Water Test

[Sir Edward]

Just wondering what brand of test kits everyone prefers using. Also what test do you preform and how often. Right now I use Marineland, but thinking of switching to Salifert. I presently just test the KH/Alk, Ph, NO2, NO3, and Ammonia/ NH4. The kit is getting low, need to replenish. Thinking of the Salifert kits, and adding test for Mg, Ca, PO4 and Sr.
Just wondering how everyone else handles their water test.

 

[tent boy]

I gave away my Red Sea kits. Loves Salifert. Calcium, mag and alk is all I test. Test about every week. Just bad about dosing.

 

[sg1838]

I'm using Salifert kits for Nitrites, Nitrates, and Ammonia, though now that my tank is more "mature", I only rarely test for Nitrates (probably once every 6 to 8 weeks, just to be sure they're at or near 0). I tried to get a Salifert kit to test Magnesium, but couldn't find the kit anyplace, so eventually purchased a ReefStatus kit from Seachem which allows me to test for Magnesium and Alkalinity. I'm also using the Ca test kit from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (API). I'm currently testing for Ca, Alk, and Mg weekly as I dial in my dosing regimen. Once I find a good equilibrium, I'll probably only test once per month.

The Mg test kit was a little complex the first time I did it, but now it's no more difficult than any other test. All of my test kits do now seem to be repeatable (I couldn't say that for my Red Sea kits that were 4 years past their expiration date!)

 

[Gravesj1s]

The kits your using (salifert) are accurate from what Ive read.The right kits are probably the best bet ,too.

I sorta use a different approach.When my tanks fairly knew I use alk/kh and a ph kit. I closely watching and maintaining alk.Ph I use instead of ammonia as their closely enough related.Ph ,also,for limewater reactor saturation and when more kalk needs to be added to it.I use alagae as a guide for nitrate and phosphate.

I just purchased calcium ,magnesium and a more accurate alk(all salifert) with a cheap backup alk kit (tetra).I had few compared to most sps or other calcium demanding corals so limewater and water changes I felt was enough.Im finally starting to see a more stable and faster growth in sps,thats pretty much what I was waiting for and reason for the new kits.