Mastertronic Honest Review.

[scottsweet]

It doesn't waste any more reagent than a manual test would do, so the total cost of testing is the same (except ofcourse the purchase of the MT itself ).
Doing the tests in the proper order - this was the case for PO4 and NO3 - is old news, newer firmwares have added extra automatic needle cleaning when required. You can test what you want 24/7 without any contamination.

Harold, glad they updated the firmware to clean more often between tests. My sense is that this device has so many hiccups and failed tests that it is wasting a lot of reagent. Second, people are testing way more than actually necessary because they can .

There is no need to test most elements like Mg, nitrates and phosphates multiple times a day or even every day unless you truly have a 0 elements tank. It makes sense to test for dKH multiple times a day...but that really is all that is needed.

 

[scottsweet]

I just got a ban on the Focustronic owners group on Facebook for starting a discussion about making your own KH reagent for the MT.

A couple of days ago my discussion about the crappy Kamoer dosing heads (many experience leaking pumps atm) got closed also.

This is not a true owners group run by some independant owners, it is run by Focustronic employé's who don't tolerate bad publicity. Just fyi. If you want true unbiased info don't go to that group.

Harold, I have been making my own Alkatronic reagent for over 1.5 years. It is easy but can be very dangerous.

Yes..Focustronic FB site doesn't want you talking about it...they sell it .

 

[scottsweet]

Now that we are talking about the KH reagent and it's costs, anyone who thought about making the stuff himself? As far is i've read about it, bottle 1 is probably just a hydrochloric- or sulfuric acidsolution in rodi. A couple of drops of hcl in 50ml of rodi. With 1 bottle of hcl you could probably make yourself a lifetime of reagent.
Bottle 2, the dye, goes way longer than bottle 1 so less need to make that yourself, altough that could be easy to make either. You need a waterborn green dye (food coloration stuff or something) in the same intensity.

Harold, it isn't a "probably." You must be exact. I have been making my own for some time as noted on another post...

 

[Harold999]

Harold, glad they updated the firmware to clean more often between tests. My sense is that this device has so many hiccups and failed tests that it is wasting a lot of reagent. Second, people are testing way more than actually necessary because they can .

There is no need to test most elements like Mg, nitrates and phosphates multiple times a day or even every day unless you truly have a 0 elements tank. It makes sense to test for dKH multiple times a day...but that really is all that is needed.

I like to see what happens with NO3 and PO4 when feeding particular foods, when to change the filtersock, and i like the Mastertronic doing the testing for me.
Even if you only test once a week, the Mastertronic is very convenient in my eyes.
I hate manual testing.

 

[tapeworm123]

What test kits do you use that are stable my test results are so inconsistent. Please let me know what test kits you use on the Mastertronic?

 

[animan]

Thanks for the review! It is on my wishlist.

 

[cjb428]

So me, I’m looking at this or am apex. Problem with apex is I really want nutrient testing and would be even better to have nutrient testing and dosing which apex does not provide. Does mastertronic only test or does it test and dose? What I’m looking for is testing and dosing for alk, cal, mag, phosphate, and nitrate. Obviously there’s probably no dosing for nitrate, but I’m trying to figure out which controller is best for my needs and wants

 

[n2585722]

So me, I’m looking at this or am apex. Problem with apex is I really want nutrient testing and would be even better to have nutrient testing and dosing which apex does not provide. Does mastertronic only test or does it test and dose? What I’m looking for is testing and dosing for alk, cal, mag, phosphate, and nitrate. Obviously there’s probably no dosing for nitrate, but I’m trying to figure out which controller is best for my needs and wants

You can pair the Mastertronic with a Hydros controller and use it to dose based on the Mastertronic readings. Also Focustronics does have the Dosetronic but not sure if that is only for the Alkatronic are if it will work with both.

 

[MartinM]

I purchased two, one for each of my reef systems. IMO, they were more maintenance than my aquariums, spitting out dozens of notifications a day about needing to be recalibrated, and overall were a total nightmare. They’re now sitting in storage.

 

[tapeworm123]

Master tronic waste of time. Nitrate way off po4 way off. Cost a lot for testing. Just test alk and do icp every month or two way cheaper and more reliable.

 

[paul01609]

Master tronic waste of time. Nitrate way off po4 way off. Cost a lot for testing. Just test alk and do icp every month or two way cheaper and more reliable.

Maybe you didn’t calibrate it right?

 

[paul01609]

I use ATI Absolute Ocean as reference fluid

 

[MartinM]

Maybe you didn’t calibrate it right?

They lose calibration very quickly, in a matter of days, probably because they use Kamoer dosing pumps which are absolutely terrible. I agree with him after owning two, they are not worth it at all.

 

[cjb428]

You can pair the Mastertronic with a Hydros controller and use it to dose based on the Mastertronic readings. Also Focustronics does have the Dosetronic but not sure if that is only for the Alkatronic are if it will work with both.

So I have been looking at the hydros controllers, which one would I pair mastertronic with to handle dosing?

 

[n2585722]

So I have been looking at the hydros controllers, which one would I pair mastertronic with to handle dosing?

That will depend on what else you are wanting to do with it. I use drive ports to run my dosing pumps.

The X2 has 2 drive ports (12v output ports) and 2 sense ports ( ports for temp, water level and leak detectors to name a few).

The X3 has one probe port (pH or ORP) and two sense ports.

The X4 has 2 probe ports, 4 sense ports, 4 0-10v input ports, 4 0-10v output ports and 2 drive ports.

The XP8 has 8 AC outlets that it controls

All can be a wifi master and control the wifi strips, wifi plug and wifi feeder.

At this time the X4 has the most expansion but any combination of controllers can be a part of a collective and act like one large controller where the inputs and outputs are shared with each other. I currently have 9 controllers in a single collective. Four are at the tank and the other 5 are in the garage 35ft away from the tank with the 3 reservoirs and RODI filter. The ATO, AWC and dosing pumps are also in the garage. You can click on my build thread banner and go to page 7 for the Hydros stuff I have posted on my build thread.

 

[m.kristoff]

I use ATI Absolute Ocean as reference fluid

where did you find the fluid? Nobody has anything in stock

 

[paul01609]

where did you find the fluid? Nobody has anything in stock

I’m in the u.k

 

[gibbers]

Received my MT two weeks ago and thus far I am very happy with it.

 

[David Cher]

where do you place the mastertronics ? in the cabinet ?

 

[BZOFIQ]

BTW, there was an announcement made saying that the company who owns BRS will be the sole distributor of the Focustronic products in the US.

Aperture now exclusive US distribution partner for Focustronic | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Aperture Pet & Life is now the exclusive US and Canadian distribution partner for Focustronic. This follows from a string of new American distribution partnerships that include Nyos, Maxspect…

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