X10 vs Alkatronic long term experience.

[m.kristoff]

have been doing Comparisions /Testing between the X10 and Alkatronic for DKH. So far in my limited testing, the X10 seems to be producing respectable results but slow. The Alkatronic is producing consistent results but higher than what it should be.

My Baseline for comparison is Salifert / Hanna and a KHcarer.

Interested in anyone else's long term experience with these testers. I do have long term experience with Alkatronic but would like feedback on the X10 in particular. It seems to be a solid replacement for the Alkatronic so far.

 

[m.kristoff]

More testing today. Ran a test on all 3 at the same time
Alkatronic = 9.91
Hanna = 9.5
X10 = 9.41

The big difference is that the Alkatronic is using the CoralVue Premix reagent. The X10 is using my mix of 4 to 1 using the Alkatronic Acid.

Pros
The X10 has been easier to setup.
A Alkatronic test is faster.

Cons:
The Alkatronic has required several rounds of calibration
X10 is slower but also measures PH and Salinity


Any long term X10 user experience would be helpful. I'm Considering shutting down the Alkatronic.

 

[n2585722]

Here is the test on mine for the last couple of days. The last time I did a test with Hanna was last Sunday and the iV was 8.57 and the Hanna was 8.5. I usually only check with the Hanna once a week. The iV does a test 4 times a day.

 

[m.kristoff]

Here is the test on mine for the last couple of days. The last time I did a test with Hanna was last Sunday and the iV was 8.57 and the Hanna was 8.5. I usually only check with the Hanna once a week. The iV does a test 4 times a day.

how long have you been running it?

 

[n2585722]

how long have you been running it?

I have had one of my X10's for 1 1/2 years. The other not quite a year but the second one only lends a dosing pump to the testing otherwise it does not have anything to do with alkalinity testing. It has the drain pump on it which was done with a simple doser before getting the second X10.

 

[BAMatter]

I’ve had several issues with my X10, multiple tickets opened with Coralvue to no avail after every calibration done and possibilities tested. New PH probe. New batch of reagent. Calibrating pumps multiple times. Haven’t been able to figure out for example why my drain decides to only drain .2ml instead of 155 and overflow my iV on occasion. Has started randomly testing incredibly low out of nowhere mid reagent batch. I have 2 Hydros collectives and am a large fan of their controllers, but the X10 doesn’t like me for some reason, and CV hasn’t given me any answers but has certainly been helpful in trying, though im about at the end of the rope with my X10 for alk testing, and have lost any confidence in its measurements. It’s finicky to say the least and my Hannah checker and Salifert are in line with each other- the X10 is always the outlier. I can do back to back tests and be off upwards of .3dkh within 30 mins.

I don’t have an Alkatronic but I do have a Kamoer KH Carer on my smaller system and it’s easier to calibrate, and has a better overall user experience in my opinion. Haven’t had any issues with it and will likely be moving it to my larger system and use the X10 as a controller only on my smaller system.

 

[n2585722]

I’ve had several issues with my X10, multiple tickets opened with Coralvue to no avail after every calibration done and possibilities tested. New PH probe. New batch of reagent. Calibrating pumps multiple times. Haven’t been able to figure out for example why my drain decides to only drain .2ml instead of 155 and overflow my iV on occasion. Has started randomly testing incredibly low out of nowhere mid reagent batch. I have 2 Hydros collectives and am a large fan of their controllers, but the X10 doesn’t like me for some reason, and CV hasn’t given me any answers but has certainly been helpful in trying, though im about at the end of the rope with my X10 for alk testing, and have lost any confidence in its measurements. It’s finicky to say the least and my Hannah checker and Salifert are in line with each other- the X10 is always the outlier. I can do back to back tests and be off upwards of .3dkh within 30 mins.

I don’t have an Alkatronic but I do have a Kamoer KH Carer on my smaller system and it’s easier to calibrate, and has a better overall user experience in my opinion. Haven’t had any issues with it and will likely be moving it to my larger system and use the X10 as a controller only on my smaller system.

I had the opposite happen. My KH Carer was inconsistent with it's readings. By chance is the iV and X10 combo reading low. Mine was about .5 low so I was using the offset but it still was not consistent. I was watching a test and noticed after the fill pump did it's clean drain and then did it's prime fill the beaker water level never started to rise. So that meant air was still in the fill line from the drain since it is suppose to completely empty that line before it primes it. After the priming happens the drain pump will run to remove the water from the beaker from doing the priming. Then the fill pump will dispense 100ml for the test but if the tube does not get primed that amount will be low depending on how much air was left in the tubing. I remove a little over 2 feet from the fill tube and now it seems to get consistent results that closely match my Hanna test.

 

[BAMatter]

I had the opposite happen. My KH Carer was inconsistent with it's readings. By chance is the iV and X10 combo reading low. Mine was about .5 low so I was using the offset but it still was not consistent. I was watching a test and noticed after the fill pump did it's clean drain and then did it's prime fill the beaker water level never started to rise. So that meant air was still in the fill line from the drain since it is suppose to completely empty that line before it primes it. After the priming happens the drain pump will run to remove the water from the beaker from doing the priming. Then the fill pump will dispense 100ml for the test but if the tube does not get primed that amount will be low depending on how much air was left in the tubing. I remove a little over 2 feet from the fill tube and now it seems to get consistent results that closely match my Hanna test.

