Triton Lab ICP-OES Test
Water type
Marine/Reef
Triton Lab ICP-OES Test
A lab-grade water analysis that measures far more than a home test kit can. The Triton ICP-OES test sends a sample of your aquarium water to a TRITON laboratory for professional ICP-OES analysis, covering major and trace elements, unwanted metals and nutrients that a colour-based home kit doesn't reach.
Key features
- Send-away lab analysis — uses ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry), the same technology used in professional water labs, not a hobby colour chart.
- Parts-per-billion precision — far finer resolution than a home test kit can read.
- Broad element coverage — macro elements, trace elements, unwanted metals, nutrients and salinity, grouped in your results.
- Personalised recommendations — TRITON returns dosing guidance alongside your raw results.
Specifications
| Brand | Triton Lab |
|---|---|
| Test type | Send-away ICP-OES water analysis |
| Parameter groups | Macro elements, trace elements, unwanted metals, nutrients, salinity |
| Precision | Parts-per-billion (ppb) |
| Turnaround | Triton states results within 1–3 business days of the sample reaching the lab |
| Sample required | One vial of aquarium water, collected and sealed as supplied in the kit |
| Suitability | Marine and reef aquariums |
What's measured
| Group | Examples Triton names |
|---|---|
| Macro elements | Calcium, magnesium, potassium, strontium, boron, sodium, sulphur, bromide |
| Trace elements | Iron, iodine, manganese, zinc, vanadium, molybdenum, cobalt, lithium, barium, chromium |
| Unwanted metals | Copper, lead, tin, aluminium, nickel, cadmium, arsenic, mercury |
| Nutrients | Phosphorus and phosphate |
| Other | Salinity |
Triton's own published copy gives slightly different total parameter counts on different pages — we've seen both "41+" and "45" quoted. We're publishing the category breakdown above rather than a headline total we can't verify precisely.
How the test works
- Register the kit's barcode on the TRITON website.
- Rinse the supplied vial in your aquarium, away from the surface and any return pump outlet, then fill and seal it.
- Post the sealed sample to your nearest TRITON laboratory using the materials supplied with the kit.
- TRITON emails you when the sample arrives, and again once results and dosing recommendations are ready — typically 1–3 business days after arrival.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for: marine and reef aquariums where you want a full elemental picture beyond what a colour-based home kit can show.
Not suitable for: freshwater aquariums, and it isn't a same-day result — treat it as a periodic health check rather than a tool for reacting to a problem today.
Goes well with
- Triton N-DOC test — covers dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, which ICP-OES doesn't measure, worth running alongside ICP-OES if algae or coral performance issues persist despite normal ICP results.
- A dosing pump or dosing container — to act on the trace element recommendations TRITON returns with your results.
Warranty and delivery
This is a single-use test kit and diagnostic service rather than a physical product with a warranty; your rights under Australian Consumer Law apply regardless. Postage to the TRITON lab is at your own cost and separate from delivery of the kit itself.
Common questions
How many elements does the ICP-OES test cover?
TRITON groups the results into macro elements, trace elements, unwanted metals, nutrients and salinity. TRITON's own published totals vary between "41+" and "45" parameters, so we're not quoting a single precise figure we can't confirm.
How long do results take?
TRITON states results are typically ready within 1–3 business days of your sample arriving at the lab, plus the time your sample spends in the post.
Does this test replace my regular test kit?
No — it's a periodic deep check rather than a day-to-day tool. Keep using a home test kit for parameters you need to monitor between ICP tests, such as alkalinity, calcium and magnesium.
Is there a cost-per-litre figure for this test?
No — ICP-OES testing is diagnostic only and doesn't dose or treat your tank, so there's no volume of water it "makes" or conditions. The cost is per test, not per litre.
Do I need an account to use this kit?
Yes — TRITON's process requires registering the kit's barcode on their website before you post your sample.
