Common Sources of Lithium Contaminants

[MrMarth]

Hey Everyone,
Does anyone know of any common sources of Lithium contaminants? My water is repeatedly testing at double my expected salt mix values.

mix at 0.085ppm, target 0.2ppm, tests at 0.5ppm

For my salt mix I use the following:

Sodium Chloride
Magnesium Sulfate (Heptahydrate)
Magnesium Chloride (Hexahydrate)
Calcium Chloride (Anhydrous)
Potassium Chloride
Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium Carbonate

Strontium Chloride (Hexahydrate)
Manganese Sulfate (Monohydrate)
Lithium Chloride
Sodium Molybdate (Dihydrate)
Rubidium Chloride
Cobalt Sulfate (Heptahydrate)
Potassium Iodide
Boric Acid
Sodium Fluoride

Thanks!

 

[disc1]

How are you testing it? One of the other alkali metals could be interfering and giving you artificially inflated results.

 

[MrMarth]

Oops! The results are from Triton testing.

 

[disc1]

Oops! The results are from Triton testing.

Aha, I wouldn't assume that the levels are really high then. I don't put a lot of faith in Triton.

http://packedhead.net/2015/triton-lab-icp-oes-testing-of-a-certified-artificial-saltwater-standard/

 

[MrMarth]

Would you suggest just trusting the math for the mix then? Or are there better alternatives?

 

[bertoni]

I personally would use the mix as is, most likely. Where did you get the recipe?

 

[disc1]

Would you suggest just trusting the math for the mix then? Or are there better alternatives?

I would trust that more than I would trust the numbers I got from Triton.

 

[MrMarth]

I calculated it myself based on natural seawater concentrations.

 

[MrMarth]

It comes out to 34.8ppt for salinity.

 

[bertoni]

Well, if you're sure of your math, I suspect that the lithium test result is wrong.

 

[jason2459]

I have to wonder if some of there testing has some issues with cross contamination. I've had odd results with heavy metals between tests done fairly close together.

 

[disc1]

I have to wonder if some of there testing has some issues with cross contamination. I've had odd results with heavy metals between tests done fairly close together.

I believe the article I linked actually addresses that and why it would be a particular problem for them.

 

[jason2459]

Yes, yes it does. [emoji6]

 

[Big E]

In all my years of reef keeping I've never seen so much "ghost chasing" based off Triton tests.

 

[jason2459]

In all my years of reef keeping I've never seen so much "ghost chasing" based off Triton tests.

I believe it's called the Triton method. Not ghost chasing.