ICP Analysis Results Advice

TwinReefDad

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I just got my first ICP Analysis test results back for a 24 gallon frag tank that I have had up and running for about four months now. I have recently started having some issues with a few corals, and I have been unable to figure out what may be happening, so I sent in a test. I could use some help interpreting the results, as it looks like some trace elements are outside the recommended ranges. I am not sure if these results could be directly attributed to coral issues.


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Randy Holmes-Farley

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I'm not a huge fan of that ICP company, but assuming the result are accurate, then...

potassium is too low and I'd boost it
salinity looks to be quite low. What do you think it is?
you may benefit from a trace element supplement mix since many are low
 
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bert236

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I'm not a huge fan of that ICP company, but assuming the result are accurate, then...
Who do you like for icp? From what I have seen if you send any of them multiple samples from the same tank you are getting different results.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Who do you like for icp? From what I have seen if you send any of them multiple samples from the same tank you are getting different results.

I don't have a particular company i recommend. Here's a recent thread where I commented, as well as others who use ICp frequently:

 
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TwinReefDad

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I am not sure how they calculate PO4, but per their calculation
I'm not a huge fan of that ICP company, but assuming the result are accurate, then...

potassium is too low and I'd boost it
salinity looks to be quite low. What do you think it is?
you may benefit from a trace element supplement mix since many are low
I have the salinity at 1.026 SG measured using a refractometer from BRS. I calibrated it using a calibration solution a few months ago.
 
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TwinReefDad

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For one PO4 is way to high from what I can see. That's a weird test back they sent you IMHO. Here look at the PO4 from ppb to ppm.

My recommendation is do a water change and start dosing some trace elements.

View attachment 3166911
When I measure PO4 using the hanna HI774 test kit I get .04 ppm.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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I am not sure how they calculate PO4, but per their calculation

I have the salinity at 1.026 SG measured using a refractometer from BRS. I calibrated it using a calibration solution a few months ago.

Someone is mistaken, and in other threads, it has sometimes clearly been ICP analysis dot com that had one or more errors.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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When I measure PO4 using the hanna HI774 test kit I get .04 ppm.

It's not impossible, though perhaps unlikely for the total P (ICP detects all forms, including organics) to be significantly higher than the detectable P (just inorganic orthophosphate) by Hanna test kit.
 
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