Neptune Trident Calcium & Magnesium Issues

[fishnugget1]

Are there any fixes for inaccurate Calcium & Magnesium tests from the Neptune Trident. My Calcium is always 40- 50 its higher on Trident than what is in tank based on Salifert & Aqua Forest Testing. This makes it difficult to keep right calcium levels. Magnesium is the same issue.

What is everyone doing to fix this? My All is spot on.

 

[TLO45]

I’m guessing you have configured the unit with calibration fluid? I’d contact Neptune if you feel there is a misreading.

 

[Hydrored]

The only time mine reads off if the calibration fluid gets low. Unfortunately I just eat the cost of changing them early. When is the last time you calibrated?

 

[fishnugget1]

About a month ago. Can I use original fluid in box

 

[Reefer508]

Calibration fluid is only good for 8 hours after opening it.
I have an open ticket with Neptune for this very reason. As soon as reagents B and C get down to around 30%, results of tests are off. They have not come up with a fix as of yet.
I would suggest opening a ticket also, this problem seems to be fairly common.
The Trident is suppose to make testing easier, but if we are getting false results, it does nothing for us. This problem is pushing up the cost of an already expensive way to test.

 

[ca1ore]

Are there any fixes for inaccurate Calcium & Magnesium tests from the Neptune Trident. My Calcium is always 40- 50 its higher on Trident than what is in tank based on Salifert & Aqua Forest Testing. This makes it difficult to keep right calcium levels. Magnesium is the same issue.

What is everyone doing to fix this? My All is spot on.

If trident is consistently high, I fail to see how this makes it difficult to keep the correct calcium levels. Target is a range anyhow, and Ca doesn’t fluctuate like alkalinity can. Wonky readings as the reagents approach empty is a problem, though in my case that begins when B and C are closer to 10%.

 

[TLO45]

I have been recalibrating about every other time of replacing fluids. However I have been double checking with Hanna hand held checkers. To be 100% honest I have really only tested the alkalinity since the system is on a calcium reactor and ratios have been stable in the proportions. It is discouraging when you buy products like the Trident and then don’t feel you can trust them In my case the Trident and Hanna have been pretty darn close in their readings.

 

[Mar]

I believe one of the things that was suggested to me when I had this issue, was to use your titration tests as the calibration values when you run the calibration test. Run the calibration task and don’t use the calibration fluid, input your tested values as the values from the calibration fluid. My alkalinity usually stays pretty steady, the others I don’t really worry about that much.
I don’t trust my apex 100% on any parameter, I mostly watch it for trends. Its great at telling me when something gets really out of whack. I want my tank to be able to run itself as much as possible without completely relying on a computer that could easily go klabooey if saltwater hits it (which I’ve had happen, lol).

 

[TLO45]

I agree with Mar! I HATE to test water...which was the main reason I purchased the Trident in the first place. Perhaps I’m in the wrong hobby if I hate to test!. I agree that a piece of equipment like the Trident should not be used at a 100% accurate measure but rather to watch trends

 

[Hydrored]

@Terence to see if we can get a response or some feedback

 

[Huskymaniac]

Will add also that the I dont think the calcium is not accurate. I am getting a 75 point difference (on the higher end 530 vs 475) between salifert & redsea vs trident.

 

[User1]

Calibration fluid is only good for 8 hours after opening it.
I have an open ticket with Neptune for this very reason. As soon as reagents B and C get down to around 30%, results of tests are off. They have not come up with a fix as of yet.
I would suggest opening a ticket also, this problem seems to be fairly common.
The Trident is suppose to make testing easier, but if we are getting false results, it does nothing for us. This problem is pushing up the cost of an already expensive way to test.

What makes you believe this is a "fairly common problem"? If you are referring to the Ca drift that was discussed during the Feb 20th live stream it is only happening to about 1% of the Trident owners. That is by no means fairly common. They have two paths they are debugging last I heard. Just my opinion but the challenge they are facing debugging this problem is trying to find a common ground with those reporting it to something specific. Testing frequency is a no brainer. However, location of the Trident, height of the unit vs. sample line, sample line location, sump cleanliness, and a slew of other things to try and normalize. That isn't factoring in the batch of the reagents and bottle composition.

I do agree though that reporting it to Neptune will help fill in the blanks if it is related.

 

[BluTang85]

Yea I’m having the same issue, my alk is almost dead on with my hanna checker, but my Mag is about 200 points higher on the trident then my salifert and cal is about 50 higher on the trident then my Red Sea test kit. I feel like these values are way off. I have calibrated with the solution a few times and the numbers are still always so far off from my other test kits. I just put it into factory reset and will run a few tests before recalibrating again. Has anyone calibrated there trident with the values from other test kits?

