TX_Punisher
Supporting Member
New tridents should now be coming with a filter for the sample line that hangs into the sump where you’re drawing a sample from. That has helped mine to not clog.
your math is off. Not going to do a spreadsheet but here are the costs from my recent purchase, less tax. There were a few hiccups getting it set up but it's been really rock solid at maintaining kh. Very easy interface, seamless with integration w/ the Hydros controller. It will stage the calcium reactor solenoid on or off to maintain the Kh range desired (can also be set up for 2 part, has extra dosing pump which i dont use)...recently set it to run at to 8.3-8.4 kh range just to see what it would do (range was much wider earlier) and to test every four hours verses default 2 hours. It took some tweaking of the feed rate for effluent and now its running at tight range. I had the GHL Kh director and found it totally a PITA to set up, run and have consistent results. Very happy to sell it, veeery happy..im trying to do some maff here but..... someone correct me if i'm wrong but....
( pulling data from here Alkatronic 1L Concentrated Reagent , Reagent for Alkatronic 4L (Concentrated) )
Alkatronic is 1300
reagent is $28 for 1L or $110 for 4L
each test is $.044 @ using the cheaper 4L option
Trident is 640
reagent is $45 for 2months or $99 for 6 months
rolling all costs into just the alk test is $.137 per test ( but its really 3 different test, using $99 6month option)
It would be something like 5 years + before you see a return on the alkatronic over the trident. I consider that EOL for either product. I don't know how the alkatronic performs versus the trident. This is just a comparison of cost of unit + reagents. If everything else is equal, I think the trident makes a little bit more sense just from a lower entry point. After 5 years I'm pretty sure im replacing either unit.
Its a little skewed because the 4L reagent alkatronic concentrate makes 2500 tests. You only use up 2190 in a year. So you have roughly 13 months for each 4L bottle.
Alkatronic Alkalinity Controller SKU: CV-ALKA100 | 1 | $899.99 |
Alkalinity Testing Reagent (4L Concentrated) SKU: CV-ALK-RGNT-4L | 1 | $45.99 |
The same applies to dosers. I found that my discharge line had a clog at the end just this past week. Alk dropped from 8.1 down to 7,9. Pulled the line out of the sump and sure enough the end had a chunk of crystal covering the end and the flow could barely come out. I did clean and recalibrate the machine recently as the cuvette has started to gunk up a little.Minus a mechanical failure, I 100% stand by a Trident. I love the fact that it comes with calibration fluid with each box of reagent, so you know you're keeping it on point. Having said that, I use mine as a monitoring tool, not to control my dosers, because I use a calcium reactor. It's saved my butt a few times, even once in the first month of having one. I glance at my app and notice that the alk is steadily dropping each day over the last three days. I go to check my calcium reactor, and sure enough, there was a clog that I wouldn't have found until too late.
I don’t mind paying it. I look at it as a type of insurance policy for my basic parameters, alk in particular. I’m a lazy tester so I’d rather just pay the $20 a month and not have to worry about.We just need someone to come up with a diy reagent solution for the trident
Cody is just happy to get some numbers on the board.I don’t mind paying it. I look at it as a type of insurance policy for my basic parameters, alk in particular. I’m a lazy tester so I’d rather just pay the $20 a month and not have to worry about.
That’s why I let the machine tell me the numbers. I can’t wait until someone automates a NO3 and PO4 tester. Once that’s out, I’m never doing a manual test again, minus an ICP test.Honestly I hate testing when I’m busy at work, but I do enjoy seeing the numbers and knowing where I’m at.
It sucks when you’re guessing. You have to test to have a decent reef at least until it’s really established and you know it’s range and even then they can drift if you do something just a little different.
Haha that would be a great investmentThat’s why I let the machine tell me the numbers. I can’t wait until someone automates a NO3 and PO4 tester. Once that’s out, I’m never doing a manual test again, minus an ICP test.