The Tropic Marin® ICP Water Analysis & Block Analysis System
Advanced Water Analysis for Your Reef Aquarium
Tropic Marin® is renowned worldwide for its expertise in marine chemistry and commitment to the highest standards in aquarium care. Building on years of experience, Tropic Marin® now offers a cutting-edge ICP-OES water analysis, delivering reliable, fast, and highly precise measurements across a vast concentration range - from macro elements to trace elements, even at levels a million times smaller.
ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry) is the gold standard for analysing seawater, but marine aquarists know the complexity of seawater makes accuracy a challenge. Tropic Marin® has tackled this by refining measurement tolerances for each element, ensuring aquarists receive clear, meaningful results without uncertainty.
To complement the ICP analysis, Tropic Marin® has developed the innovative Block Analysis System (BAS). This solution ensures the optimal supply of all vital elements in your aquarium - even those at trace levels below ICP detection limits—by accurately dosing based on key indicator elements.
ICP Water Analysis
ICP Water Analysis
This ICP-OES test analyses over 35 chemical elements in your seawater sample.
ICP Water Analysis PLUS
This ICP-OES test analyses 44 chemical elements in your seawater sample.
In addition, other testing methods are used to measure further key parameters and nutrient concentrations.
A sample of your reverse osmosis water is also tested.
ICP Water Analysis
Here are the steps for the ICP Water Analysis
- Register your kit: Go to lab.tropic-marin.com and register.
- Activate your sample: Select your aquarium and enter the provided number.
- Prepare sample vials: Fill three vials with 25 ml of water each.
- Label samples: Apply the provided barcode labels to the vials.
- Pack samples: Place the vials into the padded envelope.
- Address and mail: Complete the address label, stick it on the envelope, and mail the package. Ensure correct postage to avoid delays or loss.
- Receive results: Results will be available online within 4-7 working days after TMC receives the sample.
ICP Water Analysis Plus
After testing, you can view a detailed analysis report at lab.tropic-marin.com you will receive expert recommendations for correcting any imbalances.
The website also allows you to track the history of past water analyses for each of your aquariums. Any deficits identified can be corrected using Tropic Marin® Block multi-element solutions or Tropic Marin® Components single-element solutions.
The Block Analysis System solutions are multi-element solutions in which element groups that are consumed in the same ratio are dosed with just one solution using an indicator element. This simplifies the application and compensates for measurement tolerances. The Components are single-element solutions that can be used for the targeted equalisation of individual element concentrations.
Block Analysis System Solutions
- The halogens iodine, fluorine, and bromine are incorporated into both organic and inorganic skeletons, strengthening them.
- Iodine is essential for coral light acclimatization.
- Selenium acts as protection against harmful oxygen radicals.
- Molybdenum, vanadium, and tungsten are involved in key metabolic conversions for corals, marine animals, and algae.
- Rubidium, as an alkali metal, supports ion balance.
- Tellurium and hafnium are trace elements in seawater, with functions not yet fully understood.
- Transition metals nickel, manganese, iron, and cobalt serve as key catalysts in metabolism and enhance coral coloration by intensifying fluorescent pigments.
- Boron is essential for normal development and metabolic processes.
- As alkaline earth metals, strontium and barium are critical for skeletal growth in corals, marine animals, and algae.
- Zinc, copper, and chromium act as key catalysts in metabolism and brighten coral coloration, enhancing the glow of pocilloporin pigments.
- Gallium is a trace seawater element, with its role still being researched.
Components Solutions
.
Components Solutions ( 250 ml )
Understanding ICP Technology
For years, ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) systems have been a trusted method for analyzing seawater aquarium chemistry. ICP works by ionizing molecules—like magnesium chloride—into charged particles (ions) so they can be precisely measured. Each ion is unique by size and weight, allowing accurate identification, though the differences can be subtle, making exact analysis challenging.
Two main detection technologies are used:
-
Mass Spectrometry (MS), which excels at measuring trace elements at very low concentrations
-
Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES), which provides highly reliable results for elements in higher concentrations
Together, these techniques give aquarists valuable insights into the balance of key elements critical for reef health.
The Challenge of Seawater Analysis
Seawater is complex—containing over 60 elements ranging from macro (e.g., magnesium, calcium, potassium) to minor and trace elements (e.g., strontium, copper, zinc). Measuring elements accurately across such a wide range—from thousands of milligrams to mere micrograms per liter—is difficult. This vast concentration range, combined with quick measurement needs, can cause deviations or tolerances in test results.
Tropic Marin® understands these challenges deeply. That’s why we continuously work to improve measurement precision, especially for our salt mixtures. For example, closely related elements can sometimes interfere with each other’s readings, affecting accuracy. Our research helps minimize these issues, ensuring you get dependable data for your aquarium.
Why the Block Analysis System Matters for Your Reef
Trace metals play vital roles as enzyme cofactors, supporting functions like protein production, detoxification, and metabolic processes - critical for maintaining a thriving reef ecosystem. Additionally, some elements help maintain the overall ion balance of seawater, which is essential even if they don’t directly affect coral or fish.
With Tropic Marin® BAS, changes in any single element are balanced by proportional adjustments in related elements. This dynamic approach prevents deficiencies or imbalances, promoting coral health, coloration, and skeletal strength.
Introducing the Tropic Marin® Block Analysis System (BAS)
We’ve developed a revolutionary approach that supports and enhances ICP-OES analysis to better meet reef aquarium needs:
-
Element Grouping: Certain elements are linked by their roles in biological processes, such as the nitrogen cycle or coral skeleton formation. By analyzing one “indicator” element in these groups, we can estimate the concentrations of others with greater confidence.
-
Simplified Measurement: Instead of measuring every element individually - some of which exist in ultra-trace amounts below detection limits - we focus on key conductive elements with low measurement tolerance, improving reliability.
-
Balanced Dosing: Our BAS Solutions provide custom mixtures that dose all necessary elements in the right proportions, including those present in minute natural concentrations, ensuring your reef’s chemical balance stays optimal.
See which element solutions can be combined with each supplement.
(Click to view in high resolution.
