RO ICP Analysis

[jbisDVM]

Recently I ran a Fauna Marin ICP. The rest of the parameters of RO water were not detectable but some silicates are getting through. Is this enough to cause a problem? I don’t deal with diatoms but I’m trying to get some sponges to stop growing. Are these levels considered high?
Silicon .091mg/dl
Silicates .195mg/dl

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Unless you have problematic levels of diatoms, it’s no concern. I dose silicate.

 

[Pod_01]

I don’t deal with diatoms but I’m trying to get some sponges to stop growing.

Out of curiosity, why do you want to stop sponges from growing?

I like to see sponges and I use them as indicators that things are going well or not. I do manually remove some offenders that grow in prime location…
Not sure you can selectively prevent some sponges from growing…

 

[jbisDVM]

I don’t deal with diatoms but I’m trying to get some sponges to stop growing.

Out of curiosity, why do you want to stop sponges from growing?

I like to see sponges and I use them as indicators that things are going well or not. I do manually remove some offenders that grow in prime location…
Not sure you can selectively prevent some sponges from growing…

Mostly because some in one particular shaded area are just getting out of control. They’re not choking corals but there’s more than I’d like to see on the rock. See below.

 

[Pod_01]

Mostly because some in one particular shaded area are just getting out of control. They’re not choking corals but there’s more than I’d like to see on the rock. See below.

FWIW that looks good. Sometimes when my sponges die down in the shaded areas, bubble algae takes over.
From my experience something will grow there you just need to decide what it is.

I had luck with Zoas in some areas like that… not always… there may be other corals.

Good luck,

 

[gbroadbridge]

Recently I ran a Fauna Marin ICP. The rest of the parameters of RO water were not detectable but some silicates are getting through. Is this enough to cause a problem? I don’t deal with diatoms but I’m trying to get some sponges to stop growing. Are these levels considered high?
Silicon .091mg/dl
Silicates .195mg/dl

I dose higher levels than that to my tank every week to keep sponges alive :-)

Sponges good :-)

 

[JonasRoman]

Recently I ran a Fauna Marin ICP. The rest of the parameters of RO water were not detectable but some silicates are getting through. Is this enough to cause a problem? I don’t deal with diatoms but I’m trying to get some sponges to stop growing. Are these levels considered high?
Silicon .091mg/dl
Silicates .195mg/dl

No, definitively not. Tank needs some Si, and that small amount in the RO may even be beneficial. I have exact same amount in my RO and that gives quite a perfect value in tank.

Also, diatoms does not automaticaly come because of high Si, its more because of unmature areas like dead stone. In such situations you get temporary diatomes even when Si is normal.
So, Si is not a critical parameter AMO. You are safe.

Jonas