Fluorescence technology

[dtaranath]

So the new "Mindstream Aquarium Monitoring System" supposedly tests 12 different water parameters using something called "fluorescence technology". Has anyone every heard of this before? Is it accurate? It supposedly tests for:
- pH
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- CO2
- Oxygen
- Potassium
- Ammonia
- Nitrate
- Nitrite
- Ammonium
- Alkalinity (dKH)
- Salinity/TDS
- Temperature
- Conductivity

I just can't imagine this is all true since many of these tests can only be done through titration method.

Just curious to know if this is all hype or some real technology that is used in an industry somewhere.

 

[dartier]

Hmm, after reading this I saw a story on the local news about a company (Tellspec) creating a handheld device for analyzing the chemicals and ingredients of food for consumers. Their device is a handheld Raman spectrometer and sounds like it operates on a similar principle to the Mindshare system.

Getting acurate test results in tank without test kits (and human error) would be a godsend for the reef hobby.

Dennis

 

[bertoni]

I can't find any description, so it's hard to say much just yet. I'll try to do more looking.

 

[disc1]

I'd have to see a lot more about it to decide if I thought it was any good or not. A lot of these fluorescent methods work well, but not with the kind of fine resolution we want. I'm not one to say it can't work, but I will say I'd have to see it to believe that it's worth any of my money.

 

[jcolley]

Posted in the Mindstream thread, but found the book on Google Books. Most of it anyway...

http://books.google.com/books?id=wMARxPxkE7EC&pg=PR7&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[blanden.adam]

Fluorescence is a remarkably cool phenomenon (without a doubt my favorite) that can and has been be leveraged in a lot of different ways to measure things for over a hundred years. However, just saying something is based on "fluorescence technology" isn't really telling you anything. It's like describing the test kits we use now as "visual based" or "absorbance based" -- it just doesn't mean much. We will have to get more information before any judgements can be made.

 

[dtaranath]

Posted in the Mindstream thread, but found the book on Google Books. Most of it anyway...

http://books.google.com/books?id=wMARxPxkE7EC&pg=PR7&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false

pretty cool.

 

[saltyair]

that looks very cool - I think we will see it in fresh water first - I think all the beta testing is in fresh water set ups. (web site and facebook)

 

[dtaranath]

just read a recent article on it. very promising.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blo...nge-how-aquarists-measure-aquarium-parameters

 

[dkeller_nc]

The issue with most of these "instant read, no reagents" technologies, whether they be read by fluorescence, conductivity/resistivity, light polarization, etc... is interfering substances and/or bio-fouling.

I cannot, of course, say that this is the case with the Mindstream device, but most of them use a surface that has been chemically or biochemically modified in such a way that they are selective for the target of interest.

However, even for antibodies that are incredibly specific for certain proteins and other biomolecules, there are significant interfering substances present in complex aqueous mixtures of ions and proteins (sort of like reef tank water!).

After a short while, these selective surfaces become a whole lot less selective from adsorption/absorption of interfering substances or the generation of a bacterial film, and they then must be cleaned. Depending on the types of surfaces being used, this cleaning may or may not restore the original surface characteristics, leading to the need to replace the sensor.

Since Mindstream's sensor disk is noted as disposable, the accuracy/reproducibility/stability of the meter will depend greatly on how long the selective surfaces can go without replacement/cleaning.