I’ve seen some discussion on how to go about setting up a Trident and then using it in conjunction with a DOS to maintain Cal/Alk and possibly Mag. I’ve had a few new comers ask me about it as well. So, the big question is... would you trust it to maintain your system? For me, I’d have to say no... at least not yet.
Here’s a few examples of why...
The graph below shows my calcium over a 7 day period. I run a calcium reactor and top off through a Kalk stirrer. I try to maintain my calcium right around 500, usually it’s +/- 15 of that. You’ll notice there is an uptick that started a little before this snap shot and it continues to rise to around 630 until noon on the 29th where it starts to decline.
Here’s a graph that shows my magnesium for the same time period. I dose Kent Tech M, usually once a week. I try to maintain it at 1600, but it will fluctuate around +/- 30 of that. You‘ll notice that on the 24th, it was showing that it had dropped to around 1535. It had actually been dropping on a steady basis for the previous week or so. I didn’t change anything in my dosing routine though, on the 25th I added the same dose that I always do... because I knew better than going overboard. This also shows that at noon on the 29th there’s a change, same time and date as the calcium. However, this shows a pretty drastic increase.
So, what’s the common denominator that caused the readings to head back in the right direction at noon on the 29th? If you own a Trident, you may know the answer... both the calcium and magnesium reagents we’re down to less than 5% remaining. On the 29th, I changed them out before the noon readings were taken. This is the third set of reagents that I’ve used since buying the Trident. With every set, when the Cal and Mag bottles get low, the readings react this way. When I see these changes now, the first thing I do is check is the reagent levels in the app. If they’re low, I just ride it out for the week. I’ve talked to other Trident owners, they‘ve experienced the same results. I really wonder if it had a means of stirring the reagents on a routine basis if it would prevent this.
So, back to the question at hand... would you use it to maintain your levels? If you had a DOS maintaining your system based off of the readings a Trident was providing, there may be some issues when you get down below 10% of the reagents. In my case, the calcium would most likely drop, as the Apex would stop dosing due to the false high reading. As for magnesium, it would most likely be elevated to closer to 1700 as it was showing a false low.
Here’s where my readings are now, all I changed was the reagents... nothing was altered in my dosing regimen. I know the Alk looks pretty lumpy, but those changes are actually all within 0.30 of each other, I usually maintain it at around 11. You can see how the Cal and Mag readings have come back to normal.
Hopefully this will help someone in making a decision as to whether they should use it as a dosing regimen or not... or help someone wondering what's going on with their readings on their Trident when the reagents gets low.
Here’s a few examples of why...
The graph below shows my calcium over a 7 day period. I run a calcium reactor and top off through a Kalk stirrer. I try to maintain my calcium right around 500, usually it’s +/- 15 of that. You’ll notice there is an uptick that started a little before this snap shot and it continues to rise to around 630 until noon on the 29th where it starts to decline.
Here’s a graph that shows my magnesium for the same time period. I dose Kent Tech M, usually once a week. I try to maintain it at 1600, but it will fluctuate around +/- 30 of that. You‘ll notice that on the 24th, it was showing that it had dropped to around 1535. It had actually been dropping on a steady basis for the previous week or so. I didn’t change anything in my dosing routine though, on the 25th I added the same dose that I always do... because I knew better than going overboard. This also shows that at noon on the 29th there’s a change, same time and date as the calcium. However, this shows a pretty drastic increase.
So, what’s the common denominator that caused the readings to head back in the right direction at noon on the 29th? If you own a Trident, you may know the answer... both the calcium and magnesium reagents we’re down to less than 5% remaining. On the 29th, I changed them out before the noon readings were taken. This is the third set of reagents that I’ve used since buying the Trident. With every set, when the Cal and Mag bottles get low, the readings react this way. When I see these changes now, the first thing I do is check is the reagent levels in the app. If they’re low, I just ride it out for the week. I’ve talked to other Trident owners, they‘ve experienced the same results. I really wonder if it had a means of stirring the reagents on a routine basis if it would prevent this.
So, back to the question at hand... would you use it to maintain your levels? If you had a DOS maintaining your system based off of the readings a Trident was providing, there may be some issues when you get down below 10% of the reagents. In my case, the calcium would most likely drop, as the Apex would stop dosing due to the false high reading. As for magnesium, it would most likely be elevated to closer to 1700 as it was showing a false low.
Here’s where my readings are now, all I changed was the reagents... nothing was altered in my dosing regimen. I know the Alk looks pretty lumpy, but those changes are actually all within 0.30 of each other, I usually maintain it at around 11. You can see how the Cal and Mag readings have come back to normal.
Hopefully this will help someone in making a decision as to whether they should use it as a dosing regimen or not... or help someone wondering what's going on with their readings on their Trident when the reagents gets low.
