ICP test results

[starfishguy869]

Hi,

after doing an ICP test, I have a few values that are too low, mainly vanadium, selenium, cobalt, and chromium, which were all undetectable. My question was, are these elements worth dosing? I don’t know if these are important enough, so I hope I can get some help. Thank you.

 

[rishma]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/randys-elements-to-dose.1030557/

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

How big is your tank? You’re going to get mixed reviews here, but those trace elements are so minimal like to think of it like vitamins. You’re going to get the vitamins you need from feeding the tank, however if you want to “take vitamins” consider using all for reef. Even if it’s a small amount of daily dosing you’re still adding some of those trace elements back in. Another option which I believe is acceptable is to do your weekly water changes. There are other ways to dose trace elements if you’re concerned, but they are not necessary. 10 years ago no one was talking trace elements.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

There are other ways to dose trace elements if you’re concerned, but they are not necessary.

Aren't they?

It is clear that in some tanks, some trace elements are beneficial even when doing the things you state.

AFR has trace elements, but if the alk demand is low, AFR dose will be low as well and may not supply what is needed. Many big users of trace elements use no alkalinity, such as macroalgae or soft corals.

Water changes, unless pretty large, will never maintain some fast-depleting elements at levels close to the salt mix.

I believe that foods are a much bigger source of some elements than water changes, but even so they may not be enough.

My suggestion is for folks to experiment for themselves to see if supplementing is useful.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Aren't they?

It is clear that in some tanks, some trace elements are beneficial even when doing the things you state.

AFR has trace elements, but if the alk demand is low, AFR dose will be low as well and may not supply what is needed. Many big users of trace elements use no alkalinity, such as macroalgae or soft corals.

Water changes, unless pretty large, will never maintain some fast-depleting elements at levels close to the salt mix.

I believe that foods are a much bigger source of some elements than water changes, but even so they may not be enough.

My suggestion is for folks to experiment for themselves to see if supplementing is useful.

Before there was moonshiners and ICP tests were uncommon; hobbyists were still very successful keeping corals alive and healthy. This is why I’ll say it isn’t necessary to follow a regime such as moonshiners. If someone is having a problem growing corals without dosing trace elements I wouldn’t think that dosing daily trace elements is the solution…

However I do agree that it is beneficial to dose some sort of trace elements. Also knowing and understand them is part of being a successful reef keeper. I personally use AFR because I do have a very high alk consumption and would like to dose trace amounts of lightly consumed elements!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Before there was moonshiners and ICP tests were uncommon; hobbyists were still very successful keeping corals alive and healthy. This is why I’ll say it isn’t necessary to follow a regime such as moonshiners. If someone is having a problem growing corals without dosing trace elements I wouldn’t think that dosing daily trace elements is the solution…

That is true. And many of them dosed trace elements, including me. I kept corals both before and after dosing any trace elements.

Example:

The owner of Reef Central was having macroalgae issues in his tank refugium, long before hobby ICP was a common thing. I suggested he dose iron, and within a couple of days, his macroalgae turned from pale to darker green and were growing better. he was already doing normal things like water changes.

 

[Luminous74]

In principle, “not detectable” does not mean that an element is not present – it simply means it is below the detection limit of the ICP analysis. Therefore, the question of whether dosing is beneficial cannot be answered in a general way. What matters is what you hope to achieve with the dosing or what aspect of your tank is not yet optimal.

Ultimately, you can only determine whether dosing has positive effects by observing your own tank. However, if you are dosing individual trace elements, I believe it is essential to conduct regular ICP analyses to avoid overdosing.

It’s easier to use a system that already contains trace elements – such as Tropic Marin All-For-Reef (AFR). Alternatively, the A- and K-Elements from Tropic Marin could also be an option.