ICP Testing
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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I’m not sure one can get all those in the same company. I would only use icp-ms from a company I trusted, if part of the purpose is to gauge trace elements. Icp-OES does not do the job for all elements.
I defer to the more experienced, but I've been using Fauna Marin Reef ICP and am satisfied with it (in my ignorance).
ICP-OES so I guess that's not ideal but when I've done experimental dosing of different trace elements, they've shown expected changes on my next ICP test.
German-based but I ship to USA location and have always gotten results back in a reasonable amount of time, plus I like the parameter tracking on their website (to look back and compare previous tests).
Relatively inexpensive (but I guess there's a reason for that) and I only do about 2 tests/year.
*I'm only basically looking for significant issues, though,,, not micro-managing anything.
EDIT -- Fauna Marin does have an ICP-MS test also but more expensive (as expected) so I haven't tried it (yet).
ICP-OES so I guess that's not ideal but when I've done experimental dosing of different trace elements, they've shown expected changes on my next ICP test.
German-based but I ship to USA location and have always gotten results back in a reasonable amount of time, plus I like the parameter tracking on their website (to look back and compare previous tests).
Relatively inexpensive (but I guess there's a reason for that) and I only do about 2 tests/year.
*I'm only basically looking for significant issues, though,,, not micro-managing anything.
EDIT -- Fauna Marin does have an ICP-MS test also but more expensive (as expected) so I haven't tried it (yet).
slingfox
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The only ICP company with facilities in the US that I am aware of is Triton. I personally use ATI or Fauna depending on pricing. I am in process of testing out Modern Reef but early signs are not good because they either lost my sample or are taking forever to process it.
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Alexr54
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Wow. Surprising answers. But do really appreciate the honesty.
Forgot the company i used last time but it was not a good experience. I think it was in Germany or Denmark. Can't recall.
Waited about a month, started contacting them after the first month and had to had to keep bugging/reminding them to send the results.
Then took about a month after me starting to bug them to get results. I do remember that the results were very weird. Although i don't remember exactly what was weird about them. Probably some elements were reading in the results that were impossible.
I felt it was a total waste of $. After so long how could my sample water be any good to test?
Was hoping by now we had better options.
Forgot the company i used last time but it was not a good experience. I think it was in Germany or Denmark. Can't recall.
Waited about a month, started contacting them after the first month and had to had to keep bugging/reminding them to send the results.
Then took about a month after me starting to bug them to get results. I do remember that the results were very weird. Although i don't remember exactly what was weird about them. Probably some elements were reading in the results that were impossible.
I felt it was a total waste of $. After so long how could my sample water be any good to test?
Was hoping by now we had better options.
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CHSUB
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I do the complete FM ICP- ms including the carbon and nitrogen valves. I like the results and it adds to my overall experience in reefing.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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We do, just not meeting all your criteria. I trust Oceamo to do a good job.
slingfox
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I don’t believe you can go wrong with ATI, Fauna Marin, or Oceamo. All those use labs based in Europe.
I've only done two ICP tests. I keep hearing people recommend ATI but my experience with them destroyed any confidence in the results. They offered rodi testing included so I pulled two rodi sample from the same container since I was testing two tanks. I don't know if they botched the tests or mixed my samples up with someone else's but my two rodi samples returned totally different results. I haven't bothered doing one since but I really have no reason to.
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Alexr54
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This is exactly what's made me not do this kind of test for years. Bunch to think on thanks all!I've only done two ICP tests. I keep hearing people recommend ATI but my experience with them destroyed any confidence in the results. They offered rodi testing included so I pulled two rodi sample from the same container since I was testing two tanks. I don't know if they botched the tests or mixed my samples up with someone else's but my two rodi samples returned totally different results. I haven't bothered doing one since but I really have no reason to.
areefer01
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They are all more or less using the same hardware. One of the differences is the human factor. Their intake, preparation, handling, and reporting. There was only one ICP company that had a consistent hobbyist level avoid which is no longer in business.
I would probably do another if i were trying to figure out a mystery in a tank but I would choose a different company. I'll never do one just because. The last thing I want to do it start chasing something that I didn't even know was a problem to begin with. I try to keep things as simple as possible. I don't need problems to solve to enjoy the hobby. Many people seem like they are looking for problems to solve and often they create problems. I just like to sit back and relax.
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Alexr54
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This is not just because.
I started a new tank in addition to my existing one.
Its been running for about 5 months now. I seeded it with live rock from my 15+ year old old very healthy tank.
All levels i tested for come back good. Only use Hanna kits. And Trident NP, Trident ACM - mainly for any spikes rather then for accuracy.
Phosphate
Nitrate
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
But have a nasty brown hair algae outbreak and kind of wanted to see if there are any issues with my water besides the regular testing i do.
Ofc i only use RODI water and change the filters/membrane in the RODI regularly.
The lighting schedule is basically the same as my other tank which has no algae issues whatsoever. Although in the new tank i do keep the PAR higher because the new tank is mainly SPS.
Could just be the uglies - which i have not experienced in forever. So maybe i just need to show a bit more patience.
Have already added some SPS, including Acros. Which all seem to be doing well - although no growth yet. But are all opening and colorful.
I added the clean up crew many months ago. But they can only do so much.
I have added no fish yet. I've been waiting on an order from DRreefs for a while now. Hopefully they will come in this week.
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Be interesting to see if anything comes back. Nuisance algae and the causes are a mystery to me. I have a tank that runs NO3 as high as 50 and PO4 will sometimes peg my Hanna ULR tester at 0.9 and the tank is algae free. I have two other tanks that run near zero N and P one is algae free but the other is kind of a mess with GHA. They both get similar maintenance, lighting and use the same water so I have no idea why only one struggles.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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In general, I don’t think icp testing will reveal anything special. Unusually high or low levels of elements would not generally be expected to make algae grow faster.
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Alexr54
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Yep i get it :) Same experiences.
And in both tanks i have an ATS.
I contibute my issue mainly to the maturity of the tanks.
One has been running for nearly 2 decades. The other for only a handful of months.
Both have similar equipment. But not exactly the same.
My old tank (150g) has 2x XR30G6Pro's and 4x T5HOs.
New tank (80g) has 2x RedSea branded AI Hydra 26's and 1x XR15G5pro (Zero Green/Red spectrum). I plan on getting rid of the hydras and just going with 3x XR15s.
The 80g has a Tunze 9012 hub ed. skimmer
The 150g has a Reef Octopus skimmer w/Varios4 pump. I forgot the model.
Both have an ATS.
They each have their own RODI supplying the top off water. Both are spectrapure 5 stage units.
Everything else is almost a copy. MP40s, COR20 return pump on both (at much lower speed on the 80g).
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Alexr54
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I suppose i am more concerned about specific heavy metals and silicates which can absolutely contribute to algae blooms.
My high nutrient but clean tank runs a scrubber that has to be cleaned every 5 days or so. The problem tank is an AIO and only gets occasional floss when I clean the glass or blow rocks off. I figure with nutrients at 0 there no need for extra filtration but I dunno. Its a strange tank and the algae only grows on plastic surfaces like power heads and the acrylic back wall but it grows very well there lol
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