ICP results - really high chlorine??

[KStatefan]

could my high precision hydrometer be wrong?

Yes.

I made some of Randy's DIY calibration fluid to verify mine.

 

[KStatefan]

Question out of curiosity:
Is there a formula or, better yet, calculator to determine overall salinity based on values of key major elements from an ICP test?

There is a spreadsheet either here or on reef central to do it.

 

[christianscorals]

Yes.

I made some of Randy's DIY calibration fluid to verify mine.

gotcha. my salinity is being read as 1.027 via icp?

 

[KStatefan]

gotcha. my salinity is being read as 1.027 via icp?

Higher then that. I just looked at the NACl you would have to add all the other ions also.

 

[christianscorals]

Higher then that. I just looked at the NACl you would have to add all the other ions also.

well, dang. my corals and fish look fine, otherwise i didnt think they’d be able to tolerate extreme salinity like that !

 

[KStatefan]

I would toss the ICP results in the trash verify your hydrometer is correct and move on

 

[christianscorals]

I would toss the ICP results in the trash verify your hydrometer is correct and move on

what a waste of time. at least it was only $8 per test. thanks for helping out

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Question out of curiosity:
Is there a formula or, better yet, calculator to determine overall salinity based on values of key major elements from an ICP test?

Simplest way if you have values for sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium and potassium is to just add them together. The total salinity will be just a bit higher than that.

Here we have

2.6 ppt sulfate (880 ppm x 3 = 2640 ppm , we need sulfate, not just sulfur)
23.4 ppt chloride (23,400 ppm)
12.3 ppt sodium
1.4 ppt magnesium
0.5 ppt potassium
0.5 ppt calcium

So from those alone we are over 40 ppt salinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

what a waste of time. at least it was only $8 per test. thanks for helping out

I personally would not trash the icp since they are ALL high

 

[EricR]

Simplest way if you have values for sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium and potassium is to just add them together. The total salinity will be just a bit higher than that.

Here we have

2.6 ppt sulfate (880 ppm x 3 = 2640 ppm , we need sulfate, not just sulfur)
23.4 ppt chloride (23,400 ppm)
12.3 ppt sodium
1.4 ppt magnesium
0.5 ppt potassium
0.5 ppt calcium

So from those alone we are over 40 ppt salinity.

Thanks,,, good to know.
My last ICP test didn't measure Chloride so I guess it would be a pointless exercise for me.
*other 5 elements were measured, ironically

 

[Propane]

I personally would not trash the icp since they are ALL high

Do they read high due to accuracy or is it inaccurately high?

 

[christianscorals]

Simplest way if you have values for sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium and potassium is to just add them together. The total salinity will be just a bit higher than that.

Here we have

2.6 ppt sulfate (880 ppm x 3 = 2640 ppm , we need sulfate, not just sulfur)
23.4 ppt chloride (23,400 ppm)
12.3 ppt sodium
1.4 ppt magnesium
0.5 ppt potassium
0.5 ppt calcium

So from those alone we are over 40 ppt salinity.

gotcha. i’m currently getting about 1.0265 on both my refractometer and TM hydrometer

 

[christianscorals]

this is what i’ve been using to calibrate my refractometer for some time now

 

[Uncle99]

Maybe your sample was left open for some period.
That could give you a higher reads.
Trust your gut.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do they read high due to accuracy or is it inaccurately high?

I do not know if the salinity is high, or the ICP values are off, but it must be one (or both).