ICP says I have copper

[wmatt140]

I have a new reef build. I've sent in two ICP - Oceamo tests over the last three months. Both tests came back with high copper readings - 6.76 ug/l.

My Hannah test reads .18. What would cause the difference in results?

Thanks,

Wayne

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don’t think that Oceamo levels enough to be a substantial problem. The Hanna is not useful in this range. Use the Hanna only for medication levels.

Does anything in the tank seem to be suffering?

 

[wmatt140]

Thanks Randy.

The tank just went through an ugly stage of Dino's, didn't catch that my nitrates were .5. I dosed them up to the 5-6 range and gave it some time. The tank cleared up and is looking good.

I don't understand where the copper is coming from. ICP also tests my RODI and it shows nothing. Should I keep things as is and continue the monthly-ish ICP tests and monitor for changes?

 

[ReeferMo]

Thanks Randy.

The tank just went through an ugly stage of Dino's, didn't catch that my nitrates were .5. I dosed them up to the 5-6 range and gave it some time. The tank cleared up and is looking good.

I don't understand where the copper is coming from. ICP also tests my RODI and it shows nothing. Should I keep things as is and continue the monthly-ish ICP tests and monitor for changes?

The rocks in your tank. Are they new or you got it of someone else’s tank ?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thanks Randy.

The tank just went through an ugly stage of Dino's, didn't catch that my nitrates were .5. I dosed them up to the 5-6 range and gave it some time. The tank cleared up and is looking good.

I don't understand where the copper is coming from. ICP also tests my RODI and it shows nothing. Should I keep things as is and continue the monthly-ish ICP tests and monitor for changes?

I had copper years ago at twice that level without apparent cause or problem.

 

[wmatt140]

Rocks were used, dry. I gave them a soak in muriatic acid and then soaked them in saltwater with no light for few months. They were leaching phosphates so I dosed lanthanum chloride and did water changes until the readings came down.

 

[wmatt140]

I had copper years ago at twice that level without apparent cause or problem.

Thanks Randy, that's good to know.

 

[EnterName]

I'm still wondering why the HannaChecker didn't just simply bottom out and show "LOW" or "0.00". According to HannaInstruments, the HI702 is supposed to work fine in saltwater (accuracy of approx ±0.05ppm from 0.00ppm to 5.00ppm).

It would be interesting to see if RO/DI also shows 0.18ppm, but that is more a test for the HannaChecker than for the copper source.

 

[wmatt140]

I'm still wondering why the HannaChecker didn't just simply bottom out and show "LOW" or "0.00". According to HannaInstruments, the HI702 is supposed to work fine in saltwater (accuracy of approx ±0.05ppm from 0.00ppm to 5.00ppm).

It would be interesting to see if RO/DI also shows 0.18ppm, but that is more a test for the HannaChecker than for the copper source.

I just tested my RODI and got .04 ppm.

 

[EnterName]

I just tested my RODI and got .04 ppm.

0.04ppm would be within the error tolerance of ±0.05ppm. I think that's a "good" measurement considering the meter probably is more precise near 2.50ppm (in the middle of its total range between 0.00ppm and 5.00ppm).

I don't know if it could be some faulty salt mix, trace element solution, or contaminated alk/calcium supplement, but just to make sure: You didn't use petco carbon (Imagitarium coconut carbon media) by any chance, did you?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm still wondering why the HannaChecker didn't just simply bottom out and show "LOW" or "0.00". According to HannaInstruments, the HI702 is supposed to work fine in saltwater (accuracy of approx ±0.05ppm from 0.00ppm to 5.00ppm).

It would be interesting to see if RO/DI also shows 0.18ppm, but that is more a test for the HannaChecker than for the copper source.

Because it doesn’t work as claimed. Many folks see copper readings on it and none detected by icp.

 

[EnterName]

Because it doesn’t work as claimed. Many folks see copper readings on it and none detected by icp.

That's unfortunate... I don't own the HI702 and prefer to listen to the manufacturer in these cases. But if there are many reports of it not working properly that's a bad sign. At least their website still only advertises it for freshwater.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That's unfortunate... I don't own the HI702 and prefer to listen to the manufacturer in these cases. But if there are many reports of it not working properly that's a bad sign. At least their website still only advertises it for freshwater.

Might be some type of other metal in seawater interferes. In any case, it’s a longstanding issue that I have warned folks about for years.

 

[wmatt140]

So my conclusion will be it's too small to worry about and I don't have a reliable method to test that low.

 

[Pod_01]

So my conclusion will be it's too small to worry about and I don't have a reliable method to test that low.

Just for reference, here is recommendation from another ICP company:

6 is still good… Just need to shop around…

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So my conclusion will be it's too small to worry about and I don't have a reliable method to test that low.

That is my conclusion. But I’d also be aware of the possibility of metal parts corroding that might raise it more.