Triton N-Doc Organics Seawater Lab Test

Product overview

The Triton Lab N-DOC kit is a mail-in test for organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in saltwater. Calcium and alkalinity kits do not show this. When the C:N:P (Redfield) ratio is off, you can get RTN/STN, bacterial blooms, brown tissue, cyano, or dinoflagellates.

ICP measures minerals. N-DOC measures the organics ICP misses, and splits nitrogen and carbon into numbers you can act on (ppb). Use it to tune carbon dosing and stop feeding nuisance algae.

How it works

1. Collect: Rinse the vials 3 times in tank water, fill them, and seal tight. Do not touch the rims or the inside of the caps — skin oil skews organic carbon.
2. Register: In the Triton Lab Portal, create a tank profile and enter the kit barcodes.
3. Post: Box the vials, add the lab label, and send them to your regional Triton lab.
4. Results: You get an email when the scan is done. Open the dashboard for the organic report and balancing notes.

Key features

• Organics ICP misses: Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, not just minerals.
• Redfield ratio: Real C:N:P numbers to help prevent cyano and dino outbreaks.
• Alkalinity split: How much of your KH is inorganic carbonate vs organic buffer.
• Carbon dosing: Clear advice on whether to raise or cut pellets, vinegar, or vodka — no guesswork spreadsheet.
• Early warning: Nutrient blocks or problem pools before hair algae shows.
• Trends: Charts over multiple tests so you can see if the biology is moving the right way.

Water and system compatibility

• Water: Marine and reef only. Not for freshwater.
• Use: SPS, LPS, soft coral, carbon dosing, and refugiums.
• With ICP: Pair with Triton ICP-OES for a full mineral plus organic picture.

What it screens

• Carbon: Total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)
• Nitrogen: Total organic nitrogen (TON), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), and nitrogen pools independent of nitrate
• Buffers: Inorganic carbonate alkalinity vs organic alkalinity

Testing and instructions

Always follow dosage & directions on product packaging.

• Routine: Every 4–8 weeks, ideally with an ICP-OES test.
• Problems: Test now for unexplained cyano, dinos, white bacterial slime, or rapid tissue loss.
• Before carbon dosing: Run a baseline before you start or change the dose.
• Register first: Link the vial barcodes in the Triton Lab Portal before you post, or the lab cannot match the sample.
• Rinse: Flush both vials three times with tank water, then fill.

Specifications

• Brand: Triton
• Focus: Organic chemistry and nutrients (C:N:P)
• Included: Triton ID card, 2 specialised vials with lids, barcode seals
• Labs: Germany and Australia