Would be interested to know which one is the trusted one and what results you were getting from the test ? Are you saying you expected the exceptionally high results that Triton have you?
The hobby grade test kits I was using in order of lowest phosphate readings to the highest were:-
Aquaforest, Sera, Nyos, RedSea, and the Hanna checker. I've always experienced 'odd' results back from Quantum which didn't make sense when taking into account the overall visual health and status of my tank and livestock. I was convinced that something wasn't quite right.
With tufts of GHA scattered throughout my tank, a light green dusting of film on my glass every morning and my nitrates up at 40 - 50ppm, there was no way that my phosphate reading could be 0.046ppm as the Quantum ICP reading stated. I personally, knew that my phosphates were through the roof and out of curiosity I decided to send the same tank sample to Quantum and to Triton.
It seems that the Quantum and the Triton results are vastly contradictory and span from one extreme to another. I'd always received 'odd' readings back from the Quantum ICPs when I was using them. Another example is strontium. I do not dose strontium and don't feel the need to do so in my tank.
However, the strontium levels in my tank seemed to be slightly higher than what Triton were recommending. I'm suspecting it was a reef product which I had previously dosed, that also contained strontium. However, testing the same batch of tank water, Quantum's ICP states strontium to be slightly depleted and recommends dosing.
I'm glad I had a sneaking suspicion that something was off with the whole Quantum ICPs in general and I'm glad I decided to switch to Triton. Had I not switched to Triton and was still using Quantum, I may have just gone ahead with Quantums suggestion (merely based on trust) and dosed my tank with strontium. I don't even want to contemplate what sort of tank disaster I'd be dealing with had I gone ahead with their suggestion/advice.
Admittedly, knowing what I know now, I've lost trust in the Quantum ICPs which is definitely a shame because I try and purchase and support 'Aussie Made', where ever I can. I'm currently expecting my fourth Triton ICP back and I know that I won't be left scratching my head, and double-guessing myself, which was always a common occurrence when my Quantum results came in.
