Another test kit question...

[RogueGrown]

After spending the past couple days trying to find the best route to go for new test kits I can only seem to find that people agree, hanna checker for P04 and API is good for CA. All the other tests are kind of a free for all.

What is the best route for a new guy to go for N03 Mg and Alk? If there's is any others that are crucial for the new reef hobbyist please chime in.

 

[thegrun]

Unless you are keeping stony corals right away you don't need to test for either calcium or magnesium. Here are the pre stony coral tests you should be using AFTER your cycle is complete:
Temperature, alkalinity, salinity, nitrates, phosphates.
Once you start to add stony corals add magnesium and calcium to the list.

It is a good idea to keep an ammonia test kit on hand for use if you suspect something is going wrong in the tank.

 

[billdogg]

I use Salifert for all testing. I find them to be easy to use and very repeatable.

 

[neiltus]

kh, ca, mg, nh3 salifert
no3 red sea pro
po4 hanna

 

[RogueGrown]

Unless you are keeping stony corals right away you don't need to test for either calcium or magnesium. Here are the pre stony coral tests you should be using AFTER your cycle is complete:
Temperature, alkalinity, salinity, nitrates, phosphates.
Once you start to add stony corals add magnesium and calcium to the list.

It is a good idea to keep an ammonia test kit on hand for use if you suspect something is going wrong in the tank.

Thanks for this. I plan on eventually going for SPS. As of right now I have some zoos some GSP a frogspawn and a toadstool. I'd like to monitor my Ca so that I can start getting some sort of coraline growth.

 

[RogueGrown]

I think I'm going to order in a salifert kit this morning for the rest of my kit. Thanks for the opinions!!!