Need help with Triton ICP results

[Maho.B]

Hello, I just received the results back from a Triton ICP test and I am a little confused. In the dose section it says it has detected low magnesium and low phosphate. Here is the results for those two as shown in the data readings. Why does it say these are both low and to dose? I know some people run higher phosphate, but mine is in their allowed "range" and my magnesium is right at what most consider ideal.

Magnesium

1349.00 mg/l

1320 - 1500 mg/l

Phosphate

0.034 mg/l

0.018 - 0.07 mg/l

Aside from these two, my calcium shows a little low at 431 but I dose that weekly (which is today) to keep it up at good levels. The other low readings are for a few elements I don't know much about and definitely don't dose for them. Are these a concern or will the next water change correct them? They are the following:

Fluoride

0.85 mg/l

1.3 mg/l

Lithium

195.00 µg/l

200 µg/l

Zinc

0.00 µg/l

0 - 5 µg/l

Manganese

0.00 µg/l

0 - 3 µg/l

I am not using any trace elements at the moment and do a 15% biweekly water change with Tropic Marin Pro salt mix. Should I be adding trace elements as well, if so any recommended brands? Thanks.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

Magnesium looks OK. I keep mine at 1500+ just because of all of the torches/LPS I have in the tank. The Phosphate might be a tad low, but nothing to be worried about. Don't let the phosphate completely bottom out or risk things like Dinos.

I use Reef Moonshiners for all of my trace. Easy to individually dose and they have a pretty handy spreadsheet where you input your ICP results in and it spits out exactly what you need to correction dose + daily dose.

Also to note, if you have any goni in your tank, Manganese dosing is a must. I dose ~1.5 mL of that per day and is the biggest daily amount of all of the other trace.

 

[Maho.B]

Appreciate the feedback. I just found it a little strange for them to say dose magnesium when mine was 1350. Also, interestingly, I tested my water parameters the day I collected my sample to send to ICP just for comparison. My Hanna phosphate checker consistently read .09 and the same sample that went to ICP came back .034. so Hanna checkers become less accurate or maybe old battery? Not sure. Anyways, thanks for the advice on moonshiners. I have not heard of that but we'll look into it.

 

[rtparty]

Your results are fine. Every ICP company has recommended levels with many not rooted in any actual science.

Dosing something like Tropic Marin A and K can be beneficial for most systems

 

[Maho.B]

Ok, I've heard a lot of good about the tropic marin a/k.

My nitrate sits around 5-6 and while I thought my phosphate was .09. I sent the ICP in because I cannot get rid of the dinos that live in the sand bed and make it brown (super annoying!). Given the results say phosphate lower than my test. I may bump that up a little bit to see if it helps.

 

[Maho.B]

Can anyone confirm my math (which may be questionable) on my Iodine dose. My ICP yesterday said it's on the low side (32 ug/l) of there suggested range of 30 - 90. I'm thinking I will aim for a middleish range of around 60 ug/l. Does the following sound right?

Desired increase: 30 ug/l
30 * .001 = .03 ppm
110 (gallons) * .03 * .07570 = .25ml
.25 * 20 = 4.99
I need to add 5 drops of Lugols solution.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

Can anyone confirm my math (which may be questionable) on my Iodine dose. My ICP yesterday said it's on the low side (32 ug/l) of there suggested range of 30 - 90. I'm thinking I will aim for a middleish range of around 60 ug/l. Does the following sound right?

Desired increase: 30 ug/l
30 * .001 = .03 ppm
110 (gallons) * .03 * .07570 = .25ml
.25 * 20 = 4.99
I need to add 5 drops of Lugols solution.

Sounds right. I dose 6-7 drops of Seachem Iodine every day as it's consumed pretty rapidly.

 

[Maho.B]

Sounds right. I dose 6-7 drops of Seachem Iodine every day as it's consumed pretty rapidly.

Every day? May I ask what size tank you have? I was thinking of my math was right I would add the 5 drops but have no idea on frequency of more additions. Do you test for it? I only know I'm a little low because of an ICP test. Thanks

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

~105g total system volume. I use the Moonshiners Method which calls for that daily, especially with a heavy macro algae and coral load.