Advanced reef ICP analysis to diagnose, optimize, and stabilize
The ICP MAX analysis is designed for those who want a broader view than “the essentials”. It of course covers the major elements (Ca, Mg, K, Na…), essential nutrients and trace elements, but goes further with an extended spectrum to identify more subtle causes: additional trace parameters, contamination markers, and elements that accumulate over time.
This is the ideal analysis when you are looking to diagnose a persistent issue (algae, dull corals, slow growth), optimize an aquarium that is already well balanced, or secure a “rich” supplementation method (balling, hybrid methods, regular additive dosing). In a single submission, you obtain a detailed and actionable snapshot, allowing you to make precise corrections without guessing.
How the ICP MAX analysis works step by step
An ICP MAX analysis performed using Spectrogreen ICP-OES technology
The ICP MAX analysis is carried out using a Spectrogreen ICP-OES spectrometer, a high-precision instrument used in many professional laboratories. Thisinductively coupled plasma optical emission technology makes it possible to measure dissolved elements in the water with great accuracy, even at trace levels, with excellent reproducibility.
The sample is injected into a plasma brought to a very high temperature. Each element emits a specific light signature that the instrument analyzes precisely. This method makes it possible to measure a broad spectrum of elements simultaneously and provide a reliable, comprehensive, and reproducible reading of your reef water… while finely identifying contamination and accumulation.
All Zoanthus Lab analyses are carried out in our laboratory based in Saint-Étienne, by qualified technicians specialized in reef aquariums, to guarantee consistent, precise, and fully actionable results.
Which parameters are checked with ICP MAX?
ICP MAX combines a highly comprehensive reef analysis with a preparation water check. It measures more than 45 parameters, including the essentials… and additional parameters that make all the difference when you want to understand a tank in depth.
The analysis includes in particular:
- Basic: Density, Relative Density, Salinity (PSU), Alkalinity pH 4.3, Carbonate Hardness (dKH)
- Major elements : Chloride (Cl), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Sulfur (S), Strontium (Sr), Boron (B), Bromine (Br)
- Nutrients : Phosphorus (P), Total Phosphates, Silicates, Nitrates (NO3)
- Important trace elements : Fluorine (F), Barium (Ba), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Iodine (I), Lithium (Li), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se), Silicon (Si), Vanadium (V), Zinc (Zn)
- Pollutants and undesirable elements : Aluminum (Al), Antimony (Sb), Silver (Ag), Arsenic (As), Beryllium (Be), Bismuth (Bi), Cadmium (Cd), Tin (Sn), Gallium (Ga), Lanthanum (La), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Tellurium (Te), Thallium (Tl), Titanium (Ti), Tungsten (W), Zirconium (Zr)
- Contamination indicators : heavy metals and abnormal deviations
- + RO water check : verification of any RO/DI residues/contaminants (useful before salt preparation)
This in-depth reading helps you to:
- Understand a loss of color, slowed growth or coral stress
- Detect discreet metal contamination (even at very low levels)
- Identify a slow accumulation linked to additives or source water
- Check the consistency of your supplementation and avoid chronic deviations
- Optimize an “already stable” tank by correcting micro-imbalances
Comparison of the three Zoanthus Lab ICP analyses
| Analysis |
Number of parameters |
Specific features |
Ideal for |
| MARINE ICP |
+ 40 |
Major elements + essential trace elements |
Regular monitoring of a reef aquarium |
| ICP MAX |
+ 45 + RO water |
Extended spectrum: fluorine, nitrates, KH, RO water analysis |
For demanding aquarists and in-depth diagnostics |
| ICP PURA |
Specifically for RO water |
Contaminant control and RO water quality |
Checking preparation water before remineralization |
Actionable results for precise dosing
Each Zoanthus Lab analysis is designed to be directly actionable. The data obtained can be integrated into the free Zoa Aqua Manager calculator, making it possible to obtain a precise and personalized dosage based on the actual volume of the aquarium and the measured deviations.
No more manual calculations or blind estimates: you get clear recommendations to correct a deficiency, reduce an excess, or adjust your supplementation with a consistent approach. Monitoring becomes regular, measured, and above all controlled.
ICP MAX: the analysis to take diagnostics all the way
ICP MAX is the ideal formula when you want to take the analysis further: demanding aquarium, comprehensive supplementation method, suspected contamination, or simply the desire to optimize an already stable reef as much as possible. It provides a finer reading, a broader spectrum, and adds useful RO water testing to secure the foundation.
In short: if you are looking for an analysis “without blind spots,” capable of helping you understand and correct complex situations, ICP MAX is the most comprehensive of the three.
