Test Kits

[cyeater]

I am planning on buying the well talked about Salifert test kits, I am for now looking only to take on fowlr system, but plan on in the future to do some soft corals, what would be the test kits that would be more helpful too me, would I need to purchase every different element kit there is, or is there some I could do without? Please list the ones I would be best off with..

Thanks

 

[bilge rat]

seachem are very accurate but are somewhat complicated and take some effort.

 

[Shagsbeard]

There's a great article on this very question. Wish I had saved it. Someone with the link will show up with it shortly.

The two most important tests for a new tank are ammonia and nitrate. Nitrite is in there, but is typically not a problem in tanks... it's ok to test for it, but I found the test to be worth less than the other two. Next down the line is pH, but it's much better to have a meter rather than a test because pH can change hour by hour depending on all sorts of stuff. Get a pH meter rather than a test kit. Next I would get calcium and alkalinity. These are currently the only five tests I do... Ammonia, Nitrate, pH (should take my own advice and get a meter), calcium and alkalinity.

They say the next down the list is magnesium, but I'm just hoping that I get enough with salt and suppliments.

 

[Wett Hands]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9786171#post9786171 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shagsbeard
There's a great article on this very question. Wish I had saved it. Someone with the link will show up with it shortly.

The two most important tests for a new tank are ammonia and nitrate. Nitrite is in there, but is typically not a problem in tanks... it's ok to test for it, but I found the test to be worth less than the other two. Next down the line is pH, but it's much better to have a meter rather than a test because pH can change hour by hour depending on all sorts of stuff. Get a pH meter rather than a test kit. Next I would get calcium and alkalinity. These are currently the only five tests I do... Ammonia, Nitrate, pH (should take my own advice and get a meter), calcium and alkalinity.

They say the next down the list is magnesium, but I'm just hoping that I get enough with salt and suppliments.

YEAH, WHAT HE SAID...