ICP results - Salinity 26.5

[Addicted2Reef’n]

To say I’m shocked I still have a tank is an understatement.
Backstory;
I had noticed that some of my new frags were bleaching and dying while the established corals including an acro as well as others were still growing perplexed me. So I ordered an ICP test. I got the results and my first instinct was to find ways the ICP was wrong but as I thought through it all I realized the horrible mistake I had made. First I set my tank up with a cheap salinity refractometer and not one built for seawater. From there I calibrated my refractometer with Neptunes 55,000 uS solution. I then poured the rest of the remaining calibration fluid into a used 5 hour energy bottle for a standard fluid to calibrate later. ( I assume this is where I messed up ltr) A few months later I was shocked to see my refractometer read 42 ppt when calibrating with the old calibration fluid so I readjusted my refractometer to meet the 35 ppt I “thought” my standard solution was. I only realized this last night as the possible reason after spending a week trying to figure it out. I assume the Neptunes salinity fluid is meant for electrodes measuring ions and not refractometers. My mistake.
So what to do now? I will post my results from my ICP. I dose 2 part plus magnesium via doser and test multiple times per day via trident. Do I stop dosing and slowly add more salt mix or is there a better way to add salt while obtaining a balance. Sorry I did not pay attention in chemistry but ready to learn now lol

 

[Miami Reef]

You can make a highly accurate refractometer standard at home. Dissolve 7.3 g of Morton iodized salt in 192.7 grams or mL of water. It will be 35 ppt.

This ICP is weird. It wants you to maintain 300 ppm calcium and 290 ppm potassium. Ignore the ICP recommendations that say “too high” and “too low.” Only stop dosing magnesium and increase the salinity.

To increase the salinity, make a hyper saline solution of 40-45 ppt and use that to top off the tank instead of freshwater until the salinity reaches 35 ppt.

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

Yea I agree the ICP said my CA and others were high when in reality they are within recommended parameters. Slow and steady for however I do it.

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

To be honest I’m kinda relieved to know that low salinity is the issue I’ve been having with new corals and not something else I was doing. I put alot of thought and effort into taking good care of my tank and I overlooked and took for granted the most basic element of a saltwater aquarium- the salt lol.

 

[Miami Reef]

To be honest I’m kinda relieved to know that low salinity is the issue

I agree. It feels good finding the culprit and having something tangible to fix. It should hopefully be upwards from here on out. Your ICP generally looks very good, actually. The salinity was the only thing I saw as problematic.

The potassium could be higher. I prefer it around 400 ppm.

 

[Miami Reef]

What salt mix do you use?

 

[X-37B]

I would get another test from another vendor!

Alkalinity will go up from 26-35 when you raise specific gravity so keep an eye on it.
Ca is fine
Mag is fine even that high if it's real.

K? if correct, is very high and if truly the number they gave may also be one of your issues.

Their ca ideal value wrong. Who runs ca at 300, no one!

Who runs mag at 940, no one.

Get a TM hydrometer and use it to determine actual sg. Not a fan of another method as the TM is always correct.

I would not base anything on their results and get another test from another vendor.
You can and should test for.
Temp- has influence on sg
SG- has influence on alk
Alk
Ca
Mag
K
No3
P04

Something is way off not just one.
I use ATI and have had excellent repeatable results.

One example that makes no sense.
Mag ideal at 940?
My ATI test within the last few weeks shows normal.

Honestly it makes no sense.
Anyone with a ATI icp we can compare with?

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

What salt mix do you use?

Instant Ocean

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

To be honest I’m kinda relieved to know that low salinity is the issue

I agree. It feels good finding the culprit and having something tangible to fix. It should hopefully be upwards from here on out. Your ICP generally looks very good, actually. The salinity was the only thing I saw as problematic.

The potassium could be higher. I prefer it around 400 ppm.

Yea I agree on the potassium although they say it’s critically high

 

[X-37B]

It's not the salt. It's the test parameters they call ideal on
certain elements are way off.
Anyone with a current ATI icp that can share a screen shot?
I would email ATI and post their ideal levels to show them they are off and get an explanation.

