What would cause elevated tin levels? Is this level dangerous to coral?

[Reef Puncher]

My icp shows a crazy spike in tin. not sure whats causing it. to be safe yesterday i replaced my Chaeto reactor tubing and the pump that powers it. but it was a brand new pump so i dont think thats the cause. the only other thing i can think of is my main red sea pump, but its only 6 months old, and was expensive, $300 pump i dont want to replace that. my tank is a year old so its prob not the aquarium glass. im at a loss for what it could be. i have 2 MP10 ecoflow pumps but thats just plastic in there. i do have a ph meter in there and a thermoter. could those cause it? do ph meters have tin in them? is using zeolite the fix?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Tin is complicated as there are many chemical forms with different tox. Yours may not be high enough to be a clear tox problem, buts it’s impossible to say for sure.
It often comes from plastics such as tubing or pvc.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Tin is complicated as there are many chemical forms with different tox. Yours may not be high enough to be a clear tox problem, buts it’s impossible to say for sure.
It often comes from plastics such as tubing or pvc.

im sure its not a simple answer, but is there a level, a number in micrograms, in which it becomes toxic? i cant seem to find a answer anywhere at what level is considered dangerous. i have noticed that my acros have not grown at all. i wonder if this is related.

 

[rtparty]

im sure its not a simple answer, but is there a level, a number in micrograms, in which it becomes toxic? i cant seem to find a answer anywhere at what level is considered dangerous. i have noticed that my acros have not grown at all. i wonder if this is related.

Depends what form it is in. ICP can’t tell us what form each element is in so it’s hard to ever say if it’s toxic or not

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

im sure its not a simple answer, but is there a level, a number in micrograms, in which it becomes toxic? i cant seem to find a answer anywhere at what level is considered dangerous. i have noticed that my acros have not grown at all. i wonder if this is related.

As I said, there are many chemical forms, especially in a reef tank where the forms coming out of plastic are not the forms found in the ocean.

That said, I only recall folks reporting clear problems when levels are above 50 ug/L and usually above 100 ug/L.

 

[Reef Puncher]

As I said, there are many chemical forms, especially in a reef tank where the forms coming out of plastic are not the forms found in the ocean.

That said, I only recall folks reporting clear problems when levels are above 50 ug/L and usually above 100 ug/L.

Thanks your always so helpful.

 

[Baby_Shark]

My icp shows a crazy spike in tin. not sure whats causing it. to be safe yesterday i replaced my Chaeto reactor tubing and the pump that powers it. but it was a brand new pump so i dont think thats the cause. the only other thing i can think of is my main red sea pump, but its only 6 months old, and was expensive, $300 pump i dont want to replace that. my tank is a year old so its prob not the aquarium glass. im at a loss for what it could be. i have 2 MP10 ecoflow pumps but thats just plastic in there. i do have a ph meter in there and a thermoter. could those cause it? do ph meters have tin in them? is using zeolite the fix?

use Seachem Cuprisorb. Works great for Tin and Copper

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

use Seachem Cuprisorb. Works great for Tin and Copper

It may bind some tin forms, but what are you basing that on?

 

[Baby_Shark]

It may bind some tin forms, but what are you basing that on?

Past experience. My UV had a rusting piece that I didn't know about until I got my ICP. It took me forever to find out that was the cause. I looked up Cuprisorb to give it a shot and after 2 weeks my Tin was undetectable. After swaping out my UV and waiting another 3-4 weeks I sent in another ICP test and it was still undetectable.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Past experience. My UV had a rusting piece that I didn't know about until I got my ICP. It took me forever to find out that was the cause. I looked up Cuprisorb to give it a shot and after 2 weeks my Tin was undetectable. After swaping out my UV and waiting another 3-4 weeks I sent in another ICP test and it was still undetectable.

Not sure if the tin came from plastic or rust in that case, but tin from rusting will be a different chemical form than tin from plastic. Tin in plastic is bound to organic compounds. For example:

Tin Stabilizers (Part – 2) Role of ligands in tin stabilizer - Kanademy

1 About the ligands: In Part 1, we have seen the role of various alkyl groups in tin stabilizers. In this part, we shall see the role of various ligands in tin stabilizers. Ligands differ according to their use in plasticized PVC and UPVC and also in terms of contribution to the thermal...

kanademy.com

 

[Baby_Shark]

Not sure if the tin came from plastic or rust in that case, but tin from rusting will be a different chemical form than tin from plastic. Tin in plastic is bound to organic compounds. For example:

Tin Stabilizers (Part – 2) Role of ligands in tin stabilizer - Kanademy

1 About the ligands: In Part 1, we have seen the role of various alkyl groups in tin stabilizers. In this part, we shall see the role of various ligands in tin stabilizers. Ligands differ according to their use in plasticized PVC and UPVC and also in terms of contribution to the thermal...

kanademy.com

Definitely could have been the plastic.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Not sure if the tin came from plastic or rust in that case, but tin from rusting will be a different chemical form than tin from plastic. Tin in plastic is bound to organic compounds. For example:

Tin Stabilizers (Part – 2) Role of ligands in tin stabilizer - Kanademy

1 About the ligands: In Part 1, we have seen the role of various alkyl groups in tin stabilizers. In this part, we shall see the role of various ligands in tin stabilizers. Ligands differ according to their use in plasticized PVC and UPVC and also in terms of contribution to the thermal...

kanademy.com

So the cuprisorb website says it binds metals but it doesnt list tin specifically. BRS put on their website that it can help with tin. they do alot of experiments over there so maybe it does work. So im hoping it will work from me.

But If the plastic is bound to organic compounds then perhaps carbon would be better??. Fauna marin website says "for tin bound to organic compounds use activated carbon". i wonder which to use. maybe both.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It certainly is worth a try using either or both. Just bear in mind cuprisorb will also lower things you may want.

 

[Baby_Shark]

So the cuprisorb website says it binds metals but it doesnt list tin specifically. BRS put on their website that it can help with tin. they do alot of experiments over there so maybe it does work. So im hoping it will work from me.

But If the plastic is bound to organic compounds then perhaps carbon would be better??. Fauna marin website says "for tin bound to organic compounds use activated carbon". i wonder which to use. maybe both.

Only sharing what worked for me. Maybe try both

 

[Reef Puncher]

Good news everyone! I found what the problem was. When i first put my tank together, in the sump on my main pump i stupidly put a metal hose clamp. it was starting to rust, it was BARELY rusting, but none the less there was a little. im certain that must be the cause. It was hidden from view and only once i broke the sump down did i find it. I put cuprisorb and carbon in, both. Thanks so much everyone!

 

[Baby_Shark]

Good news everyone! I found what the problem was. When i first put my tank together, in the sump on my main pump i stupidly put a metal hose clamp. it was starting to rust, it was BARELY rusting, but none the less there was a little. im certain that must be the cause. It was hidden from view and only once i broke the sump down did i find it. I put cuprisorb and carbon in, both. Thanks so much everyone!

Nice! Now all you have to do is do a bunch of water changes. Not all at once of course.