Trident Issue rant

[MnFish1]

Here is a poll I just posted - answer if you will: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/concerning-the-trident.635531/

 

[CNDReef]

Here is a poll I just posted - answer if you will: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/concerning-the-trident.635531/

The problem isn’t the op comparing the trident to Hanna, it’s comparing trident to trident. His results after changing out the reagents changed drastically.

 

[MnFish1]

The problem isn’t the op comparing the trident to Hanna, it’s comparing trident to trident. His results after changing out the reagents changed drastically.

Because he handn't calibrated his machine properly - and he is now trying to use other tests to decide which 'trident' test is correct - or am I misunderstanding?

 

[CNDReef]

Got my new calibration fluid today and recalibrated it. Here are the results:
Before

After

Not sure what to believe but I will see how it goes. I checked my Alk after and Hanna showed 8.3 DkH so maybe the Trident is reading low or my Hanna it high. I tested the Calc after the calibration with my Hanna and Hanna shows 518 which is considerably higher than Trident. UGH

I am hoping to use my Trident with my DOS to do auto dosing but am a bit leary of it at the moment.

Maybe I will open a ticket with Neptune to get their opinion.

@MnFish1 He calibrated it but later than the minimum suggested time.( First post) then he recalibrated it again and it went off even more. That’s how I’ve read the op’s posts.

 

[MnFish1]

@MnFish1 He calibrated it but later than the minimum suggested time.( First post) then he recalibrated it again and it went off even more. That’s how I’ve read the op’s posts.

OH - the way I understood 'Trident' is that you get the machine - you let it settle down - (the initial readings) - then you calibrate it (he waited longer than normal). Any results before you calibrate it are meaningless. You're right he then re-calibrated it - dosed ca and alk during this time - got a weird test from a hanna Ca checker (which are somewhat notorious for being difficult) - recalibrated it and got 3 results that are in 'normal range.

I wonder 2 things - is the OP trying to use 'all the reagent' in the bottle before changing them (as many other people who are having problems seem to be doing) - or is he changing every 2 months and recalibrating?

My only point was I would not use a hanna checker or other test to 'double check' a trident result (unless there was some reason to doubt the trident result - a huge drop or rise with normal looking corals - bad looking corals, etc). If I did double check - and the results were say alk - within 1 dkh of each other and both were withing the normal range - I would merely use the trident value - not waste time trying to figure out 'why' there is a difference.

One thing I would be interested in knowing is whether alkalinity values change after new reagents are added (i.e. lets say the alk is 7.0. then you get new reagents and recalibrate - does the alk stay within the posted 'limits'?

 

[craigbingman]

I yet to find an equation that can base on Alkalinity to estimate calcium or magnesium level.

Could you rephrase that question?

 

[UCF Alum]

Based upon other users input I’ve read, it seems once they added their tridents their alk readings were .5-.7 dkh lower than compared to the hannah checker.

You are correct.
My Trident is .4 lower than my Hanna for alk.

 

[UCF Alum]

@Mark Harnishfeger
When you did the calibration did you set the calibration solution at roughly the same height that you normally draw your water sample from?
I use the DOS for controlled dosing along with the Trident and like it.

 

[ca1ore]

I have concluded that it is best to NOT try to ‘fool’ the machine into using up all the reagent. Unless, of course, you are OK with some funky readings.

 

[TX_Punisher]

Did you follow setup directions? Not plugging in first and such? Email neptune. They have been good in the past with customer service with me.

You are correct.
My Trident is .4 lower than my Hanna for alk.

My initial tests showed .3 higher reading on the hannah. Tested again a week later to verify and saw .2 higher on the Hannah was when Compared to the trident

 

[Snookin]

My initial tests showed .3 higher reading on the hannah. Tested again a week later to verify and saw .2 higher on the Hannah was when Compared to the trident

Ok? Those aren’t big discrepancies. I think you are getting bogged down by too much info and over thinking this. .2 is nothing. If it was 1dkh or more I would agree with you.

 

[Evaaron]

Have you purchased the Hanna calibration tester?
My Trident reads .3 lower than my Hanna but the Hanna checker reads .3 DKH high according to the hanna calibration fluid I have.
Seems like everyone takes the Hanna checker as fact but questions the Trident before they check the accuracy of the Hanna checker.
My Hanna checker also read .3 higher than the Trident calibration fluid posted reading.

 

[Charles Zinn]

I have had my trident for a couple of weeks now and let it run for a bit before calibration. About a week ago I calibrated it and started paying more attention to the numbers. I also picked up a DOS at RAP NY which I got setup and running. My Alk reads about .4 to .6 higher than what my Hanna Alk DkH checker shows (9.27 on Trident vs 8.7 on Hanna DkH) and I had not compared against my Hanna Calcium checker. My Alk has been staying pretty good with me only dosing about 20mL of BRS 2 part but my Calcium has been staying at or near 400 so I have been trying to bump it to around 440. I have been dosing about 30 - 40mL everyday and the Trident does not show much movement of Calcium. I thought it was weird as I have never needed to dose that much in the past for Calcium but kept at it bumping the dose a bit more each day to bring it up and still it stays close to 400, give or take a bit. Today I tested with my Hanna checker and it shows Calc at 584. what the heck is going on with my Trident that it did not pick up these changes?? Everything seems to be doing fine in the tank but I am going to do a water change to bring it back down a bit. Not happy about this! Why spend $600 on a tester that does not test correctly??

I ordered some reagent the other day but the calibration fluid was out of stock. I went back in today and it was back in stock so I ordered a couple of bottles. Hopefully re-calibrating will fix the issue but this is very frustrating.

Anyone else experience troubles with their Trident?

It will be great if I can get it setup with the auto dosing but I'm a bit nervous about it now.

I had similar issues only I had been cross referencing to Red Sea
The I had electrical problems with electric coming to house from transformer(we have underground wires) not sure what happened but needless to say I list almost everything. I recently heard about INONIC BALACE. Which is the ratio of calcium to magnesium
Have been told if this is off you wont get correct readings.....anyone have some answers for me?? Going to Hanna Checkers as I have been having some health issues

I have had my trident for a couple of weeks now and let it run for a bit before calibration. About a week ago I calibrated it and started paying more attention to the numbers. I also picked up a DOS at RAP NY which I got setup and running. My Alk reads about .4 to .6 higher than what my Hanna Alk DkH checker shows (9.27 on Trident vs 8.7 on Hanna DkH) and I had not compared against my Hanna Calcium checker. My Alk has been staying pretty good with me only dosing about 20mL of BRS 2 part but my Calcium has been staying at or near 400 so I have been trying to bump it to around 440. I have been dosing about 30 - 40mL everyday and the Trident does not show much movement of Calcium. I thought it was weird as I have never needed to dose that much in the past for Calcium but kept at it bumping the dose a bit more each day to bring it up and still it stays close to 400, give or take a bit. Today I tested with my Hanna checker and it shows Calc at 584. what the heck is going on with my Trident that it did not pick up these changes?? Everything seems to be doing fine in the tank but I am going to do a water change to bring it back down a bit. Not happy about this! Why spend $600 on a tester that does not test correctly??

I ordered some reagent the other day but the calibration fluid was out of stock. I went back in today and it was back in stock so I ordered a couple of bottles. Hopefully re-calibrating will fix the issue but this is very frustrating.

Anyone else experience troubles with their Trident?

It will be great if I can get it setup with the auto dosing but I'm a bit nervous about it now.

I have found that you may have to wait 48 hrs plus to see changes in tank. Or you could check by looks of corals.