Update 6/18/2021 – In an effort to make this article as accurate as possible this content has been updated to correct inaccuracies regarding the Triton Core7 product.
Many people compare ATI Essentials Pro vs. Triton Core7 because they are both German-made products. Although the products do share many similarities, there are also some significant differences between them. In today’s blog, we compare these two products and what you should expect while dosing them.
What’s in the Bottle:
Both ATI Essentials Pro and Triton Core7 contain essential major and minor elements. Below is a chart showing what is in each product:
| Element | Essentials Pro | Triton Core7 |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | ||
| Antimony (Sb) | ||
| Arsenic (As) ** | ||
| Barium (Ba) | ||
| Beryllium (Be) | ||
| Boron (B) | Proprietary | |
| Bromine (Br) | Proprietary | |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ||
| Calcium (Ca) | Proprietary | |
| Carbonate (CO3) | Proprietary | |
| Chlorine (Cl) | Proprietary | |
| Chromium (Cr) | Proprietary | |
| Cobalt (Co) | Proprietary | |
| Copper (Cu) | ||
| Fluorine (F) | Proprietary | |
| Iodine (I) | Proprietary | |
| Iron (Fe) | Proprietary | |
| Lead (Pb) ** | ||
| Lithium (Li) | Proprietary |
| Element | Essentials Pro | Triton Core7 |
|---|---|---|
| Magnesium (Mg) | Proprietary | |
| Manganese (Mn) | Proprietary | |
| Mercury (Hg) ** | ||
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Proprietary | |
| Nickel (Ni) | Proprietary | |
| Nitrogen (N) | ||
| Phosphate (PO4) | ||
| Phosphorus (P) | Proprietary | |
| Potassium (K) | Proprietary | |
| Rubidum (Rb) | Proprietary | |
| Selenium (Se) | Proprietary | |
| Silicon (Si) | ||
| Sodium (Na) | Proprietary | |
| Strontium (Sr) | Proprietary | |
| Sulphur (S) | Proprietary | |
| Tin (Sn) | ||
| Titanium (Ti) | ||
| Vanadium (V) | Proprietary | |
| Zinc (Zn) | Proprietary |
** Indicates a toxic element
Ease of Use
Both products have a reputation of being difficult to use. Although neither product is simply set-it and forget-it, neither product is as challenging to use as it may seem.
How Many Parts:
- Triton Core7 Triton Method: 4 bottles, however, it can be reduced to 3 bottles by dosing parts 3A and 3B together. The 3-4 bottle system allows the manipulation of calcium and magnesium independent of each other.
- ATI Essential Pro: 2 bottles
How to Prepare for Dosing:
- Triton Core7 Triton Method (1000mL Set): Part 1 and Part 2 can be used straight out of the bottle. For Part 3A, add 0.5 liters of RODI water to a 1L container, add the contents of the package, and then top off the container with RODI water to create 1L of solution. Part 3B is prepared the same way as Part 3A. All parts can also be diluted, if needed.
Please note: Triton Core7 Base Elements and Other Methods also come in a 5 Liter “ready to use” form that can be used straight out of the bottle. - ATI Essential Pro: This can be used straight out of the bottle or diluted with four parts RO-DI water, making two bottles that are 10 L each.
How to Dose:
Dose in equal parts based on the tank’s alkalinity level. If the alkalinity goes up, dose less. If alkalinity goes down, dose more.
- Triton Core7 Triton Method: Dose equal parts of Part 1, Part 2, Part 3a, and Part 3b.
- ATI Essential Pro: Dose equal parts of Part #1 and Part #2.
Alkalinity Source:
- Triton Core7 Triton Method: Inorganic Carbon Source – This means the alkalinity in the bottle is immediately available for coral consumption and does not require biological action to become available. Once the product is used in the reef it is readily available.
- ATI Essential Pro: Organic Carbon Source – This means it requires biological action to make the alkalinity available to the corals to consume. This slows the availability of alkalinity.
Requirements for Use
Both ATI Essentials and Triton claim no water changes are required. However, other items are still needed with these items. Here are the requirements for each product:
| Requirement | Essentials Pro | Triton Core7 Base Elements | Triton Core7 Other Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skimmer | Recommended | ||
| Sump | Recommended | ||
| ICP Testing | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
| Refugium/Algae Bed | Not required | Not required | |
| Carbon | Once/month | Not required | |
| GFO/Phosphate Remover | As needed | Not required | |
| Water Changes | Not required | Not required | Not required |
While it’s not required, both manufacturers highly recommend using their ICP-OES testing analysis along with their dosing regimens. These highly scientific tests measure each element’s level in the water, and each manufacturer makes dosing recommendations based on the results. In addition to a complete ICP analysis, the ATI ICP Lab also provides results for KH, Nitrate, and Fluoride.
Strength and Cost:
Let’s take a look at each product’s concentration, recommended dosage and projected costs:
Concentration of Carbonate:
- Triton Core7 Triton Method Bottles 3A + 3B: 19,500 dKH
- ATI Essential Pro Part #1: 27,000 dKH
Recommended Dosage & Projected Cost:
The following is each manufacturer’s recommendation to raise dKH by 1 point per 100 L of tank water:
- Triton Core7 Triton Method: Dose 5.3 mL of bottles 1, 2, 3a, and 3b or 10.6 ml of mixed 3a and 3b + 5.3 ml of bottle 1 and 5.3 ml of bottle 2. In either scenario, it is a total of 21.2 mL of solution per 1 dKH. The cost of 4x 1 L Triton Core7 is $52.00, which translates to $0.2756 to raise 100 L by 1 dKH.
- ATI Essential Pro: Dose 7 mL of Part #1 and the same amount of Part #2 for a total of 14 mL per 1 dKH. At $39.95, this translates to $0.1398 to raise 100 L by 1 dKH.
That should cover our ATI Essentials Pro vs. Triton Core7 comparison. What other questions do you have regarding these two popular products? If you’ve used either one, please feel free to contact us with your feedback. We’d love to hear about your experience!
Learn more about dosing ATI Essentials Pro: