Neptune Trident Test A Fail

[PMReef]

I have same issue of Test A failed, no Calcium reading just sent a Support ticket to Neptune

 

[Christian0505]

I am going nuts at this point.

Only getting a Test A fail on the combined test and calibration. Single alk test is just fine. I do get a calcium and magnesium number on combined test.

 

[agimori]

Solved my instance of Test A fail by not screwing the lid of Reagent A too tightly. Either the tip was too close of the bottom of the container or there wasn’t enough air going into the bottle and a vacuum formed.

Only by doing this did reagent A get sucked into the cuvette

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

Solved my instance of Test A fail by not screwing the lid of Reagent A too tightly. Either the tip was too close of the bottom of the container or there wasn’t enough air going into the bottle and a vacuum formed.

Only by doing this did reagent A get sucked into the cuvette

For others reading this and having this issue, there are cone inserts you can purchase on etsy that fit into the lid and help prevent the metal tube from resting directly on the bottom causing a vacuum. I don't even snug the tops down now and unscrew a bit from bottom to prevent a vacuum from forming.

 

[Mako199]

Had same issue random test a fail.
Took it apart cleared all lines no blockage found. emptied and cleaned alk container and Put in new reagent from current 6 month batch . Still test a fail. Dumped alkalinity reagent out and used newly purchased 6 month kit from January . This seems to have fixed my problem. The original batch of alk reagent was from a 6 month kit purchased in july 2025 . It was the last 3 bottles of alk . So I think they can expire. Note I have been using ABC reagents since they started without any issues. And I have been doing the same thing for years . I just fill the reagent containers when its time . And Calibrate with tank water using salifert tests. So I think my Alk reagent last longer then 6 months but never had a problem until now. So if you get test a fail and have no blockages try a new batch of alk reagent from a new lot.

 

[Mako199]

Got Test A fail again. Ditched the Coralvue bought ABC alk reagent and used newly bought neptune alk reagent. So far readings for alk are good without calibration and no test A fail yet been been a week so we will see.

 

[nezw0001]

when I had this issue it took me forever to figure it out but I ended up having a time glob of goo in one of the plastic manifold outputs and some more in the drain tube line. I had to flush and snake every line with a pipe cleaner to finally find it

 

[Mako199]

when I had this issue it took me forever to figure it out but I ended up having a time glob of goo in one of the plastic manifold outputs and some more in the drain tube line. I had to flush and snake every line with a pipe cleaner to finally find it

Yea I've already done that ...I do it every year but not clogs found this time . And this has been going on for a couple months with the random test A fail mostly on an all test. But now it stopped after new neptune alk reagent (hopefully).

 

[dadnjesse]

Got Test A fail again. Ditched the Coralvue bought ABC alk reagent and used newly bought neptune alk reagent. So far readings for alk are good without calibration and no test A fail yet been been a week so we will see.

I had the same issue I got rid of the ABC and switched back to Neptune and mine tested fine after. I wonder if Neptune somehow changed the software to detect after market reagent. Conspiracy theory but who knows.

 

[Christian0505]

I still experience test A fails when the trident is running combined test, but not when only running kh tests. I’ve just ditched the combined test and only run alk tests from now on with the ABC reagents. Been great for over a year now.

 

[Mako199]

I had the same issue I got rid of the ABC and switched back to Neptune and mine tested fine after. I wonder if Neptune somehow changed the software to detect after market reagent. Conspiracy theory but who knows.

Seems awful fishy doesn't it.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

Check for vacuum locks and gunk in the reagent lines. Also clean the reaction cuvette with a qtip and rubbing alcohol to remove residue. The machine uses a type of colorimetry to detect changes in color of the reagent/water reaction in the cuvette and if it can't see the color change accurately or at all, it will give you that error or WILDLY off numbers.

The reactions/reagents used are extremely common and straight forward. Nothing proprietary.

 

[Mako199]

Check for vacuum locks and gunk in the reagent lines. Also clean the reaction cuvette with a qtip and rubbing alcohol to remove residue. The machine uses a type of colorimetry to detect changes in color of the reagent/water reaction in the cuvette and if it can't see the color change accurately or at all, it will give you that error or WILDLY off numbers.

The reactions/reagents used are extremely common and straight forward. Nothing proprietary.

Your not reading what was written the o ly change made after already checking everything you said was changing just the alk reagent out for Neptune instead of abc and test A fail never happened again

 

[Reginald Reefer III]