ICP-Analysis.com shutting down

[DaJMasta]

An FYI if you had unused kits and missed their mass email, but it seems like ICP-Analysis.com is shutting down due to an unspecified health issue.  They're no longer selling kits on their site (but did up until the announcement), and now say that ICP-MS kits will continue to be processed until only July 10th, so if you've got them, now's the time to test your water.

 

A sudden surprise, and it reflects badly on the company's structure all seeming to rely on a single person to function (I don't think it was a one-man operation, though) and not having people with the training to continue operations around for at the very least a more graceful departure, but I suppose the time for that has passed.

 

Any recommendations for mass spectrometry ICP testing from another source that will still be open?

[wildcrazyjoker81]

A few other options on the market like Fauna Marin, ATI, Reeflabs, Oceamo, etc, but probably more expensive than the one closing. I have used ATI for years and besides the two+ weeks it takes for results it's been pretty solid. Now that I'm on reefers moonshine I'm using Oceamo.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

[Kathryn Lawson]

Well, that might explain why I never heard back when I asked how I could pay them to upgrade a free (5-element) sample test kit I'd gotten to the full test, back when my tank was really struggling (the packaging indicated it was encouraged/supported, but there was no way to do it on their site). I ended up going with Triton at the time, because the LFS closest to me carries them. It's definitely more expensive, but the turnaround time on my two tests has each been about a week including shipping.

[lowsingle]

If anyone is looking for an alternative I have used TRITON-Lab for years and have been happy with them 

 

Darren

 

[DaJMasta]

Triton doesn't have an ICP-MS test though, correct?  While there are lots of labs doing similar things, the mass spectrometry (MS) technique instead of the optical emission spectrometry (OES) is substantially more sensitive, to the point that I don't know if OES spectrometers can give you reliable ppb measurements in a sample, there's just a lot more noise.

 

Looks like reef moonshiners has one.... for double the price.  Oceanmo has one too, but I don't know how it works for being in the US.

[lowsingle]

Correct, triton only offers OES and NDOC.  I agree with your reliability concerns, Sanjay did a study at reef builders that had the same water tested at different locations and all the results were different.  I use ICP primarily to look for contamination, not for trace element dosing.  I run the tests twice a year.
 

Darren

 

[DaveS]

Anyone have an ICP test they don't need?  I was thinking about getting one done and would be happy to buy it from you.

[Kathryn Lawson]

FYI: https://reefbuilders.com/2024/06/17/triton-transfer-barcode-kit-helps-out-icp-analysis-customers/

[DaJMasta]

Interesting, both nice of them and probably a good opportunity to pick up some customers.

 

Also worth mentioning, they seem to be heavily discounting their water filtration equipment as clearance - not a whole lot of choices, but I'm not going to say no to a $1.25 sediment filter or a $5 carbon block filter:

https://www.icp-analysis.com/collections/aquarium-water-quality-solutions/Filtration