Apex trident np

[christian1989]

Hi. What are your thoughts on the trident np ?
I’m looking for something to auto test phosphates but iv heard nothing but bad reviews on the np

 

[tzabor10]

I regret buying the trident (original?). Numbers were off. Was clumsy to use. Lots of errors

 

[Waters]

I wouldn't run another tank without the Trident but I have avoided the Trident NP for the same reasons.......I am still reading nothing but bad things about its's accuracy.

 

[nezw0001]

Really happy with mine. Numbers are close enough to hanna's to keep me happy. It integrates nicely with all my other neptune products. Easy to set up and had no issues running it.

 

[mmorrison55]

I’ve heard some people are reporting the NP is more stable with firmware updates, but I would like to hear that from more people.

My regular trident has been pretty spot on to my Hannah checker levels, so it would be easier to add the NP vs adding something new like the maven or focustronic essential.

I just wish there were not so many bad review for the NP.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

Going on 3 months with my NP. Was concerned about getting my second set of reagents, but maneuvered that ok.

Initial thoughts are as follows:

1. Results are consistent. I am not getting wild swings.
2. Accuracy is mid (maybe not). My issue is that the NP is consistently a step lower than Hanna. Always measures about 5-7 ppm low on nitrate and .05 low on PO4 compared to Hanna. Good news is it’s consistent. Bad news is I could see this as a major issue if you are running low nutrients.

Tiebreaker between Hanna and NP will be my next ICP.

One hurdle I hit was after reagents change, my nitrate started reading 0. PO4 was still consistent. Turns out I had to pull reagents out of the housing. No matter how carefully I was putting them in, something must have been pinched. Issue resolved with reagents out of housing.

 

[mmorrison55]

Going on 3 months with my NP. Was concerned about getting my second set of reagents, but maneuvered that ok.

Initial thoughts are as follows:

1. Results are consistent. I am not getting wild swings.
2. Accuracy is mid (maybe not). My issue is that the NP is consistently a step lower than Hanna. Always measures about 5-7 ppm low on nitrate and .05 low on PO4 compared to Hanna. Good news is it’s consistent. Bad news is I could see this as a major issue if you are running low nutrients.

Tiebreaker between Hanna and NP will be my next ICP.

One hurdle I hit was after reagents change, my nitrate started reading 0. PO4 was still consistent. Turns out I had to pull reagents out of the housing. No matter how carefully I was putting them in, something must have been pinched. Issue resolved with reagents out of housing.

Do you calibrate the NP the same way as the regular trident? Meaning, are you able to calibrate with your tank water and inputting the Hannah results as your calibration fluid levels?

 

[Gone Reefin’]

Do you calibrate the NP the same way as the regular trident? Meaning, are you able to calibrate with your tank water and inputting the Hannah results as your calibration fluid levels?

I don’t believe so, but I have not tried calibrating as I have heard nothing but bad things. Like, not recoverable bad things. You have to use their solution (I believe), not sure if you can trick it to match Hanna.

 

[RoanokeReef]

You can now calibrate with a Hanna or any test kit you trust.

 

[LiquidSpace]

You can now calibrate with a Hanna or any test kit you trust.

Yep. I bought one last week it’s been within +/- 0.03 when compared to Hanna on nitrate and spot on with phosphate after doing the calibration, which was super easy.

It’s been good. I hope I don’t have to eat crow, but I think the update fixed it.

 

[mmorrison55]

That sounds promising

 

[helijamal]

I had the same inaccuracies from the start and the updates have now seen the results to be consistent. I did return the original np and get another unit. I’m now happy with the np. I have to say that it is close to Hanna but what tells us for certain that the Hanna tests are bang on. The consistency and looking at the tank tell me it’s good. I do test with Hanna occasionally now if something seems off to see if I should be worried.

I did notice the np gets erratic when the reagents get low(not quite out yet) and then know it’s time to replenish the reagents.

I am fully invested in Neptune gear but would willingly try other brands of equipment as I want the equipment that does the best job. In other words, I’m not a die hard fan for Neptune.They have got me on some items- junk Cor 20, eb 832’s with cheap power supplies and garbage flow meters. I’m sure there is other equipment I got stung on and forgot.

 

[boacvh]

I am really happy with mine. It's off from Hannah value sometimes but I am really not concerned about a spot on number more than I am concerned with an overall trend.i mean Who is to say Hannah is not incorrect too? This product in my opinion is great to track a trend in values and for that in particular it is great IMHO.

 

[braaap]

Did they put the calibration back in? I heard they removed the ability to calibrate with tank water after they added it. Is it back?

 

[Gone Reefin’]

Did they put the calibration back in? I heard they removed the ability to calibrate with tank water after they added it. Is it back?

I’m curious on this too. If back, how do I conduct this? I do not see it on my task list.

 

[braaap]

I’m curious on this too. If back, how do I conduct this? I do not see it on my task list.

I think you go into the trident np tab like you would for the trident. I looked up the latest firmware and the water calibration is there again. But my system was rolled back at one point. Because I had an NP and I’m now 2 firmwares behind the Trident NP release firmware.

I am having one delivered on Monday so I’ll be able to test it.

 

[bubbgee]

I’m curious on this too. If back, how do I conduct this? I do not see it on my task list.

It's not in the task list. It is in the Trident NP menu.

 

[mmorrison55]

Bubbgee has it laid out, but for those who like a visual guide, I came across this video.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

Bubbgee has it laid out, but for those who like a visual guide, I came across this video.

Thank you both. This is good stuff!

 

[areefer01]

Do you calibrate the NP the same way as the regular trident? Meaning, are you able to calibrate with your tank water and inputting the Hannah results as your calibration fluid levels?

Yes, this was recently added through a firmware change. The recommended way to do this with both Trident and the Trident NP is to collect a pint of water from the area you are pulling your water sample. Take your manual test kit of choice and run 4 or 5 tests, look at the results, throw out anything that is, or looks like, it is out of bounds, then take the average of the remaining and use those results to calibrate. You take the Trident/NP sample line, place it in the pint of water that you did your manual tests, and run the calibration task and use the test results you just calculated. After calibration put the sample line back.

That is it more or less. Works fine.

With regards to the OP's question the only negative thing about the NP at the moment is that there are only 2 month reagent kits available. The Trident has 6 month kits which lowers the per test cost.