"Spiking" ATI Essentials Pro #2 Solution

[xiaoxiy]

Hi Randy,

Any thoughts on whether I could increase the concentration of Fe/Mn in the ATI Essentials Pro 2 solution (see image below for what it reportedly contains) by spiking it with a Fe and Mn concentrated solution, or would I run risk of precipitation/oxidation reaction issues.

EDITED: Removed image with erroneous content in the ATI essentials pro 2 solution.

 

[xiaoxiy]

@Randy Holmes-Farley

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think you could add it. I'd use ferrous gluconate and manganese gluconate for that purpose.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wait, where did that list come from? It lists both calcium and mangesium and carbonate? That seems highly unlikely in one solution.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Put them into the calcium part:

https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/a...3Hf6Hwu8zQed1LYCgXd44bSBOqihLqLBcDZP7VdejtDgx
What’s Included?

1x Essentials Pro Part 1 (Alkalinity + Iodine & Sulfur)

1x Essential’s Pro Part 2 (Calcium, Magnesium + other Trace Elements)

 

[xiaoxiy]

Wait, where did that list come from? It lists both calcium and mangesium and carbonate? That seems highly unlikely in one solution.

Ope! Nice catch, I pulled the screenshot from Aquarium Specialty and didn't look at it carefully enough. I think Essentials Pro 1 is Carbonate + Sulfur + Iron, and Essentials Pro 2 is Ca + Magnesium + Trace.

I think you could add it. I'd use ferrous gluconate and manganese gluconate for that purpose.

The reason I ask is because I added Paxbellum's Iron & Manganese solution (15ml) to a new (2L) bottle of ATI Essentials Pro 2 without thinking about it first, and the solution turned a moderate tint of brown (no dissolution visible).

I decided to mix in a equal part of the Paxbellum solution into 2L RODI, and the solution was much less brown, which made me worry about a unintended reaction.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ope! Nice catch, I pulled the screenshot from Aquarium Specialty and didn't look at it carefully enough. I think Essentials Pro 1 is Carbonate + Sulfur + Iron, and Essentials Pro 2 is Ca + Magnesium + Trace.


The reason I ask is because I added Paxbellum's Iron & Manganese solution (15ml) to a new (2L) bottle of ATI Essentials Pro 2 without thinking about it first, and the solution turned a moderate tint of brown (no dissolution visible).

I decided to mix in a equal part of the Paxbellum solution into 2L RODI, and the solution was much less brown, which made me worry about a unintended reaction.

Sorry, I don’t know what the pax bellum additive consists of. Brown precipitate is not desirable. Might be ferric oxide.

 

[xiaoxiy]

Sorry, I don’t know what the pax bellum additive consists of. Brown precipitate is not desirable. Might be ferric oxide.

That's what I was worried about too; interestingly no visible precipitation, just darker tint compared to equivalent dilution with RODI. I'm also not sure what the pax bellum additive contains either. Quick googling reveals nothing of use. Probably "proprietary".

I'll plan on scrapping that bottle and dosing the Iron/Mn solution separately for now. That's what I get for trying to simplify dosing regimen. :confused-face:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Mixing trace elements is complicated, and color changes are not necessarily an indication of a problem.