Very High Zinc

[RDReefNYC]

I recently lost my cleaner shrimp to a failed molt and also had a few snails die off. This lead me to get an ICP test to try and find the source of the problem. I thought there might be an issue with my RODI but the testing for that came back fine. Tank water had low iodine and extremely high zinc. Not sure which is more likely to have lead to the losses. I have two clownfish, a couple nassarius, a cowrey, and many ceriths which seem uneffected.

That said does anyone have any idea what could cause such high levels of zinc? I have one tunze magnet which is submerged but it is supposedly water tight and I wouldn’t think there would be zinc in that. Are there any elements in a heater, return pump, ATO pump, or submersible fuge light which could lead to this if exposed?

I was dosing chaetogrow but have since stopped. While that might have contributed slightly I doubt that would be the sole cause as a massive overdose of that would have spiked other trace elements which are in also chaetogrow.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I want to get more inverts back into the tank to help with algae but don’t want to get any until I make sure the tank isn’t a death trap for them.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The zinc is very high and if accurate, I’d look to lower it. Look for any exposed metal, including hose clamps and screws.

I don’t think there’s any e dance that shrimp need iodine to molt, but it is easy enough to experimentally dose some.