Testing supplies

[pprmntshrmps]

I'm looking to buy a good hydrometer, or a refractometer if the price is right.

What brand of ph, amonia, nitrate, nitrite, alkelenity tests does everyone use?

 

[J. Montgomery]

Most of the big online stores sell the same "generic" refractometer. If you check around they can usually find them on sale.

I only occasionally test for calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. I used to use all Salifert kits. I've currently got an Elos alkalinity kit.

 

[ade]

Dito

 

[pprmntshrmps]

So you don't do any nitrate or nitrite testing? Do I need to spend $ on these tests? Everyting I read says test for them. Do you do this at first and then stop testing them at some point?

 

[J. Montgomery]

When I firsts started in the hobby I bought the Red Sea test kit that included pH, ammonia/ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite. I used it a few times, but haven't really checked any of those levels ~2 yr. Once you get the tank setup, you can "look" at the tank and see if something is wrong (i.e. all the corals look bad). If you have a good water source (RO/DI) and practice decent husbandry skills, they should be a big problem.

IMO, the money for those test kits could be better spent elsewhere.

 

[mike68]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13519588#post13519588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J. Montgomery
When I firsts started in the hobby I bought the Red Sea test kit that included pH, ammonia/ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite. I used it a few times, but haven't really checked any of those levels ~2 yr. Once you get the tank setup, you can "look" at the tank and see if something is wrong (i.e. all the corals look bad). If you have a good water source (RO/DI) and practice decent husbandry skills, they should be a big problem.

IMO, the money for those test kits could be better spent elsewhere.

i have to disagree with you on that one i used to use the just look method. until 1 day i decided to check my nitrates.. probably been 2 years since i check it. anyway they were over 20 and everything looked fine. point is after i got the nitrates down everything looked better. i guess it happened slowly so i didn't notice.

 

[HOC]

I wouldn't test for Nitrite after the tank is established, but Nitrate should be tested from time to time. Hard core reefers test Nitrate weekly, but I think monthly is enough. It is my third most used test kit behind Alk and Calcium.

I've swithced to Elos kits from Salifert.