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- Feb 16, 2009
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In the past I have asked how to get rid of tin and aluminum in my tank. Now I am asking, Where in the world is it coming from? My tin levels have continued to climb despite my attempts to lower it. Aluminum has been up 120 then back at 0 and back up to 122. In November,2014 Triton results showed tin at 42, in Late December, 2014 after multiple large water changes, up to 59. Finally most recent Triton test, tin at 89. Since December's higher than November results I swapped out sand bed, swapped out all pumps, took out all powerheads and replaced, dipped 60% of my rock in Muriatic Acid and added the Little Fishies "MetalSorb" to the tank. I know Metalsorb does nothing for tin but I thought it couldn't hurt. I thought rusty bits of my steel stand that I found in the sump were to blame. I covered the sump 5 months ago. My make-up water has always tested at 0 for tin and aluminum.
I did some research on various boards and saw some references to tin levels rising as a result of bad hardware somewhere in the tank, leaching out the metals, so I swapped out all pumps and powerheads. I am unable to support any SPS in this tank over the past 18 months. Alk, Ca, and Mag are stable and have been extremely stable since last summer. Fish, most LPS, shrooms and some zoas are fine. There is not huge growth but overall colors and medium levels of growth on most of these inhabitants. Fish are fine. The idea of heavy metal poisoning affecting the SPS seems in line. I add food, Rod's Food, various frozen foods, pellets and some high quality flake in a smorgasbord for the fish and LPS. I dose BRS alk and Cal supplement through a doser. Make up water is super clean NO TIN, NO ALUMINUM. Where in the heck is it coming from. The SPS corals are not lying, they perish within a month of being added. I am periodically trying a few frags here and there to see with my eyes if things are better. The Triton test results and the SPS are telling me nothing is changing no matter what I have done. I am totally at a loss. I was thinking of doing a 60-75% water change and then 60-75% water change 3 days later to really dilute the metals, but then what?? Without finding the cause they will just rise again. I am not a huge "Chase the numbers kind of reefer" but my corals have been telling me for 18 months that something is seriously wrong in the tank. If only my make-up water was the culprit!!!!
I am open to any thoughts, speculation, suggestions. Desperation is setting in. I have been very methodical about my approach but I am running out of options and things to consider or change.
I did some research on various boards and saw some references to tin levels rising as a result of bad hardware somewhere in the tank, leaching out the metals, so I swapped out all pumps and powerheads. I am unable to support any SPS in this tank over the past 18 months. Alk, Ca, and Mag are stable and have been extremely stable since last summer. Fish, most LPS, shrooms and some zoas are fine. There is not huge growth but overall colors and medium levels of growth on most of these inhabitants. Fish are fine. The idea of heavy metal poisoning affecting the SPS seems in line. I add food, Rod's Food, various frozen foods, pellets and some high quality flake in a smorgasbord for the fish and LPS. I dose BRS alk and Cal supplement through a doser. Make up water is super clean NO TIN, NO ALUMINUM. Where in the heck is it coming from. The SPS corals are not lying, they perish within a month of being added. I am periodically trying a few frags here and there to see with my eyes if things are better. The Triton test results and the SPS are telling me nothing is changing no matter what I have done. I am totally at a loss. I was thinking of doing a 60-75% water change and then 60-75% water change 3 days later to really dilute the metals, but then what?? Without finding the cause they will just rise again. I am not a huge "Chase the numbers kind of reefer" but my corals have been telling me for 18 months that something is seriously wrong in the tank. If only my make-up water was the culprit!!!!
I am open to any thoughts, speculation, suggestions. Desperation is setting in. I have been very methodical about my approach but I am running out of options and things to consider or change.