Silicate Test (SIO2), JBL

He JBL SiO2 silicate test is used to regularly measure and control the concentration of silicates in fresh water and salt water  within a range of 0.2 to >6 mg/l (ppm). Thanks to a compensation method that JBL has specifically developed, it is also possible to obtain precise and reliable results even in slightly brownish water, as may be the case when using peat filtration or treating diseases. Adding reagent 2 later avoids any possible alteration that may occur due to the phosphate present at the same time in the water sample.

Why do you have to do the test? Silicon is one of the most abundant elements on Earth. Due to the erosion of silicate rocks, silicon ends up in surface water and aquifers in the form of silicate. Therefore, depending on the composition of the subsoil of each region, tap water contains dissolved silicate in different concentrations. Tap water can have concentrations of up to 40 mg/l, rarely higher. Silicates are harmless and the legislation applicable to drinking water has not determined any limit value.

As far as aquariums and garden ponds are concerned, silicon is important as food for diatoms, for some aquatic plants (e.g. ceratophiles) as well as for demosponges and some other invertebrates. Once a new aquarium has just been installed, the first colonization is produced by diatoms, characterized by brown accumulations. These accumulations slowly disappear once the aquarium has been removed and other algae and microorganisms compete with them. When this occurs, the silicate concentration of the water also decreases considerably. However, often—especially in salt water—these accumulations of diatoms reappear after partially changing the water, since the new water adds silicates again. That is why it is recommended to use osmosis water to fill or change the water in marine aquariums.

We recommend maintaining the following values:

• Fresh water and garden pond: around 1 mg/l; 2 mg/l at most they are still considered acceptable.
• Salt water: 1 mg/l at most