ICP Elevated Silver (Ag)

[Z Burn's Reefing]

Just got back the result from my latest monthly ICP.

Out of the blue, silver came back elevated:

Should I chalk it up as an erroneous result? Or take it serious and do a round of water changes? Would activated carbon help?

I honestly have never had silver come up before so am a little confused on where it could be coming from?

All thoughts and insights are much appreciated! Tank seems ok.

 

[skey44]

Just got back the result from my latest monthly ICP.

Out of the blue, silver came back elevated:

Should I chalk it up as an erroneous result? Or take it serious and do a round of water changes? Would activated carbon help?

I honestly have never had silver come up before so am a little confused on where it could be coming from?

All thoughts and insights are much appreciated! Tank seems ok.

This datapoint seems concerning, but I don’t know enough to weigh in from experience. I’m interested to follow the discussion and learn more. I know your tank is looking “ok” though
Also curious to know what we would be looking For with this. You definitely seem to have good coral health.

Without the forum’s input my action would be water change and carbon more research into metazorb. Then Trying to figure out if it’s erroneous or you have a real issue or source. Maybe this calls for a stat follow up or trying a test with higher sensitivity?

I was chatting with you on IG about growouts upcoming. I’m @sandlapperaquaculture over there.

 

[skey44]

@jackson6745 help us out bro. I’ve heard you talk about this stuff with great clarity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have never seen elevated silver in a reef tank. I am not convinced it’s any concern, or even that it is real. At the moment its only about twice the acceptable EPA limit.

As to sources, there are a number of consumer products that contain silver, as do pH electrodes. Any chance you broke one in the water?

Any chance a piece of jewelry fell into the water ?

Silver is often used in or on products to reduce bacteria growth. You might review any such products you use in your home. Any wound treatments used before reaching into the water?

 

[Z Burn's Reefing]

Thanks Randy, yea I don't believe any jewelry has falling into the tank. Unless one of my kids threw something in there by accident and didn't tell me. I think that likelihood is pretty low.

No use of wound treatments and not using any products to decrease bacterial growth. I am going to do a larger water change the next two weekends, then send in another ICP to see if that measurement can be reproduced. I am thinking it is not real at the moment.

 

[jackson6745]

@jackson6745 help us out bro. I’ve heard you talk about this stuff with great clarity.

Silver is a new one for me

 

[Reefing102]

I have nothing to contribute factually speaking

But from a grow out perspective….That explains it! Your corals are actually 3d printed silver statues!

 

[Z Burn's Reefing]

Silver is a new one for me

Yea, this is a strange one for sure...caught me completely off guard

 

[Z Burn's Reefing]

Just closing this one out….i contacted the ATI lab about the silver per their suggestion in the ICP report and the ran some of my left over tank sample on a different machine and the silver was not detectable. In short, not a real reading I don’t think. I didn’t realize they kept some of my tank water for a second run, so that was helpful to learn. Thanks all!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the update. Sad that folks get spurious readings that they may act on in ways that are actually useless, and possibly expensive or time consuming.

 

[Acro Junky]

Just closing this one out….i contacted the ATI lab about the silver per their suggestion in the ICP report and the ran some of my left over tank sample on a different machine and the silver was not detectable. In short, not a real reading I don’t think. I didn’t realize they kept some of my tank water for a second run, so that was helpful to learn. Thanks all!

I’m more concerned that they are sending out ICP’s with one having a reading and one not. People make big changes to their reef based off these. That’s a concern.