it is useful, but there’s nothing wrong with dosing it appropriately.

Manganese can oxidize and it has many oxidation states. The primary concern is it becoming less soluble, but it may be ok.

Is it advisable to add only manganese to the ATO and not mix it with other elements, or will it still oxidize?
Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for this info. :)

What do you say about this question? My mind is thinking it’s more complicated than a matter of cation vs anion. I’m interested in reading what you say.

Depends on which anion. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is it advisable to add only manganese to the ATO and not mix it with other elements, or will it still oxidize?
Thanks!

Which other elements might you want to add?

Iron will definitely oxidize and can become less soluble.

 

[507Reefer]

Which other elements might you want to add?

Iron will definitely oxidize and can become less soluble.

I would like to add potassium, fluoride, strontium, and manganese through the ATO.

Which of these elements could be mixed in the ATO without the risk of precipitation or oxidation?

Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Strontium fluoride solubility of about 1 g/L might limit that dosing. Potassium is fine with anything. Manganese may oxidize.

 

[507Reefer]

Strontium fluoride solubility of about 1 g/L might limit that dosing. Potassium is fine with anything. Manganese may oxidize.

Dosing through ATO is risky because it depends on evaporation. Perhaps the best alternative is to simply add manganese, as it is rapidly consumed and oxidized making overdosing unlikely.

For a 100-gallon ATO, how much magnesium sulfate (liquid) with a concentration of 1000 ppm should I add to maintain NSW levels?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

For a 100-gallon ATO, how much magnesium sulfate (liquid) with a concentration of 1000 ppm should I add to maintain NSW levels?

I’m confused by this question. How are you dosing alk and calcium? Are you trying to use RMM?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/just-say-no-to-magnesium-testing-rmm-is-born.1017528/

 

[Miami Reef]

Dosing through ATO is risky because it depends on evaporation. Perhaps the best alternative is to simply add manganese, as it is rapidly consumed and oxidized making overdosing unlikely.

Just as a side note, Tropic Marin K+ adds NSW levels for Maganese daily, and it also adds other important trace elements, especially when paired with A-.

 

[Miami Reef]

For a 100-gallon ATO, how much magnesium sulfate (liquid) with a concentration of 1000 ppm should I add to maintain NSW levels?

You generally shouldn’t be using that compound for the total magnesium consumption because it will raise sulfate too much.

A better option is either magnesium chloride, or the best, a combination of primarily mag chloride with some mag sulfate.

 

[507Reefer]

I’m confused by this question. How are you dosing alk and calcium? Are you trying to use RMM?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/just-say-no-to-magnesium-testing-rmm-is-born.1017528/

I wasn't familiar with RMM, thanks for sharing.
I have been dosing KH/CAL only with Kalk for over a year (No problems so far).
I mix 500 grams of Kalk with 5 gallons of RODI (100 grams of Kalk per 1 gallon of RODI).
I only use half of a small gyre pump to keep the Kalk moving.

Benefits:
- Maintains a balance between KH and Calcium (I don't have to measure calcium)
- Maintains a high pH between 8.40 and 8.60, which improves calcification in corals
- Helps precipitate phosphate

Regarding adding manganese through RODI, my ATO is 100 gallons. I have the manganese additive sold by Captive8. It's a liquid manganese sulfate solution with a concentration of 1000 ppm.
How much would I need to add to 100 gallons of RODI to achieve a concentration of 3 ug/L?

 

[507Reefer]

You generally shouldn’t be using that compound for the total magnesium consumption because it will raise sulfate too much.

A better option is either magnesium chloride, or the best, a combination of primarily mag chloride with some mag sulfate.

I used Tropic Marine trace elements (-A and +K elements) for several years. The problem is that one element always becomes unbalanced, either upward or downward, and you have to stop adding.
That's why it's better to add each trace element separately, as needed.

 

[Miami Reef]

I used Tropic Marine trace elements (-A and +K elements) for several years. The problem is that one element always becomes unbalanced, either upward or downward, and you have to stop adding.
That's why it's better to add each trace element separately, as needed.

What element have you found becomes unbalanced with A & K? I’m assuming you did an ICP. What company did the testing?

 

[Miami Reef]

Regarding adding manganese through RODI, my ATO is 100 gallons. I have the manganese additive sold by Captive8. It's a liquid manganese sulfate solution with a concentration of 1000 ppm.
How much would I need to add to 100 gallons of RODI to achieve a concentration of 3 ug/L?

0.003mg * 378,500 / 1000 =1.136 mL required.

 

[507Reefer]

0.003mg * 378,500 / 1000 =1.136 mL required.

I do an ICP (ATI) every three months
My bromine and lithium levels were always high
My strontium, fluoride, and iodine levels were very low
In the end, I had to start dosing each element separately to control the imbalance

According to the instructions, I should dilute 1 ml of solution in 100 liters (26.4 gal) of RODI to increase the manganese by 0.01 ppm.
Since it's 100 gallons, it seems to me that I should simply multiply by 4 and add 4 ml to the ATO.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wasn't familiar with RMM, thanks for sharing.
I have been dosing KH/CAL only with Kalk for over a year (No problems so far).
I mix 500 grams of Kalk with 5 gallons of RODI (100 grams of Kalk per 1 gallon of RODI).
I only use half of a small gyre pump to keep the Kalk moving.

Benefits:
- Maintains a balance between KH and Calcium (I don't have to measure calcium)
- Maintains a high pH between 8.40 and 8.60, which improves calcification in corals
- Helps precipitate phosphate

Regarding adding manganese through RODI, my ATO is 100 gallons. I have the manganese additive sold by Captive8. It's a liquid manganese sulfate solution with a concentration of 1000 ppm.
How much would I need to add to 100 gallons of RODI to achieve a concentration of 3 ug/L?

I would not use just magnesium sulfate for magnesium with kalk. Long term, sulfate will rise and chloride will fall.

 

[507Reefer]

I would not use just magnesium sulfate for magnesium with kalk. Long term, sulfate will rise and chloride will fall.

I'm referring to adding manganese to the ATO, not magnesium.

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm referring to adding manganese to the ATO, not magnesium.

Thanks

Ok, you wrote magnesium in post 9, hence the confusion.