Changing tanks and test kits.

[Allanira]

Ok so heres whats going on. I am pricing all the 75, 90, 120 gal tanks that I can find. I have been lookin at several websites for these. I want to go larger than what I have now. I am also looking at the test kits that are out there. I know several people swear by the Salifert test kits. I got prices off a couple different sites. The ones that I know I will need are
pH, kh/alk, calcium, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate, copper?, iodine, and silicate. Now question time.
1. Do I really need all of those are just the main ones?
2. What website has really good tanks at a goo price?
3. Are canister filters good or just for "polishing" the water?
4. What is a good light for a 48" length aquarium? (All ready decided on T5, MH and Moonlighting just not brand)
5. What chiller is a good chiller for here in the desert?
6. What Phosphate reactor is a good one, and do I need a calcium reactor?
7. Which controller really works thats an all in 1 kinda thing? (lights, wave, temp, heat, ph kinda thing?

And I have forgottent he rest of my questions so I will post them later on after I remember them and I have coffee in my system lol. I plan to keep some brains, mushrooms, a RBTA, some sps, and a couple other kinds of corrals. You can look in my tank info and it has everything that I have right now in there. Thank you for the info in advance.

 

[reefworm]

As to the tests:
copper, iodine [tough to test anyway - and probably shouldn't dose it - water changes will handle any depletion], and silicates really don't need testing. You should test your source water with a TDS meter - that will let you know if contaminants are in the water, such as silicates.

Two Little Fishies phosban reactor is a good one.

I would add a magnesium test since you're keeping corals to help keep track of the calcium and alkalinity balance.

I'm a real fan of LaMotte kits. Very accurate. A bit pricey, but the vials are glass, the materials are durable, and you can buy the reagents separately, which can save you some $$ in the long haul. You won't find LaMotte for all the tests, but Salifert and Elos are fine, too.

Look around RC's sponsors for prices

best of luck!

 

[Allanira]

See thats the thing. I have 3 very mischievous cats here. They are all a little over a year old and they like to take things from me and hide them under the bed lol. They wont take them from my husband just me lol. I know that I have priced all of those tests I mentioned at $286. Thats a little pricy for me right now. I am just looking into how much they are going to run me when I actually get them. I will go look for the Lamotte ones you mentioned and see what they are all about. I havent seen the Salifert or Lamotte so I dont know what they are like. I need something that has a distienct color change. Right now the tests I am using just have a slight color change when it goes from say 0 to .05 or higher. They are all basicly the same color but just a tiny hint different. Do you know what website is a good one to get a reef ready tank from? Thank you in advance again.

 

[snorvich]

reefworm has good advice. Copper Iodine and Silicate won't be very useful. Magnesium will. LaMotte is excellent, Elos is as well. I have no solution to the cats problem.

 

[Allanira]

lol they are a handfull but I have a spray bottle full of water for them. When I lay my hand on it they give me a very dirty look lol. But they will take off with the test tubes and stoppers lol. I am about to head off on more research for the Lamotte tests. I do have a magnesium test here on my list I guess I forgot to put it on the list here lol. Thank you again. Any advise on putting everything over to a new aquarium?

 

[reefworm]

as long as and and rock are sitting fallow you should be able to move everything over, and add what's needed for the larger tank once you get it.

in the meantime, here's a wardrobe suggestion:
http://store.theonion.com/kitten-thinks-of-nothing-but-murder-p-86.html