High Aluminum Level help!

[PapaJ555]

ICP test came to show high level of aluminum. Although this seems quite common in reef tank, what is a good option to bring the level down?


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[drexel]

PolyFilter and metasorb. Do you use marine pure blocks or similar blocks or bio balls? They usually leach aluminum over time, which shouldn't be a big issue. Polyp Lab genesis blocks are safe and don't leach anything.

 

[Jimbo327]

Do you have a metal lid on your tank? The metal ones are usually aluminum and may leach aluminum if enough salt creep gets into them and they corrode.

If you have metal ones, when they are new, it's good to add some polish to the ends/connections to try to keep the salt creep out.

 

[PapaJ555]

PolyFilter and metasorb. Do you use marine pure blocks or similar blocks or bio balls? They usually leach aluminum over time, which shouldn't be a big issue. Polyp Lab genesis blocks are safe and don't leach anything.

I have some generic ceramic blocks in my sump. I have a feeling this could be the culprit.


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[PapaJ555]

Do you have a metal lid on your tank? The metal ones are usually aluminum and may leach aluminum if enough salt creep gets into them and they corrode.

I do not have a lid but this is a good point.


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[drexel]

I have some generic ceramic blocks in my sump. I have a feeling this could be the culprit.


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Yup, they usually are. Just pick up some genesis blocks and use polyfilter and metasorb to remove/reduce the aluminum. Water changes help as well, but I wouldn't worry too much about the levels, unless you're seeing some issues with corals?

 

[bakbay]

Welcome to the club - I got Aluminum, Tungsten, Zinc, etc... My Poly-Filters arrived last night but forgot to put it in. It should change color, depending on what it's removing... Good luck!

 

[isaacalves]

When I took out my MarinePur Blocks my aluminum dropped from 52.4µg/l to 14µg/l on my next Fauna Marin test --- which was about 6 months apart. Since then my most recent ICP from this January came back at 7.5 µg/l. So it has remained low since removing all ceramic media.

I just switched over to sintered glass media, coral skeletons and aragonite rock.

 

[drexel]

I've never found PolyFilter to change color much, other than brown. Regardless, I think it's a good practice to use them from time to time, just monitor traces and you should be fine. Zinc is fine, but as long as the level is near NSW, you should be good.