ICP test results

[greyhunter]

Hey everyone,
I just got my ICP results back for my 75L reef (Waterbox 20). Most of my major elements (Ca, Mg, Alk) are all within the right range, but what I’ve noticed is that they’re not really being consumed. My alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium just stay stable without dosing, which makes me think my corals aren’t really growing or taking up much. What I can also see is that my lps like torches or duncans are not growing but my softies are. I also use carbon for chemical warfare.
The ICP test also showed some trace element imbalances – several were undetectable (like Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Se), while iodine and iron were already on the higher side. After a water change, my corals look a lot happier, so I know that plays a role.
I do have the Red Sea Colors (A, B, C, D) products available, but I’m not sure how I should proceed right now. Should I start supplementing trace elements despite the low major consumption?
Curious to hear what others would do in this situation, especially those who’ve dealt with stalled consumption and trace element gaps.
Thanks in advance

 

[ReneReef]

Nothing in those results will keep your corals from growing.
Rarely any ICP result will show that.

I saw in a post of you form August last year, that you have one AI prime to light this tank.
If this is still the case. I would bet you are under lighting your tank. Run that light all white and blue channels at 100% for at least 6 hours during the afternoon. Ramp up and down you can do to your own taste.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hey everyone,
I just got my ICP results back for my 75L reef (Waterbox 20). Most of my major elements (Ca, Mg, Alk) are all within the right range, but what I’ve noticed is that they’re not really being consumed. My alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium just stay stable without dosing, which makes me think my corals aren’t really growing or taking up much. What I can also see is that my lps like torches or duncans are not growing but my softies are. I also use carbon for chemical warfare.
The ICP test also showed some trace element imbalances – several were undetectable (like Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Se), while iodine and iron were already on the higher side. After a water change, my corals look a lot happier, so I know that plays a role.
I do have the Red Sea Colors (A, B, C, D) products available, but I’m not sure how I should proceed right now. Should I start supplementing trace elements despite the low major consumption?
Curious to hear what others would do in this situation, especially those who’ve dealt with stalled consumption and trace element gaps.
Thanks in advance

If coral are not growing look at light and flow.

I would not dose Red Sea ABCD with no macro element consumption.

 

[greyhunter]

Nothing in those results will keep your corals from growing.
Rarely any ICP result will show that.

I saw in a post of you form August last year, that you have one AI prime to light this tank.
If this is still the case. I would bet you are under lighting your tank. Run that light all white and blue channels at 100% for at least 6 hours during the afternoon. Ramp up and down you can do to your own taste.

my softies are growing good and fine, also being my zoas at the bottom of my tank. i use a schedule i found on facebook. Here are two screenshots of the values at differrent times. Maybe this will help.

 

[greyhunter]

If coral are not growing look at light and flow.

I would not dose Red Sea ABCD with no macro element consumption.

my softies are growing good and fine, also being my zoas at the bottom of my tank. i use a schedule i found on facebook. Here are two screenshots of the values at differrent times. Maybe this will help

 

[ReneReef]

That confirms my suspicions.
Definitely too way little light. Yes, waaaaayyyyy!
The white channels are barely used and even the blues are dimmed a lot.

That is a 50W light running maybe at 15 max 20 Watts. An marine aquarium is not a romantic candle light dinner, it needs to emulate an environment exposed to the unimaginable force of the tropical sun…

Run it as I said in my previous post. You will be amazed how happy your corals will be. Including your softies and zoas.

 

[gbroadbridge]

my softies are growing good and fine, also being my zoas at the bottom of my tank. i use a schedule i found on facebook. Here are two screenshots of the values at differrent times. Maybe this will help

I don't know why people make light schedules so complicated.
Sun rises, crosses the sky, and sets.

I have a small 13 gallon nano tank in the office and my lights are set much higher with just LPS coral.

More light and probably more flow needed.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I've got a 15 gallon softie tank, my AI Prime is set to 80%. Turn your (blue, royal blue, violet) lights up more.

How is the flow in your tank, do you have a powerhead or just the return flow?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

On the trace element issues, soft corals use just as much as hard corals of most trace elements, so if they are growing, it is unlikely that trace elements are limiting hard coral growth. However, it’s an easy experiment to add something like Tropic Marin A and K for a while to see if anything improves.

 

[greyhunter]

I've got a 15 gallon softie tank, my AI Prime is set to 80%. Turn your (blue, royal blue, violet) lights up more.

How is the flow in your tank, do you have a powerhead or just the return flow?

Flow is good i think my corals sway with the flow i have a powerhrad in the tank

 

[greyhunter]

I've got a 15 gallon softie tank, my AI Prime is set to 80%. Turn your (blue, royal blue, violet) lights up more.

How is the flow in your tank, do you have a powerhead or just the return flow?

I’ve increased it to this now

 

[ScottF]

Just be careful not to increase too quickly. Suddenly doubling the output of your lights is rarely a good idea.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I’ve increased it to this now

Set the light acclimation settings to 10 days and 50% starting point to ramp it up slowly