Newbie seeks advise on test kits & parameters

[Oceandreamadean]

Hi fellow reef keepers,
I'm a total newbie to the hobby & am trying to read as much as possible, but would like pointing in the right direction as to (1) what I should be testing my water for (2) the parameters I should be aiming for (3) how often I should be testing & (4) recommendations for quality test kits.

Thanks guys/gals

 

[thegrun]

What type of tank do you plan on keeping? You need fewer tests if you are only keeping fish, more for corals and eve more if you plan on keeping stony corals. Is the tank already cycled or are you starting a new cycle?

 

[Oceandreamadean]

No tank yet. My (1st) tank arrives 2 weeks :dance: I'm going for a reef tank & plan to keep all type of corals, including SPS even though they're meant to be quite difficult to keep (so I read).
Tank size will be 6ft x 3ft x 2ft6" & a sump 6ft x 2ft x 1ft8" with a 4-6" DSB, maybe a little ambitious for a 1st tank but everyone says go as big as you can (the more water the more stable), plus I don't want to waste money by keep upgrading at a later date.
I'll be keeping several fish but would rather under stock than over stock, so I say now

 

[coralsnaked]

Nice big tank
If you are going to skip any metering equipment then my choice is Red Sea Pro for all. Salifert is also good as is Elos but too expensive for me.
During cycling you will want to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. After cycling the same for about three months + Temperature, (77-80F) Specefic Gravity (1.026 salt levels), pH (8.2), Calcium (425ppm), Alkilinity (9.5 dKH), and Magneesium (1500ppm), as well as Phosphates (0.03ppm)
Test x3 weekly during cycle. You want to see an ammonia spike above 3ppm and then see it begin to fall and nitrites rise, when nitrites beging to fall you will see a rise in nitrates. When ammonia and nitrites are back to 0.00 you should see a good spike in nitrates to ~ 20ppm or greater. Do a 20% water change and your cycle is complete. I prefer to do my cycle in the dark no lights. Think hard about that deep sand bed. Can be tricky. I would do less than 2" and more like 1 " is my preference. But some burrowing fish need more.

Once tank is clycled I would test the day after I add any living creatue(s) to the tank to see if i get an ammonia spike. Go slow and plan put your stocking carefully. After the initial period when you stop testing sxcept for foundation elements Ca Mg and Alk, test weekly for first year and then go to monthly.
Good luck

 

[Oceandreamadean]

Thanks for the detailed feedback Coralsnaked, my DS Tank will only have a 1" sand bed - it's my sump that's going to have the 4-6" DSB.
Very helpful info on the cycle process. You've given me the parameters I need to achieve, but is there any tolerance + or - either way?
Are their any good (reliable) digital testers on the market. I know Hanah do some, but they seem to get mixed reviews, some saying they can be out a bit.