Mystery bromine source

[reefkeeper2]

I do ICP testing every couple of months. The last 4 results come back with increasing bromine levels (104 mg/L). I'm concerned because I use ozone in my system. So I bought a hanna bromine test kit to see if I could find the source of the bromine. The range of the test kit is 0- 3 mg/L. I've tested everything that goes into the tank and the tank water itself and every test result is 0. The test kit states that no chlorine or iodine can be present in the water sample for the test kit to work properly, so I suppose that could be the reason the tank water tests negative but I would think I would get a false positive reading , not negative. Do I assume the test kit is defective, or the ICP test results are wrong? Not sure what to do next.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The Hanna is useless for this purpose since it cannot detect bromide, the likely source and the form in seawater.

I do not think your level is a problem, but calcium supplements can contain a lot of bromide. Dowflake was reformulated to contain a lot of bromide. So can other chemicals.

 

[reefkeeper2]

Thanks Randy. Is there a test kit that you know of that I could use?

 

[reefkeeper2]

I'm using a food grade calcium chloride. I figure it has to be that or the salt mix. Instant ocean is supposed to be low in bromide so I'm suspecting the calcium chloride. I haven't changed anything so I'm perplexed why the levels are increasing. Carbon and water changes seem ineffective so I'll try polyfilter till I figure this out.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Thanks Randy. Is there a test kit that you know of that I could use?

No, I’m not aware of a bromide kit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm using a food grade calcium chloride. I figure it has to be that or the salt mix. Instant ocean is supposed to be low in bromide so I'm suspecting the calcium chloride. I haven't changed anything so I'm perplexed why the levels are increasing. Carbon and water changes seem ineffective so I'll try polyfilter till I figure this out.

Food grade would not prevent significant bromide since it wouldn’t generally be an issue for people to consume relative to the amount of calcium.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm using a food grade calcium chloride. I figure it has to be that or the salt mix. Instant ocean is supposed to be low in bromide so I'm suspecting the calcium chloride. I haven't changed anything so I'm perplexed why the levels are increasing. Carbon and water changes seem ineffective so I'll try polyfilter till I figure this out.

Polyfilter won’t bind bromide, nor will GAC.