The problem with ICP results
An ICP report arrives as a wall of numbers — dozens of elements, each with a reading and a reference range. You scan it, fix the headline issues, and file the PDF. Three tests later, the question that actually matters — is iodine trending down? has tin been creeping up since the new pump? — is unanswerable without spreadsheet archaeology.
ICP data is trend data. A single test is a snapshot with error bars; the direction across tests is the signal you paid for.
How Reef Trak handles ICP
ICP as confirmation, not navigation
ICP turnaround takes weeks, so it can't steer week-to-week decisions — that's what your regular alkalinity, nutrient, and salinity testing is for. Where ICP shines is periodic confirmation: verifying your salt mix, catching slow contamination, and checking that trace-element dosing is conservative and on target. Reef Trak keeps both layers in one place — the fast loop of home tests and visible tank response, and the slow loop of ICP confirmation.
When an ICP flags something, your Reef Trak timeline is where you look for the cause: the equipment added, the product changed, the dosing adjusted since the last test.
ICP tracking — FAQ
Can Reef Trak import ICP test results?
Yes — Reef Trak supports importing results from major ICP vendors, turning each element into a tracked parameter with history and trends.
How often should I run an ICP test?
Common practice is quarterly, or after significant changes — new salt, new equipment, persistent coral issues. Between tests, your regular home testing and visible coral response guide day-to-day decisions; ICP confirms the bigger picture.
Can I see ICP trends across multiple tests?
Yes — that's the point. Each element charts across every imported test, so slow drifts and creeping contamination become visible.
Do ICP results mix with my regular test logs?
Yes — ICP readings live in the same per-tank history as your test-kit results and dosing log, so the whole picture stays in one timeline.