what do you test for
- Thread starter reefrandy
- Start date
scorpiocasper
New member
Let's not forget the Nitrates and possibly ammonia and nitrites.
I test every 12- 14 days, but for newer set ups it would be better to do it weekly or more.
Don't dose for anything that you can't test for! We aren't dosing for Cal, Mg or Alk and rely on water changes to replace. We are 8 KH and 520 on Calcium.
My 2 cents. I'm sure the experts will chime in soon.
I test every 12- 14 days, but for newer set ups it would be better to do it weekly or more.
Don't dose for anything that you can't test for! We aren't dosing for Cal, Mg or Alk and rely on water changes to replace. We are 8 KH and 520 on Calcium.
My 2 cents. I'm sure the experts will chime in soon.
GlaringToast
New member
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
I JUST got my Reef master test kit, I'm so excited!!! (I'm retarded I know) I stopped dosing since the Great Calcium Winter of '09, those were sad times 2 weeks ago...
My tank is about 6 months old and I test my nitrates every 3-5 days. I test ammonia every other time roughly. I don't even bother with Nitrite anymore, I haven't seen a spec of nitrite since the first 3 weeks of my tank, I still get the slight curious tinge and test for it once in a tie dye moon.
And now that I have calcium, phosphate and carbonate hardness I can start testing for thems! YAY!
P.S. Reefrandy, I'm the guy that bought your 12 gallon flatback hex!
I JUST got my Reef master test kit, I'm so excited!!! (I'm retarded I know) I stopped dosing since the Great Calcium Winter of '09, those were sad times 2 weeks ago...
My tank is about 6 months old and I test my nitrates every 3-5 days. I test ammonia every other time roughly. I don't even bother with Nitrite anymore, I haven't seen a spec of nitrite since the first 3 weeks of my tank, I still get the slight curious tinge and test for it once in a tie dye moon.
And now that I have calcium, phosphate and carbonate hardness I can start testing for thems! YAY!
P.S. Reefrandy, I'm the guy that bought your 12 gallon flatback hex!
Last edited:
Garage1217
GET OFF MY LAWN
Just....
SG
Mg
Ca
Alk
SG
Mg
Ca
Alk
DjScibbity
BooYaah!!
SG - bi-weekly for water change
CA - every week or two
Alk - every week or two
CU (for the quarantine tank) - couple times/week when in use
Ammonia/Nitrates/Nitrites - Bi-weekly in Newer setups (QT/Hospital tank) - Monthly or less in established
-JP
CA - every week or two
Alk - every week or two
CU (for the quarantine tank) - couple times/week when in use
Ammonia/Nitrates/Nitrites - Bi-weekly in Newer setups (QT/Hospital tank) - Monthly or less in established
-JP
woodwrangler
New member
x2
Garage1217
GET OFF MY LAWN
Wow your busy! I have not changed water in 2 months & test every 2 weeks or so for the 4 items I listed to make sure things are still in check *LOL* And if you saw how amazingly healthy things are, you would probably hate my guts hahaha
dmorel
Can I borrow your towel
I'm one of those guys who doesn't break out a test kit very often (once every 3 months maybe), when I do it's nothing but Ca and Alk. I should probably get into testing Mg eh?
I do check SG of the tank a few times a week and monitor the output of my RODI with regularity.
The new tank has a controller that monitors PH, Temp & Orp (yeah ozone) so I guess I test those all the time now too
If I was dosing anything and not using a reactor it would probably be two part.
It seems to me (and remember I've never payed much mind to Mg, but suspect many would say it's just as important) that you can really tell if stuff like ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite's are out whack so I see no reason to test I can see it with my eyes and adjust as necessary. But Alk and Ca can drift really far before something goes screwy and then by the time you notice it's big trouble.
If you're dosing something you probably need to be testing regularly until you get the rhythm of your tank. Once you've done that I would think testing can be less of a routine occurrence.
I do check SG of the tank a few times a week and monitor the output of my RODI with regularity.
The new tank has a controller that monitors PH, Temp & Orp (yeah ozone) so I guess I test those all the time now too
If I was dosing anything and not using a reactor it would probably be two part.
It seems to me (and remember I've never payed much mind to Mg, but suspect many would say it's just as important) that you can really tell if stuff like ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite's are out whack so I see no reason to test I can see it with my eyes and adjust as necessary. But Alk and Ca can drift really far before something goes screwy and then by the time you notice it's big trouble.
If you're dosing something you probably need to be testing regularly until you get the rhythm of your tank. Once you've done that I would think testing can be less of a routine occurrence.
kirkaz
Jade
I'm the same, in my previous FO tank, I seriously think I went 3 years without testing anything. My Achilles Tang would let me know if the PH ever dipped under 8, regular water changes took care of the rest.
Having some corals in this tank, I do test SG in my change water....Alk, and Calcium maybe once a month.
Pyrrhus
New member
Alk several times a week (most important parameter with stonies IMO)
S.G. several times a week (I usually work with retail systems so sometimes we have to top off with saltwater)
Po4/No3: If I see excessive algae growth or colors are off
Ca and Mag: maybe once or twice a month, I use balanced supplementation and usually[\i] as long as alk is good these parameters stay in line.
Amm/no2: I only check these if there is something severely wrong or on a QT or new system when cycling.
S.G. several times a week (I usually work with retail systems so sometimes we have to top off with saltwater)
Po4/No3: If I see excessive algae growth or colors are off
Ca and Mag: maybe once or twice a month, I use balanced supplementation and usually[\i] as long as alk is good these parameters stay in line.
Amm/no2: I only check these if there is something severely wrong or on a QT or new system when cycling.
Che
New member
I test to make sure that gravity works and that water is still wet.
For the last three months I have neglected testing everything aside from sg for water changes. I have an aquacontroller with temp and pH, so I am always looking at that, but here is a list of things that I wish I were testing on at least a monthly basis.
Temp, SG, Mg, Ca, Alk, and to a lesser degree NH4, NO2, NO3, and PO4
For the last three months I have neglected testing everything aside from sg for water changes. I have an aquacontroller with temp and pH, so I am always looking at that, but here is a list of things that I wish I were testing on at least a monthly basis.
Temp, SG, Mg, Ca, Alk, and to a lesser degree NH4, NO2, NO3, and PO4
