ICP Testing Which is best
- Thread starter Dr RBG
- Start date
I sure in the hell have zero idea which is best and I'm not sure if it really matters. I think [MENTION=10192]bertoni[/MENTION] raises a rather interesting question about useful data. I will say that I have had one done and went with ATI's. It was more affordable and it was more of a curiosity thing more than anything else. Prior to sending it off I did my own tests using what I had to compare. It was about the best I could do.
I knew my test results have been consistent but not sure if they are good or bad. What I knew is that the numbers are at least consistent - so whatever I was doing it was consistent either right or wrong
Thus the test.
In the end the numbers are close and the results showed me that my salinity was off on the low side. That caught me off guard and had me looking at the refractor tool I had. Someone suggested getting some calibration fluid. Low and behold all that was needed is that I re-read the directions on calibration and I was set. That and the calibration fluid results match what ATI reporting being low and I knew how to fix.
So I guess the TL;DR version is: Used for checks and balances. I found it useful. Helped me.
I knew my test results have been consistent but not sure if they are good or bad. What I knew is that the numbers are at least consistent - so whatever I was doing it was consistent either right or wrong
Thus the test.In the end the numbers are close and the results showed me that my salinity was off on the low side. That caught me off guard and had me looking at the refractor tool I had. Someone suggested getting some calibration fluid. Low and behold all that was needed is that I re-read the directions on calibration and I was set. That and the calibration fluid results match what ATI reporting being low and I knew how to fix.
So I guess the TL;DR version is: Used for checks and balances. I found it useful. Helped me.
Vinny Kreyling
Premium Member
I think BRS TV just did a comparison test with results from 3 or 4 companies.
Spyderturbo007
New member
We have an ICP at work and I've had the guy that runs it check my tank water. We only looked at Mg, Ca, P, Na and Cu. Mg, Ca, Na & P were in line with what my Red Sea tests and refractometer came back with, but Cu was a no go because of the Na interference.
He said he could give me ppm, but ppb was out of the question. We just purchased an ICP-MS, but I haven't asked him to run it yet. He's still working on method development for the lab so I don't want to throw something personal on his plate.
I'm not sure what else companies test for when you send it out, but that's just what I asked for when I gave him the sample. I also typically grab his expired standards, dilute them and then run them with my test kits at home. We can't use them expired in the lab, but for my use they are fine.
You might be better off buying a standard and running it against your tests at home. I think that would provide much more value than sending it out unless you're looking for some off the wall element. We pay $56 for a single element, 250mL, 1000ppm standard. But you'd also need a volumetric flask and pipet so you could dilute it to a usable concentration. Our supplier can do custom standards, but I'm not sure what they cost.
Maybe I'm on to something here and should start selling reference standards for aquarium test kit verification.
He said he could give me ppm, but ppb was out of the question. We just purchased an ICP-MS, but I haven't asked him to run it yet. He's still working on method development for the lab so I don't want to throw something personal on his plate.
I'm not sure what else companies test for when you send it out, but that's just what I asked for when I gave him the sample. I also typically grab his expired standards, dilute them and then run them with my test kits at home. We can't use them expired in the lab, but for my use they are fine.
You might be better off buying a standard and running it against your tests at home. I think that would provide much more value than sending it out unless you're looking for some off the wall element. We pay $56 for a single element, 250mL, 1000ppm standard. But you'd also need a volumetric flask and pipet so you could dilute it to a usable concentration. Our supplier can do custom standards, but I'm not sure what they cost.
Maybe I'm on to something here and should start selling reference standards for aquarium test kit verification.
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I used ATI for my ICP test. I found very low iodine, which was the only major concern. I found that these tests are a great way to check if you are doing your testing correctly. My ICP test matched closely with my salifert and Hanna testing.
I was losing acros as well. It wound up being my lights weren’t set strong enough. ICP test really just helped point me in another direction.
I was losing acros as well. It wound up being my lights weren’t set strong enough. ICP test really just helped point me in another direction.
Dr RBG
New member
I'll second that. It does and is helpful. At least it was for me. Both results actually helped. My report also showed high tin but incredibly high zinc which I'm trying to remove now via water changes.
Don't know how high tin or zinc matters but I've noticed my rose bubble tips not has bright so may be related. Has I noted above my salinity was off which has since been corrected. Tin and zinc is what I'm working on now.
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