Reef Zlements Complete Saltwater ICP MS & OES Coming Soon
Reef Zlements has bought an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry machine (ICP-MS) to accompany the ICP-OES machine it already has. This enables the company to provide both ICP-OES and MS in one test, enabling each machine to be used to its particular strengths, testing 64 elements, and in the case of some of them, down to parts per trillion. Other lab tests are also included, like specific gravity, pH, Alkalinity, nitrate and more, resulting in what the British company terms its Gold Standard of Oceanic and Aquarium ICP testing.
The ICP testing market has become more crowded (especially in Germany) with each company trying to outdo the other with the number of parameters tested for, and accuracy. Mass Spec can test down to parts per trillion on some elements (try chasing those numbers,) yet Zlements say ICP-MS isn’t necessary for all 64 elements, choosing instead to utilise both machines, and other testers, to offer their most complete testing package to date.
It’s always worth checking salinity, KH and nitrate as well as ICP testing so that you can cross-reference the lab numbers against your own tests if nothing else. And being UK-based, I’ve always found Reef Zlements ICP testing to be super fast.