 

[User1]

Yea I’m having the same issue, my alk is almost dead on with my hanna checker, but my Mag is about 200 points higher on the trident then my salifert and cal is about 50 higher on the trident then my Red Sea test kit. I feel like these values are way off. I have calibrated with the solution a few times and the numbers are still always so far off from my other test kits. I just put it into factory reset and will run a few tests before recalibrating again. Has anyone calibrated there trident with the values from other test kits?

How accurate are the test kits you are using and how are you referencing or calibrating them? Are you using a reference solution? Seems you are now falling into chasing numbers or trying to understand which one is more precise and/or accurate.

My suggestion is this. Next time you replace reagents (A, B, and C) that require a calibration before you run the task pull a class of tank water to sample. Just before you run the task so the water sample is a few minutes apart. Once the calibration is finished and you have your Trident results use the left over calibration fluid and test the same three using your kits manually. Or, you can order a Neptune Trident Calibration set and do this at any time.

Now compare the numbers.

Remember the Trident states:
Alkalinity: +/- 0.05 dKH
Calcium: +/- 15 ppm
Magnesium: +/- 15 ppm

 

[BluTang85]

I ordered new test kits for both Red Sea for mag and salifert for cal. I use hanna for all. Results below

hanna/trident=8.5/8.43 dkh
Salifert/trident= 440/493 calcium
Red Sea/Trident=1280/1423 mag

I used the calibration fluid a few times over the4 monthsI have owned the trident, and never seemed to get a good reading on cal/mag. I’ve even used my cal and mag test kits on the calibration fluid that came with the reagents and got pretty close to the measurements. When I run calibration it changes to those that I set off the calibration bottle and then I put it back in the tank and wait for the next test to run and it shoots
Back up. I’m just getting frustrated as to why these reading as so high and I’m blowing money on reagent?

 

[AcanthurusRex]

Comparing one inaccurate test to another isn't really that meaningful. If the trident measures the same repeatedly then what is the issue. Maybe Neptune should allow one to offset the displayed number so one can match the test kit used to verify the tridents accuracy.
493-offset=440 for example
With a dKh of 8.5 440 Ca does seem more reasonable.

 

[BluTang85]

Comparing one inaccurate test to another isn't really that meaningful. If the trident measures the same repeatedly then what is the issue. Maybe Neptune should allow one to offset the displayed number so one can match the test kit used to verify the tridents accuracy.
493-offset=440 for example
With a dKh of 8.5 440 Ca does seem more reasonable.

I tested the calibration fluid that came with the reagents with my test kits hanna/sal/ and Red Sea and they were very close which tells me the trident is off.

 

[K7BMG]

Well I for one have not had the issues you seem to be having.

I have Hanna checkers throughout and the Trident.
I am always spot on. my biggest split one time was Hanna said my Ca was 460 and the Trident was 440 or vice versa its been a while.

I do not know if I would trust my eye as accurate on the color comparison test kits.
Way to many variables there.

When I change any of my Triton reagents I follow this procedure.
Run a test on that reagent(s), change it and then run a test for comparison.

I only calibrate after a complete reagent change, but my procedure is the same.
Run a complete test, change out reagents, run a complete test again and compare.
This way I know the Trident is on track based on the previous test.
Run a calibration and then done.
The next full test cycle the Trident does I can compare to the last.
Some times the numbers are same same or sometimes just a tad off.
Example of last total reagent change
Alk 8,5 to 8.4 calibrate, and the sequential test was 8.7. (But dosing occurred)
Ca 450 to 450 calibrate and the sequential test was 450
Did not record Mag.

I do double check with my Hanna test kits once in a while and like I previously stated have always matched so closely I have never had a reason to question.
YMMV.

 

[K7BMG]

I am coming up on a complete reagent change over the weekend.
I will go ahead and do a Hanna double check for comparison as its been a while for that anyway. Plus the fact that I moved my Trident from my temp tank to my new main DT.

I will record and post all results here if I can remember to. LoL.

Now watch as I said I plan to post the results here, I probably jinxed myself and everything will be out of wack.

BETS! anyone?

 

[User1]

I am coming up on a complete reagent change over the weekend.
I will go ahead and do a Hanna double check for comparison as its been a while for that anyway. Plus the fact that I moved my Trident from my temp tank to my new main DT.

I will record and post all results here if I can remember to. LoL.

Now watch as I said I plan to post the results here, I probably jinxed myself and everything will be out of wack.

BETS! anyone?

Lol - I think you will be fine. Not sure who said it but I for one sometimes get inconsistent results due to my eyes and manual titration. Actually, let me just say it is "never" consistent. I know many in this hobby do it and do it well but I recall that video by BRS having 4 people using the same test kits run through and compare results. It was pretty funny. At the end I only test the ones that are easy and I do consistently which is the Hanna Phosphate, Alk, and Nyos Nitrate. Trident does the rest.