Artificial Seawater Woes

[dgplexus]

I'm puzzled. I'm trying to ascertain which metals Polyfilters can remove from a marine aquarium, and how effectively.

I found this at the manufacturer's website (link and quote are below):

http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/polyfaq9.htm

[begin quote] Does Poly-FilterÃ"šÃ‚® remove "Trace Elements" from
freshwater or marinewater?
NO!! In synthetic seawater the American Society of Testing & Materials states "Barium, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Lead, Silver are the only added trace elements occurring in substitute ocean water" Standard D 1141. ASTM further states "Trace element occurring naturally in concentrations below 0.005 mg/L are not included". In other words naturally occurring impurities are not considered. The sodium chloride adds iron at 0.255 - 0.398 mg/L concentration to synthetic seawater mixes. Ref. Morton Salt's Purex Analysis. Many of the other listed trace elements concentrations are below the part-per-billion detection range via Atomic Absorption w/Graphite Furnace. Simply, those other 40_ trace elements presence can't be detected or proven under modern EPA Methods of Analysis. Poly-Bio-Marine, Inc.Ã"šÃ‚® published a study showing Poly-Filter'sÃ"šÃ‚® effect upon Copper , Zinc, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Cadmium + Trihalomethanes Sept. 97 FAMA [end quote]

Can someone help clear up this issue?

 

[rshimek]

Hi,

You will find a more in-depth discussion of this topic here.

I suspect that it is best to consider these filters as being an insurance to keep the metals from spiking too high. It appears that Polyfilters will not remove a lot of them in the concentrations in our tanks.

 

[dgplexus]

Thanks, Ron!