fighting high zinc

Triggreef · Jul 2, 2015

Again several months after beginning triton, and discovering zinc and copper in my system, successfully removing those... Spending a ton of cash figuring out the sources... Eliminating the sources... Now the zinc is again high as before. I just got my results back from my latest test to find all is well except the high zinc at about 18 ug/l.

Detox again for now. At least I don't have copper with it this time. But where is the zinc coming from? Any way to focus on removal of only the zinc? I also have elevated AL which I never had in any of my other tests. But it's not that high only in the green plus category.

Triggreef · Jul 3, 2015

Triggreef · Jul 24, 2015

If nothing else, any recommendation on how often I can safely use the detox? It says not to use it more than once.

twilliard · Jul 24, 2015

Hi I have zinc and it is elevating.
the question is at what level should we worry?
unless its in the red+ I typically don't think twice.

From what I have learned its all about what you introduce.
even what I feed my fish has zinc.
I try not to chase "perfect" numbers

jt17 · Jul 25, 2015

FWIW, a LFS I go to had elevated zinc in their systems and they narrowed it down to skin lotion that one of the employees was using on their arms.

twilliard · Jul 25, 2015

Deodorant !
never thought of that
Doesn't deodorant have zinc and aluminum

gpwdr · Jul 25, 2015

I never heard of fish using deodorant before. Where can I get some?

twilliard · Jul 25, 2015

Lol your arm

May look at your local fish shop too!

Just makes logical sense

Triggreef · Jul 29, 2015

I was thinking of maybe sun lotion and checked but thats not it. I don't really use any other lotions and typically my underarms stay out of the water. I'll be checking my shower gel and soap now though. Good idea.

As far as levels to worry about I'd have to go check my last triton test but I want to say the first time I had an acro/lps crash zinc was around 16 ug/l well into the red. But there was also copper. This time around no crash but a few unhappy corals did prompt my test. Zinc was the only thing off and it was up to 18 ug/l or whatever. (I think ug/l is the measurement but may be wrong on that)

Cment · Jul 30, 2015

A locally reefer had a similar problem with zinc and Aluminum showing up in his result and it happened to be the metal framing of his screen top. He made one out of acrylic and the issue went away. Not sure if you have one, just trying to throw out some ideas. GL

Triggreef · Jul 30, 2015

Yeah I really don't have any metal in contact or even above my system. Thanks for the idea though, it may help someone who searches this in the future.

I also don't have issues with other metals such as tin or aluminum either. I believe its like copper and tin that show up from rusty items. Could be wrong there.

Reduck · Sep 10, 2015

Wondering if you ever came to a conclusion on your zinc issue? I just received my results and it too shows a high zinc level 34.4. I understand that there are many ways it can get in the system, food, etc but for that level to be so high from foods? The tank I sampled from is pretty new so I can eliminate corrosion etc. It also showed high Aluminum, but I know that's from the Phosguard I'm using.
I was looking into Detox but read that its more for copper than anything else.
Any other ideas?

twilliard · Sep 10, 2015

Reduck said:
Wondering if you ever came to a conclusion on your zinc issue? I just received my results and it too shows a high zinc level 34.4. I understand that there are many ways it can get in the system, food, etc but for that level to be so high from foods? The tank I sampled from is pretty new so I can eliminate corrosion etc. It also showed high Aluminum, but I know that's from the Phosguard I'm using.
I was looking into Detox but read that its more for copper than anything else.
Any other ideas?

I had quite a few different heavy metals in my tank.
I used the detox once and it was the best thing I ever did!

Reduck · Sep 10, 2015

twilliard said:
I had quite a few different heavy metals in my tank.
I used the detox once and it was the best thing I ever did!

thanks for this. I'll give it a shot!

R

twilliard · Sep 10, 2015

Ya it was crazy how effective it was!
And it has to be one of the most nasty looking stuff I have ever seen, like pouring molasses in the water lol
I can mail you mine!
Used once

Reduck · Sep 10, 2015

twilliard said:
Ya it was crazy how effective it was!
And it has to be one of the most nasty looking stuff I have ever seen, like pouring molasses in the water lol
I can mail you mine!
Used once

just ordered a bottle! I should have looked here first!!!!

gpwdr · Sep 10, 2015

Reduck said:
Wondering if you ever came to a conclusion on your zinc issue? I just received my results and it too shows a high zinc level 34.4. I understand that there are many ways it can get in the system, food, etc but for that level to be so high from foods? The tank I sampled from is pretty new so I can eliminate corrosion etc. It also showed high Aluminum, but I know that's from the Phosguard I'm using.
I was looking into Detox but read that its more for copper than anything else.
Any other ideas?

Hi Reduck,
Rowaphos will remove the AL. Thats why we use AL99 one month then Rowaphos the next month.
4x 15% weekly WC with PURE to lower the zinc.
Do you keep a magnet glass cleaner in the water all the time? (possible zinc source)?
I'm not an expert, just trying to give you a hand.
Gene

Reduck · Sep 10, 2015

gpwdr said:
Hi Reduck,
Rowaphos will remove the AL. Thats why we use AL99 one month then Rowaphos the next month.
4x 15% weekly WC with PURE to lower the zinc.
Do you keep a magnet glass cleaner in the water all the time? (possible zinc source)?
I'm not an expert, just trying to give you a hand.
Gene

I understand the relationship between the Rowaphos (gfo) and Phosguard, so thanks.
I knew that would be the reason for my elevated Al number. I have some normal GFO I can run for a while, which I was planning on doing.

Did not think about the glass cleaner though! Yes! I do leave it in...always. Its pretty new though and well sealed. I'll remove it just the same.
Between that and the WC it would be quite possible that I would not need to use the detox.

Triggreef · Sep 10, 2015

Omg I leave multiples magnets in all the time. I use then to hold my frag racks, etc as well. Plus one in my frag tank. There's at least 5 mag floats in the system that I can think of. Not to mention magnet frag plugs, mag rocks on the back, and magnet power heads.

Really think that would be a source?

Reduck · Sep 10, 2015

Triggreef said:
Omg I leave multiples magnets in all the time. I use then to hold my frag racks, etc as well. Plus one in my frag tank. There's at least 5 mag floats in the system that I can think of. Not to mention magnet frag plugs, mag rocks on the back, and magnet power heads.

Really think that would be a source?

I'd say if they are old and rusty and the metallic magnet is exposed, yes. But a new encapsulated magnet? Highly doubtful. Or we all would be in zinc or other heavy metal trouble.