Results of 4 Months of Managing to Triton ICP Tests & Recommendations

[esther]

So, we started our tank in February of this year. We've had reef tanks in the past, but nothing like this. We researched for months prior to setting it up and decided that we wanted to run the Triton Method from the get go. Check out our build here. So, we've done three Triton ICP tests as well as the NDOC tests over the last four months. I've listed the results below. I gotta say, I'm not only extremely happy with the results of the test, but I'm extremely happy with how our tank is flourishing as well.

There's only one thing that I can't seem to get rid of and it's Tin. Anyone have any ideas what could be contributing to that in the tank?

	Element	2/2020	3/2020	5/2020
Hg	Mercury	0	0	0
Se	Selenium	0	0	0
Cd	Cadmium	0	0	0
Sn	Tin	5.259	15	7.098
Sb	Antimony	0	0	0
As	Arsenic	0	0	0
Al	Aluminum	42	21	15
Pb	Lead	0	0	0
Ti	Titanium	0	0	0
Cu	Copper	129	13	0
La	Lanthanum	0	0	0
Sc	Scandium	0	0	0
W	Tungsten	0	0	0
Na	Sodium	10738	10214	11369
Ca	Calcium	506	475	463
Mg	Magnesium	1630	1421	1413
K	Potassium	435	416	425
Br	Bromine	94	69	67
B	Boron	4.973	4.711	3.452
Sr	Strontium	11.45	9.397	9.043
S	Sulfer	997	938	936
Li	Lithium	307	256	228
Ni	Nickel	7.623	5.057	3.368
Mo	Molybdenum	7.119	14	6.941
V	Vanadium	0	0	0
Zn	Zinc	58	3.951	3.438
Mn	Manganese	8.617	0	0
I	Iodine	388	89	41
Cr	Chromium	6.926	2.883	0
Co	Cobalt	1.67	1.296	0
Fe	Iron	0	0	0
Ba	Barium	68	78	53
Be	Beryllium	0	0	0
Si	Silicon	567	169	122
P	Phosphorus	169	19	8.455
PO4	Phosphate	0.51714	0.05814	0.0258723

 

[90's reefer]

If its not causing issues I would not worry about it.
That said is your tank a low iron tank?
I have read posts about this issue. Seems some times the coating which has tin is put on the inside when building the tank.
It belongs on the outside.
Some pvc has it and can leach out but I have never had an issue but I dont test for it either.
Search a few threads on tin for more info.

 

[esther]

If its not causing issues I would not worry about it.
That said is your tank a low iron tank?
I have read posts about this issue. Seems some times the coating which has tin is put on the inside when building the tank.
It belongs on the outside.
Some pvc has it and can leach out but I have never had an issue but I dont test for it either.
Search a few threads on tin for more info.

I've read about the low iron glass potential. Was thinking that after 5 months it should kind of go away, but Tin went up after our last test. No PVC on our tank. It seems as though there are a couple of corals that could be doing better, so I want to see if this is the issue.

 

[90's reefer]

Maybe send in an Icp test on some new salt water as a check since tin went up.
As far as corals. Your tank is still very young so give it some time to stablize.

 

[esther]

I think I found the culprit! We just started using this pump to pump the water from our can into our tank for water changes. Looked on the bottom of the pump and there are screws that are rusting. That's could definitely be it, right?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If its not causing issues I would not worry about it.
That said is your tank a low iron tank?
I have read posts about this issue. Seems some times the coating which has tin is put on the inside when building the tank.
It belongs on the outside.
Some pvc has it and can leach out but I have never had an issue but I dont test for it either.
Search a few threads on tin for more info.

What is a low iron tank? Iron at NSW levels cannot be detected by ICP.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I think I found the culprit! We just started using this pump to pump the water from our can into our tank for water changes. Looked on the bottom of the pump and there are screws that are rusting. That's could definitely be it, right?

Maybe. Good to remove anyway.

tin can come from aquarium glass itself, PVC pipes, and other sources. Yours does not seem high enough to worry about in a flourishing aquarium.

 

[esther]

Maybe. Good to remove anyway.

tin can come from aquarium glass itself, PVC pipes, and other sources. Yours does not seem high enough to worry about in a flourishing aquarium.

Thanks!

 

[90's reefer]

What is a low iron tank? Iron at NSW levels cannot be detected by ICP.

My bad. Low iron glass is what I was trying to type on my darn phone.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

My bad. Low iron glass is what I was trying to type on my darn phone.

Ah, I get it. I'm not sure it is any different for low iron glass, but it should be mostly washed off after months.