Water Parameters - What do you test?

[dodwyer]

What do you test for and how do you test it?

I have a 28g Nano with about 95% Zoas a couple fish ect. The tank has been up for about 18 months. In the past few months I have noticed that things are not opening or looking as good as they have in the past. I am now curious to know what is changing in the tank. With so many choices and opinions out there I thought I would ask my fellow Zoa fans to see what they are doing with water testing.

thanks

 

[650-IS350]

Check you Temp ( nano's )
KH/Alk
pH
Salinity

http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-chem.html

 

[BLKTANG]

Temp
SG- Refract
CA- Salifert
MG- " "
ALK- " "

 

[iFisch]

Temp, Salinity (refrac), Nitrate, Phosphate


If something isn't looking right, I continue testing. But Nitrate/Phosphates = algae blooms. Would rather catch it when I can before it gets out of control.

I have tried Oceanic salt, which is already "high" in Ca, Mg and Alk. I haven't dosed my tank for Ca/Alk buffer in over a month.

 

[the808state]

i haven't tested anything in about 8 months...

edit: sorry i lied... i tested PO4 last month.

 

[650-IS350]

If I see polyps start shrinking/loosing colors/looking like crap then for me, I would immediately look at pH/ALK/salinity.

 

[dodwyer]

Okay - getting a lot of PH/Alk/Calc

What are the parameters you are working in?
Do you test with pinpoint monitor / test kits?

 

[stlrams88]

I regularly test Nitrates, Alk, Mag, and Ca, and of course daily check the temp and SG.

 

[650-IS350]

I watch temp/ and cal with RK2.
everything else test kits.

 

[JMalone81]

I test test Nitrates,Alk,Calc,PH and temp.

 

[Korrine]

Can I ask how high is to high for nitrates+zoos?

 

[650-IS350]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.php

 

[Korrine]

That's PH. Do you mean go search for nitrate?

 

[flyyyguy]

I dont test anything in my polyp tank

but I kind of cheat. I change 30% of the water weekly with water from my sps tank.

If I didnt do it that way , I would only test alk, calcium and mag and not vrey frequently

phosphate testing is pointless. Let algae be your guide. If you have any nuisance algae growing then you have high phosphates, if you have enough growing that it is a problem then you need to fix it at the source and you dont need a test kit to tell you in either case. jmo

 

[650-IS350]

I hardly check for nitrates, Nitrites and ammonia unless there's something really bad looking in my tank.