Help me with ICP decision

[805reeftank]

I’ve done (ATI) 3 ICP tests since my tank as turned 1 year old. My tests come back relatively consistent with the same #s +/- with in range aside from me fixing my salinity (it was low 31.5) I haven’t really adjusted anything. Planning on my 4th test but this time I got their MS test.

I do one single dose of all for reef 65ml 30mins before lights on. And I always take my water sample before that dose. My thought process is this is what’s left in the tank after a days consumption. Again my elements are pretty good but I’m always low on a couple of elements.

Fluorine
Manganese
Iron (usually undetectable)
Barium (outlier not sure what happened there) not to concerned about it tho

Now I know all for reef has these elements in its formula so here’s what I’m thinking on the next ICP.

1. Take the sample after the dose.

2. Take the sample a couple hrs after the dose.

3. Dose 40mls before lights on and spread the rest out over 24hrs for a couple days then take a the sample my usual way.

4. Spread the entire dose out over 24hrs after a couple days take the sample my usual way.

Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would suggest not wasting time with barium. Despite hobby claims, it has no known need in any organism.

Iron and manganese deplete rapidly, and icp may not be that useful unless you set up regular daily dosing and then see what that gives by icp.

Fluoride depletion will be tied to alk and calcium consumption, and may be fast or slow, depending on the tank. How important it is to a reef tank is not clear to me.

An alternative to this measure and dose idea is to just pick a product such as Tropic Marin A and K and dose per manufacturer recommendation. That is essentially what I am to do, perhaps adjusting based on my own thoughts, but not based on icp testing.

 

[805reeftank]

I would suggest not wasting time with barium. Despite hobby claims, it has no known need in any organism.

Iron and manganese deplete rapidly, and icp may not be that useful unless you set up regular daily dosing and then see what that gives by icp.

Fluoride depletion will be tied to alk and calcium consumption, and may be fast or slow, depending on the tank. How important it is to a reef tank is not clear to me.

An alternative to this measure and dose idea is to just pick a product such as Tropic Marin A and K and dose per manufacturer recommendation. That is essentially what I am to do, perhaps adjusting based on my own thoughts, but not based on icp testing.

Thanks for the reply, I don’t plan on changing anything dosing wise. I was just wondering if I should try and change when I’m collecting the sample water. Should I keep doing it before the dose? Or should I try after to see what the values are after the dose? I can look back on my other 3 tests and compare. My tank is 50gal water volume and I’m dosing 65ml of all for reef a day I don’t know what that’s is in terms of dkh.

 

[rishma]

You are getting expert advice here so you don’t need mine, but I wanted to share that I think your ICP looks excellent. Better than mine and I’m quite happy with mine. I’d keep doing what you are doing!