Starting a heavy metals experiment

hybridazn · Jul 29, 2016

I've been wanting to do this experiment for a while but due to time constraints it wasn't possible. I have some free time now so I want to move forward with this. My experiment will show what effects on sps corals (if any) certain metals we use in our aquariums. I will set up 3-4 5 gallon tanks all with the same coral that will be taken from my home tank, lit by 2 36" t5 bulbs with reflectors. They will have their own hob filters, heaters etc. I will test all and calCoumadin daily to make sure all levels stay the same throughout the experiment. In each tank I will also have different metals, a rusting magnet, a razor blade, stainless steel screws and the last will be left without any metal.

Now here is my issue, I obviously will not have access to test the water from each tank to give me readings on ALL metals and such. I thought of using triton but that will be costly and the turn around time isn't quite quick enough I feel to be effective. Is there any suggestions on what I could do or who else I could have test the water for me? Or is there tests out there that I could use on my own?

If anyone has other suggestions on if I should add anything else to the experiment or what to look for please feel free to comment.

kschweer · Jul 29, 2016

Interesting! Are you planning on trying to see if rusted components have an effect on SPS in the end?

hybridazn · Jul 30, 2016

kschweer said:
Interesting! Are you planning on trying to see if rusted components have an effect on SPS in the end?

Yes, actually on my way home from work another thing I will add to a tank is gfo. It will be interesting to see how sps responds to the different types of rust.

hybridazn · Jul 30, 2016

kschweer said:
Interesting! Are you planning on trying to see if rusted components have an effect on SPS in the end?

Would you like to donate your split mp10 wetside magnet? :)

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 30, 2016

FWIW, the results will be very specific for the item you choose to add.

JimWelsh · Jul 30, 2016

It strikes me that you won't necessarily know which elements (or combinations of elements) from the various alloys you are introducing might be causing any effect you see. Perhaps a more controlled scientific approach (since you are going to all the trouble in the first place) might be to simply dose small amounts of different specific heavy metals as solutions you have made up from the appropriate metal salts. A little more work in the first place, but likely much more useful results in the end. Just a thought.