ICP test results

[bureau13]

I just got my ATI ICP results back. They rated my water a distressingly-low 25, despite the fact that my nitrates and phosphates are both showing in the nominal range (which at least in terms of nitrates, is a huge improvement...last ICP test they were at 199!)

The two biggest out-of-bounds areas were salinity being critically low and iodine being critically low. I mixed up a big batch of high-salinity salt water and turned off the ATO to use the salty stuff instead, so that solution seems to be obvious. I also ordered some Seachem iodine supplement, but I was wondering if at least part of that might be indirectly due to the low salinity? Should I dose based on the ICP results? I don't have anything to test that.

I'm not even sure what the effects of low iodine are, other than I think plants don't like it maybe? My bubble algae doesn't seem to mind but I can't seem to keep chaeto growing, so maybe that's why?

Finally, I'm regularly dosing 2-part (using CaCl and Soda Ash) and then an equal amount of the Balling Part C. Calcium and Alkalinity seem to be fine (it was actually saying Alkalinity was a bit high) so should I up the amount of Part C?

 

[RoanokeReef]

Did you check your salinity? Almost every test I do for ATI says mine is low but it isn't.

 

[bureau13]

Yeah, it's low. Not so sure it's as low by my refractometer as they said but it's definitely low.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m not convinced iodine is generally useful, but others think they are benefits.

I’d definitely raise the salinity slowly to 35 ppt by replacing evaporated water with seawater. Do not use part C for this purpose.