High P with ICP Test

[A3LXK]

#I did a Ati MS ICP test which came back with a very high P and Po4 168 ug/l / 52 mg/l. When I test my Po4 with my Hanna Hi-736 the result is 0.09 ppm.

I have checked the Hanna first with a reference solution of 0.12 ppm. The result was spot on 0.12 ppm.

What to believe? Does the ICP went wrong somewhere?

Regards,
Adri

 

[BioChris]

You mentioned your PO4 according to the ICP test was 52 ug/L which converts to 0.052 ppm. You tested with Hanna at 0.09 ppm, what’s the issue?

 

[A3LXK]

You mentioned your PO4 according to the ICP test was 52 ug/L which converts to 0.052 ppm. You tested with Hanna at 0.09 ppm, what’s the issue?

Oops, I made a typo. It is 52 mg/l

 

[BryanM]

Oops, I made a typo. It is 52 mg/l

I would contact ATI. 52 ppm Phos is massively high, and seems to be a testing error.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

it’s 0.52 ppm. Not that high

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Icp and Hanna do not detect the same chemicals. Both may be accurate, or one or both may be wrong.

 

[A3LXK]

Icp and Hanna do not detect the same chemicals. Both may be accurate, or one or both may be wrong.

What if ICP is right, can it cause trouble?

 

[BryanM]

What if ICP is right, can it cause trouble?

I never intentionally ran my tank at .9+, but there is no denying it happened.

Did it possibly contribute to some coral loss, likely, but not known for sure.

It is currently at .54 and things are thriving. Should you take steps to lower it slowly, likely yes. But .54 is not a 3-alarm fire.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What if ICP is right, can it cause trouble?

Not really. Some great tanks have twice as much (1 ppm).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

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