Yep I’ve watched the test go through its paces multiple times. Unfortunately every once in a while I’ll get a very high alk reading, or a flooded iV, and check the logs and the drain line didn’t do its job. More water, more acid, higher reading. Makes sense. Just exhausted from tinkering as I’ve been spending more time to get an alk reading to be somewhat correct than I do on anything else on that tank. lol.

 

[m.kristoff]

both the X10 and my alkatronic are new and seems that they have both just broken in. I recalibrated both and am now using Coralvue pre-mix reagent. both are spot on with the Hanna.

I have owned a KHCarer and it is a nice machine. Had issues with it when it sits to long, I was testing every other day or so and it would give a crazy reading. the next test was fine but it can't sit. Also had to calibrate with every reagent change.


So far the Alkatronic is faster and in my opinion more refined. Still not sure which one I will go with.

 

[BAMatter]

both the X10 and my alkatronic are new and seems that they have both just broken in. I recalibrated both and am now using Coralvue pre-mix reagent. both are spot on with the Hanna.

I have owned a KHCarer and it is a nice machine. Had issues with it when it sits to long, I was testing every other day or so and it would give a crazy reading. the next test was fine but it can't sit. Also had to calibrate with every reagent change.


So far the Alkatronic is faster and in my opinion more refined. Still not sure which one I will go with.

I test once a day with my KHC and it holds pretty steady. Every time I mix reagent I need to factor an offset in with both the X10 and KHC to match Salifert/Hannah. Just part of the process for me since all 3 have a +/- accuracy, so figure it’s just the way.

 

[m.kristoff]

I just ran a test between the hanna, X10 and Alkatronic
Alkatronic = 9.15
X10 = 9.13
Hanna = 9.0

All within reason. For some reason, as simple as it is to mix a 4 to 1 reagent, it almost never works for me even using a scale! That's the only reason I would consider an offset even if that's what is for. I usually go back and remix my reagent.

 

[m.kristoff]

Another observation of the X10. You cannot run just a salinity/PH test. it has to be all 3. I will need to get a X3 for another PH probe to get real time readings. I do plan on dosing Kalk so need to have a method to shut it down based on PH levels.

I'm leaning towards the Alkatronic as the primary DKH testers
better graphing.
less time to run a test

they both seem to be working well and it just comes down to simple features of each

 

[n2585722]

Today there was quite a difference in the Hanna Test and the iV so I did one using Fauna Marin and another using Salifert. The Fauna Marin was almost exactly the same as the iV and the Salifert was lower. The Hanna was higher but the Hanna and iV were close last week. I tend to believe the iV since the Hanna would be quite high for my tank. Also the other two are within reason to the iV.

 

[David_CO]

Imo the Hanna alk is one of the weaker Hanna tests and freshness/preservation of the reagent is extremely important. If it’s been open a couple months I wouldn’t trust the results.

I’ve found the Alkatronic the best alk tester I’ve used. I also have tridents and and a kh keeper. It’s been rock solid for me for over 2 years. I really appreciate the supplemental dosing head to dose alk when levels drop below threshold.

 

[m.kristoff]

Imo the Hanna alk is one of the weaker Hanna tests and freshness/preservation of the reagent is extremely important. If it’s been open a couple months I wouldn’t trust the results.

I’ve found the Alkatronic the best alk tester I’ve used. I also have tridents and and a kh keeper. It’s been rock solid for me for over 2 years. I really appreciate the supplemental dosing head to dose alk when levels drop below threshold.

I have had them all also. I think the most polished of the group is the Alkatronic. The easiest to calibrate is the KHCarer. I give the KHcarer high marks! Its biggest draw back is how slow it is and graphing. You can connect it to Hydros and us their graphs. The Alkatronic graphs are very well laid out. great for fine tuning a CaRx or dosing.

The X10 has been on par with my Alkatronic so I don't have any doubt that the X10 is giving accurate results.

Reagent mix is the key for solid results. as simple as it seems is to mix 4 to 1, it can still be a struggle. even with scales!

 

[David_CO]

I have had them all also. I think the most polished of the group is the Alkatronic. The easiest to calibrate is the KHCarer. I give the KHcarer high marks! Its biggest draw back is how slow it is and graphing. You can connect it to Hydros and us their graphs. The Alkatronic graphs are very well laid out. great for fine tuning a CaRx or dosing.

The X10 has been on par with my Alkatronic so I don't have any doubt that the X10 is giving accurate results.

Reagent mix is the key for solid results. as simple as it seems is to mix 4 to 1, it can still be a struggle. even with scales!

I’ve never minded mixing the reagents. I bought one of the big Focustronic 1:4 jugs and then learned I could diy it. I bought a more concentrated acid off amazon and diluted that to the 1:4 pre-mix ratio, the I have that jug for 1:4 dilutions whenever I need to mix up a gallon of reagent.