Specific by design
An enzyme layer reacts only with nitrite, even in salty or murky water.
On-site nitrogen sensing · Aquaculture
Catch nitrite before it catches your fish.
Lab-grade nitrite results on site, in minutes.
For aquacultureLab-grade from one drop.
Why Specio exists
Lab-grade nitrogen answers, where the water is.
Nitrogen in water is a costly problem for fish farms, lakes and treatment plants. It is invisible, it changes fast, and today's tools are slow or imprecise. Specio is a Portuguese deep-tech company built on more than 25 years of research on nitrite electrochemical sensors. Our mission is to give the people who manage water fast, specific nitrogen measurements on site, so they can act before problems become crises.
About usThe science behind the sensorBiology for specificity,
Our technologyBiology for specificity,
electrochemistry for speed
Patent protected
European patent granted · US patent pending.
Turbidity-free
We measure an electric current, not a color, so cloudy water doesn't distort results.
Peer reviewed
More than 25 years of published research behind every strip.
From water to answerOne drop, 3.5 minutes,
One drop, 3.5 minutes,
one clear answer
01Take one drop of water
02Apply it to a pre-calibrated test strip
03Insert the strip into the handheld reader
04See the result on your phone
05Save and share the data in the cloud
Specio works alongside certified labs and online sensors, not against them.
Explore productsThe nitrogen cycle
One nitrogen cycle. Three markets.
- AmmoniaNH₃
- NitriteNO₂⁻
- NitrateNO₃⁻
Aquaculture
Ammonia · Nitrite · Nitrate
Ammonia and nitrite are toxic to fish at low levels. Nitrate builds up in recirculating systems.
Aquatic ecosystems
Nitrate · Ammonia · Nitrite
Nitrate and ammonia from runoff and discharges drive algal blooms and oxygen loss. Nitrite signals an imbalance.
Wastewater treatment
Ammonia · Nitrite · Nitrate
Ammonia comes in, nitrite reveals incomplete nitrification, and nitrate goes out under the discharge permit.
Every market manages all three. Specio measures them on site, from one drop.
Availability
What Specio can help you measure today
| Measurement | Freshwater & wastewater | Marine & brackish |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrite (NO₂⁻) | Available now | Available now |
| Nitrate (NO₃⁻) | Launching 2027 | Launching 2027 |
| Ammonia (NH₃) | Available now | Launching 2028 |
Availability depends on salinity, not source. Municipal wastewater is low-salinity. High-salinity industrial wastewater: contact us.
Three environments. One purpose.Built for the people
Built for the people
responsible for water
Aquaculture
Protect the biofilter and the stock. Daily nitrite checks without a lab.
Why it mattersA nitrite spike can harm fish within hours.
Explore aquaculture
Aquatic ecosystems
Dense, affordable field data for lakes, rivers, wetlands and coasts.
Why it mattersBetter data shows where and when to act on blooms.
Explore aquatic ecosystems
Wastewater
Verify probes, tune carbon dosing and support process control between lab samples.
Why it mattersFaster process decisions between compliance samples.
Explore wastewaterPerspectives on water
All insightsLatest insight
From color charts to electrochemical sensors: 50 years of field nitrogen testing
Field nitrogen testing went from chemistry you perform, to instruments you deploy, to sensors you can hold. Here is what changed, and what it means for the people who manage water.
Read moreFrom the Specio team
All news & eventsNews & events
Specio launches a new brand and website
A clearer story for the people we serve in aquaculture, aquatic ecosystems and wastewater.
Read moreNS2 appoints John Robinson as Senior Advisor
John Robinson, a water technology investor, joins NS2 as Senior Advisor.
Read moreSpecio meets US partners at WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans
Conversations with operators, consultants and research institutes on nitrogen monitoring.
Read moreOut in the world
Arrange a meetingLet's meet
Where you can find the Specio team over the next year.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aquaculture America 2027 | February 21–24, 2027 | Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
| SWAN Forum 2027 | May 18–20, 2027 | Porto, Portugal |
| WEFTEC 2027 | September 25–29, 2027 | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| NALMS 2027 Symposium | Fall 2027 (TBC) | Location TBC |
Partner with Specio