Found several pieces of metal in new sand. Removed + 90% WC. Tests still show TIN

[smartwater101]

This is a refresh of a tank that sat empty for 2+ years. 70g. Tropic Marine Pro salt. CaribSea florida crushed coral (bag was purchased two years ago but just opened)

All the power heads are new. Pumps are clean and there are no rusted screws and all metal brackets are coated with plastidip. No GFO.

Test from a month ago.

Analysis
97 µg/l

Setpoint
0,1 µg/l

Deviation
96.90

After this Triton test, I originally thought the new PVC was the culprit (but still crazy high) Then ran a strong magnet through the sandbed I found several pieces of metal in the tank! Enough to fill a quarter of a shotglass.

I did a 90% water change after removing these pieces and a month later I'm still seeing tin in the latest test.

Analysis
23 µg/l

Setpoint
0,1 µg/l

Deviation
22.9
23 µg/l 0,1 µg/l 22.9

So I'm at a loss at this point. Confused about how it got there in the first place and wondering why I still have elevated levels. And I don't see any stand-alone tin test kits.

Thoughts on how to proceed?

:headwally:

 

[bertoni]

What kind of metal was this? I'm a bit skeptical about the tin. I don't think that tin is alloyed very often with iron.

 

[smartwater101]

What kind of metal was this? I'm a bit skeptical about the tin. I don't think that tin is alloyed very often with iron.

No idea. It was little broken up shards.

 

[rvareef]

pics?

 

[bertoni]

I don't particularly trust the tin reading. If you want to check the level, you could try enclabs.com, but it'll be pricey. If there is lead, a PolyFilter might help, but I'm not sure I'd bother unless animals were having problems.

 

[smartwater101]

I don't particularly trust the tin reading.

Well to be fair, only one of my tanks has tin show up in testing and only one of my tanks actually had pieces of metal in it.

 

[bertoni]

That's true, but I'm still a bit skeptical. I don't know of any alloys of tin and iron. Tin might show up in solder, though. The reading could be showing some form of interference, which is an issue with ICPP.

 

[mcgyvr]

That's true, but I'm still a bit skeptical. I don't know of any alloys of tin and iron. Tin might show up in solder, though. The reading could be showing some form of interference, which is an issue with ICPP.

Agreed that tin contamination in the metallic objects in the sand bed is unlikely....
Tin plated or tin alloyed ferrous metal (magnetic) is unlikely/uncommon..


But.. Guess what float glass is made on.. Yes.. a molten bed of tin..
Guess what glass has thats often overlooked by tank manufacturers.. Yep.. a tin residue side and a non-tin side..
Guess whats often overlooked in tank building.. Yep.. identifying the tin side with UV light,etc.. and putting that side out..

High tin levels in ICP testing is quite common and IMO very likely from the glass and the tin residue left on it from manufacturing..

 

[smartwater101]

High tin levels in ICP testing is quite common and IMO very likely from the glass and the tin residue left on it from manufacturing..

I use acrylic.

I'm still not understanding what there is to be sceptical about. Only one tank showed tin (two months in a row) and only one tank had metal fragments found.

 

[bertoni]

We see tin readings and various other elements showing up in odd quantities. There's some evidence that their testing doesn't work for trace elements:

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

Also, I'm not sure why the metal that you found would have tin in it. It's possible, though. If you're worried, a PolyFilter might help, at least over time.

 

[smartwater101]

Still have tin somewhere... Even after detox and several water changes.

Analysis
24 µg/l



This is driving me bonkers. At this point I'm going to remove all the rockwork and sand. For my eels, I glued sand to PVC to hide it so there is a good chance a piece of metal is on it.

The more I think about it, the rockwork I got at the LFS has just been sitting in a tub in the back of the store under some dirty shelves. Some contaminants could have gotten in.

I'll quadruple check the pumps again as well. This tin must die!

(And please don't waist my time saying the test results are a fluke three months in a row, I have two tanks and only one has tin. Something is clearly contaminating it.)

 

[saveafish]

The only iron I can think of that has tin in it is ballistic metals. Mostly military fragmented ammo. Motors, hand grenades things like that.. And the plate glass..

 

[cjpitt80]

Ever find out the source of contamination? My last triton test revealed high levels of Tin. I'm thinking it's my salt (Red Sea Blue)

 

[smartwater101]

Ever find out the source of contamination?

After the latest test I removed all the rock and sand. Ended up finding a lot more metal shards in the process. I still don't know where it came from but it was a lot in total.

I eventually just decided to break the tank down. Electricity, in the summer, brings a massive bill and a second tank wasn't helping.

I just wish I knew where all these freaking shards came from!!!


Here is a pic of what I was finding (coin for scale.) I found about 1/3 to 1/2 of a shotglass worth of these little metal shards!

 

[bertoni]

My first guess would be that the metal comes from equipment used to mine or collect the sand, but it could also happen during processing. I think if it came from a piece of aquarium equipment, you'd likely notice, although you might need to dissemble a pump a bit to look at the impeller.

 

[cjpitt80]

That's a bummer man. I'm assuming mine is coming from the salt