Neptune Trident - How often do you manually test?

[Joe.D]

I have a Neptune Trident that tests Alk, Ca and Mg mult times daily.

Based on a post I read from Randy Holmes Farley where, if I remember correctly, he said Ca and Mg don’t vary much - I stopped testing those weekly and moved to monthly. I’m finding my Alk, which I’ve been testing weekly, is also pretty consistent now with my Hannah.

While I still plan to test Nitrate and Phosphate weekly, I’m curious to see how often others with a Trident manually test Alk, Ca and Mg.

My tank is about 2 years old - I’ve noticed over the past several months that things are stabilizing overall.

 

[dakoop]

Probably not the right answer but I'm not testing unless I see a big swing

 

[Reefer Matt]

I have a Neptune Trident that tests Alk, Ca and Mg mult times daily.

Based on a post I read from Randy Holmes Farley where, if I remember correctly, he said Ca and Mg don’t vary much - I stopped testing those weekly and moved to monthly. I’m finding my Alk, which I’ve been testing weekly, is also pretty consistent now with my Hannah.

While I still plan to test Nitrate and Phosphate weekly, I’m curious to see how often others with a Trident manually test Alk, Ca and Mg.

My tank is about 2 years old - I’ve noticed over the past several months that things are stabilizing overall.

I manually test after a water change to make sure I adjusted the alk correctly. Also if my topoff runs out and I quickly top off the tank, to make sure alk isn’t swinging too much. Other than that, twice a day for alk, once a day for ca/mg.

 

[Formulator]

Why fork out all that cash for a trident if you are still going to test manually all the time? I calibrate my trident with tank water so I manually test then, which is anytime I replace reagents. So about every 3-4 weeks, unless I’m seeing something odd from the trident results.

 

[Joe.D]

Why fork out all that cash for a trident if you are still going to test manually all the time? I calibrate my trident with tank water so I manually test then, which is anytime I replace reagents. So about every 3-4 weeks, unless I’m seeing something odd from the trident results.

This is the direction I was thinking to go in. I too calibrate with tank water.

 

[Doctorgori]

like everyone else, maybe after a error or water change

 

[areefer01]

I don't. I let the Trident run the testing and use the standard 4/2/2 schedule. There is no reason to do any manual testing unless I see back to back test anomalies. To be perfectly Frank anything else sort of defeats the purpose of automated testing regardless of the brand/vendor.

I do keep Hanna Alk, Nitrate, and Phosphate on hand should I see something off but it isn't to second guess. In my case Trident is source of record. Period.

Full reagent swap I will wait 48 to 72 hours then run a calibration. Other than that it is hands off other than observe.

 

[Joe.D]

I don't. I let the Trident run the testing and use the standard 4/2/2 schedule. There is no reason to do any manual testing unless I see back to back test anomalies. To be perfectly Frank anything else sort of defeats the purpose of automated testing regardless of the brand/vendor.

I do keep Hanna Alk, Nitrate, and Phosphate on hand should I see something off but it isn't to second guess. In my case Trident is source of record. Period.

Full reagent swap I will wait 48 to 72 hours then run a calibration. Other than that it is hands off other than observe.

Do you calibrate on tank water using Hannah or do you use the Trident calibration fluid? I find the Trident calibration fluid to be inconsistent.

 

[TARHEEL78]

I manually test when I change B and C reagents and no other time.

 

[areefer01]

Do you calibrate on tank water using Hannah or do you use the Trident calibration fluid? I find the Trident calibration fluid to be inconsistent.

I use the included Neptune solution. I've personally have had no issues with it but I understand a few have reported some. In fact I will save the left over after done. Cap it and mark the date on it. If I see any back to back test oddities I will pull it out and run a manual combined.

Pretty much how I use it to be honest and it works for me.