ICP Test Results

[Alfredomeinhardt]

I did my first ICP test, and I've got the results today.

Most of it is normal, but the Iodine came back at 8.45µg/l which is very low, and the zinc came back at 21.4µg/l, which is very high.

I am attaching the results so you can have a better picture.

I just have one ZOA and one Cadycane in my tank at the moment (I used to have three torches and three hammers, but they died)

Any suggestions??

 

[EnterName]

Regarding Iodine: There are supplements to increase iodine levels, but as far as I know it's a bit controversial if dosing iodine actually does anything. It's possible that corals, fish, and inverts are getting iodine from food instead of extracting it from dissolved ions in the water. I can't tell you if it has an effect on the microbiology and therefore indirectly on other organisms... I personally just dose it and don't have to worry about it anymore.

Regarding Zinc: Zinc can be removed with activated charcoal and phosphate adsorbers as far as I know. Water changes will definitely help as well.
However, usually zinc is low when not supplemented, as it's taken up quite fast and often part of "daily trace element mixes". You might want to check if there are any metal parts in your tank that could cause issues. Hose clamps, decorative elements, screws, etc. Sometimes the protective plastic or rubber on flow pump magnets or algae scrapers breaks exposing the magnets to the water. However, in this case I would have expected other metals to show up as well... Are you dosing any trace element mixes?
What are you feeding (food can apparently be a big zinc source)?

 

[BryanM]

Agreed above re:Zinc.

I would also want to get your salinity closer to 35.

 

[Alfredomeinhardt]

Regarding Iodine: There are supplements to increase iodine levels, but as far as I know it's a bit controversial if dosing iodine actually does anything. It's possible that corals, fish, and inverts are getting iodine from food instead of extracting it from dissolved ions in the water. I can't tell you if it has an effect on the microbiology and therefore indirectly on other organisms... I personally just dose it and don't have to worry about it anymore.

Regarding Zinc: Zinc can be removed with activated charcoal and phosphate adsorbers as far as I know. Water changes will definitely help as well.
However, usually zinc is low when not supplemented, as it's taken up quite fast and often part of "daily trace element mixes". You might want to check if there are any metal parts in your tank that could cause issues. Hose clamps, decorative elements, screws, etc. Sometimes the protective plastic or rubber on flow pump magnets or algae scrapers breaks exposing the magnets to the water. However, in this case I would have expected other metals to show up as well... Are you dosing any trace element mixes?
What are you feeding (food can apparently be a big zinc source)?

Thanks for the response. I am only dosing NO3 and All for Reef to my tank.

 

[Alfredomeinhardt]

Y

Agreed above re:Zinc.

I would also want to get your salinity closer to 35.

Yes. That was surprising to me. I check my salinity weekly with a refractometer (calibrated every week also), and it is always at 1026 (35ppm). I will look into that too

 

[BryanM]

Y

Yes. That was surprising to me. I check my salinity weekly with a refractometer (calibrated every week also), and it is always at 1026 (35ppm). I will look into that too

I had the same issues, I bit the bullet and bought the tropic marin hydrometer ... Now my salinity matches my ICP test results.