Trace elements

[Ozonic]

Hi fellow Reefers
I got my results from icp-analysis.com
Is this something to be considered about.
My tank is almost 13 months and I only have Sps frags any advice would help clarify this issue. My frags are doing good but growth is very slow.

 

[N.Sreefer]

I never was good at chemistry. However Randy is. @Randy Holmes-Farley what are the possible effects of low iron, zinc, manganese, and cobalt on a reef system? Will the absence cause problems for the op? I imagine a trace elements solution could boost those for you but no idea how fast the numbers could be safely raised #reefsquad

 

[nereefpat]

That seems like alot of chlorine to me, but I never was good at chemistry.

So, that's a good illustration of the limits of ICP testing. It only shows you how much total of each element. In this case the Cl is mostly (all?) chloride, which is part of 'salt.'

what are the possible effects of low iron, zinc, manganese, and cobalt on a reef system? Will the absence cause problems for the op? I imagine a trace elements solution could boost those for you but no idea how fast the numbers could be safely raised #reefsquad

I wouldn't worry about them, but people will have different opinions on testing for things that are present in parts per billion that may or may not be needed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

ICP is not perfect. Aside from issues with inaccuracy in some instances, it cannot detect iron at natural seawater surface levels.

That said, I think iron dosing is often useful and the tank may benefit from some other trace elements as well. Dosing some may be a useful and interesting experiment for you.

Here's are some results I got for my tank a while back, and the comments I made about each result:

My Triton Testing Results: By Randy Holmes-Farley - REEFEDITION

Recently, Triton GmbH in Germany has initiated a method of testing many ions at once for a single price. In the US, that service is coordinated by Unique Corals. For $49 they will send you a couple of tubes to collect a tank water sample, and a prepaid mailer to send the sample back to them...

www.reefedition.com

 

[rtparty]

Look up Reef Moonshiners and put your numbers in the assessment tool. You'll know everything you need to do

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Look up Reef Moonshiners and put your numbers in the assessment tool. You'll know everything you need to do

IMO, its more complicated that that, unless you test nearly every day for a while.

Some elements may deplete in only a day or two, so you'd need to test very often to know how often to dose.

 

[rtparty]

IMO, its more complicated that that, unless you test nearly every day for a while.

Some elements may deplete in only a day or two, so you'd need to test very often to know how often to dose.

It is all in Andre's handbook on what to dose daily and how much to start with. Monthly ICP tests for a few months gets you a good baseline on everything else. I now send in an ICP every 6-8 weeks and make corrections if there are any needed.

I am sure people could nitpick Andre's method but thousands of tanks are running it with the best results I have seen in 16+ years in the hobby. I have never had a tank doing better so he is definitely doing something right

 

[taricha]

I think it's wild that ICP can come up with zero P. It seems to be a hard element for ICP to do much better than our test kits.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It is all in Andre's handbook on what to dose daily and how much to start with. Monthly ICP tests for a few months gets you a good baseline on everything else. I now send in an ICP every 6-8 weeks and make corrections if there are any needed.

I am sure people could nitpick Andre's method but thousands of tanks are running it with the best results I have seen in 16+ years in the hobby. I have never had a tank doing better so he is definitely doing something right

I do not doubt that frequent checking and adjusting are a good way to go. I pointed out that it is not a perfect answer for rapidly depleting ions unless the testing is very frequent, at least for a while to set some initial dosing guidelines.

That said, many people make comments similar to yours about the latest new method they are using. lol