Neptune Aquatics

Quick ICP head to head results

Darkxerox

Darkxerox

Vice President
BOD
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So I tested Triton ICP-OES vs. Tropic Marin ICP-OES. Price: $45 (6 for $270 but got a 160 gal box of TMP salt included). Tropic Marin kit was free from SWA for a $250+ order (normally $28 or so). However it cost $5.94 to ship.

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Both samples taken the same time and mailed out 1/5/26. Results back from Triton on 1/8/26! Results back from TM on... 1/20/26.

Results were really similar, some things were off but everything within normal ranges. The Triton test gives more data:

docs.google.com

CADE 1500 - 01.08.2026

docs.google.com docs.google.com

Overall, looks like my use of Two Little Fishies salt and three part plus Tropic Marin TEs mixed in is working well. Not impressed by the ship time to TM.
 
PizzaOven said:
Nice to see they’re fairly consistent.

It would be nice if ICP reported measurement uncertainty. I’m guessing it would scare and/or confuse people.
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Most people can barely read a regular bar graph, let alone understand standard error, or accuracy vs. precision, so I can see why they leave it out. Technically I should have done at least N=3 for each test, but a) I'm lazy and b) I only had one of the free TM kits. I would have liked to see reportable range instead of just ideal ranges though.
 
Darkxerox said:
Most people can barely read a regular bar graph, let alone understand standard error, or accuracy vs. precision, so I can see why they leave it out. Technically I should have done at least N=3 for each test, but a) I'm lazy and b) I only had one of the free TM kits. I would have liked to see reportable range instead of just ideal ranges though.
Click to expand...
You're probably right. My middle school science teacher would have sent the ICP back marked down for no error bars lol. I guess that stuff doesn't really stick unless you make a career out of it.
 
Darkxerox said:
So I tested Triton ICP-OES vs. Tropic Marin ICP-OES. Price: $45 (6 for $270 but got a 160 gal box of TMP salt included). Tropic Marin kit was free from SWA for a $250+ order (normally $28 or so). However it cost $5.94 to ship.

View attachment 77706

Both samples taken the same time and mailed out 1/5/26. Results back from Triton on 1/8/26! Results back from TM on... 1/20/26.

Results were really similar, some things were off but everything within normal ranges. The Triton test gives more data:

docs.google.com

CADE 1500 - 01.08.2026

docs.google.com docs.google.com

Overall, looks like my use of Two Little Fishies salt and three part plus Tropic Marin TEs mixed in is working well. Not impressed by the ship time to TM.
Click to expand...
Tropic Marin tests are done by the Fauna Marin lab. You got the limited tests which is not too useful and you can only compare the two (Triton vs Tropic) if you get the full test.

It takes 10 days to get the results if you time it right, i.e., sending it on Friday morning. Too long but I do not trust the US Triton lab, so I am still planning to try out Oceamo for faster turnaround - bought several of their tests already. I know Tim has good experience with them, and Christoph is great.
 
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