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

I would get another test from another vendor!

Alkalinity will go up from 26-35 when you raise specific gravity so keep an eye on it.
Ca is fine
Mag is fine even that high if it's real.

K? if correct, is very high and if truly the number they gave may also be one of your issues.

Their ca recommendation is wrong. Who runs ca at 300, no one!

Who runs mag at 940, no one.

Get a TM hydrometer and use it to determine actual sg. Not a fan of another method as the TM is always correct.

I would not base anything on their results and get another test from another vendor.
You can and should test for.
Temp- has influence on sg
SG- has influence on alk
Alk
Ca
Mag
K
No3
P04

Something is way off not just one.
I use ATI and have had excellent repeatable results.

One example that makes no sense.
Mag ideal at 940?
My ATI test within the last few weeks shows normal.

Honestly it makes no sense.
Anyone with a ATI icp we can compare with?

I bet they are factoring in the the low water salinity for their recommended mag number also being lower. So if I were to raise my salinity to 35 their recommended mg was also go up. Idk but I can only assume that is why their recommendations are so low on this test. This is the only ICP I’ve done . I bet the recommended values is based on a formula of your salinity.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I bet they are factoring in the the low water salinity for their recommended mag number also being lower. So if I were to raise my salinity to 35 their recommended mg was also go up. Idk but I can only assume that is why their recommendations are so low on this test. This is the only ICP I’ve done . I bet the recommended values is based on a formula of your salinity.

Yes, they are.

 

[X-37B]

Yea I agree on the potassium although they say it’s critically high

A potassium level of 290 as being ideal is wrong. It would still be high at 290, 200 is normal so?

Yes, they are.

That makes sense but the ideal values make no sense to me.

 

[X-37B]

A potassium level of 290 as being ideal is wrong. It would still be high at 290, 200 is normal so?

That makes sense but the ideal values make no sense to me.

Why would ATI give those ideal values which are different from my ideal values on my test?

 

[KStatefan]

A potassium level of 290 as being ideal is wrong. It would still be high at 290, 200 is normal so?

That makes sense but the ideal values make no sense to me.

Do they adjust the ideal value for the salinity

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

A potassium level of 290 as being ideal is wrong. It would still be high at 290, 200 is normal so?

That makes sense but the ideal values make no sense to me.

Do they adjust the ideal value for the salinity

Yes. The recommended values slide up or down based on your salinity. It’s just a formula that is based upon it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I can see pros and cons either way, but companies should make it clear to users which way they are making recommendations.

 

[X-37B]

Yes. The recommended values slide up or down based on your salinity. It’s just a formula that is based upon it.

Ok I'm not seeing how their recommended ideal values would change just because salinity is off.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Ok I'm not seeing how their recommended ideal values would change just because salinity is off.

If salinity is half of normal and potassium is half of normal, the potassium is exactly right for the salinity, and a simple salinity correction fixes it. That's the rationale. They don’t want folks thinking the problem is other than salinity if that’s all it is.

If salinity is half of normal and potassium is full strength seawater normal, and they said that was ideal, then a salinity correction will drive it too high.

 

[Addicted2Reef’n]

Ok I'm not seeing how their recommended ideal values would change just because salinity is off.

If salinity is half of normal and potassium is half of normal, the potassium is exactly right for the salinity, and a simple salinity correction fixes it. That's the rationale. They don’t want folks thinking the problem is other than salinity if that’s all it is.

If salinity is half of normal and potassium is full strength seawater normal, and they said that was ideal, then a salinity correction will drive it too high.

So this means that I must be careful as I raise my salinity correct ? Because I keep my Alk , Mg and Ca stable and just adding my salt mix will raise those numbers.
Is there a salt I could use that does not have calcium and magnesium added that would not raise those values? I know Alk is another issue.
Theoretically if I was able to just add sodium chloride would that in return raise my Mg and Ca and Alk ?