Touring the inner workings of the Thrive Water Lab

The Thrive Water Lab is potentially one of the most revolutionary products to hit the marine aquarium hobby-industry but we’re still a little ways off from actual units being installed and operating in actual stores. Thankfully, Thrive Aquatics had one of their water testing kiosks on display at MACNA and we had the chance to test some water for ammonia and see what goes on inside the Thrive Water Lab when it does a test.

To begin, a user identifies him or herself to the Thrive Water Lab (TWL) or simply performs a test.

One of the first splash screens of the TWL is the diagnostic stage where it asks you about a “Specific Issue” to help get to the root of the problem, otherwise you can choose the parameter to test yourself.

Another screen gives a list of parameters to test with their cost and estimated time it will take to complete the test

If you are testing for basic aquarium chemistries the TWL asks what kind of tank you are running, with preset parameters of water chemistry already defined for a range of aquarium types, which can be custom-defined by users who are logged in

The actual testing with the TWL begins by placing the water sample syringe in the receptacle behind a swing door.

A wide angle view of the inside of the TWL and the most obvious thing is the aluminum “carousel” which will carry all the different reagents necessary for the kiosk to test it all

With the reagent carousel visible in the center, you can also see a range of other devices such as the UPS battery in the lower left, the printing paper cart at center top, while the main components of actual water testing being small and obscured within the machine

In the lower level, center, you can see a cuvette which has been pulled from an assembly to be filled with a water sample

The same cuvette now has been loaded with water and is being moved into position to receive testing reagent

The white syringe-looking objects on the carousel are the reagents which are precisely depressed by the metal bar looming over them

Once the reagent has had a chance to mix and react, a trio of LED colors shine on the sample which is then read by a photo-diode to determine exact color of the test. The colorimetric reading is then logged and printed out by the TWL with prescriptions on how to adjust water chemistry if necessary.

A handful of lucky stores will have the Prestige of being first in the world, and first in their region, to have and operate the Thrive Water Lab water testing kiosk which should begin rolling out later this year.

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Jake Adams

Jake Adams has been an avid marine aquarist since the mid 90s and has worked in the retail side of the marine aquarium trade for more than ten years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and has been the managing editor of ReefBuilders.com since 2008. Jake is interested in every facet of the marine aquarium hobby from the concepts to the technology, rare fish to exotic corals, and his interests are well documented through a very prolific career of speaking to reef clubs and marine aquarium events, and writing articles for aquarium publications across the globe. His primary interest is in corals which Jake pursues in the aquarium hobby as well as diving the coral reefs of the world.