What To Test For..

[charlie h]

Been testing my tank today, i've tested for nitrate, phoshphate calcium, carbenate harness, ph, copper and salinity......
What other parameters should i be cheaking for on a regular basis.
I have a variaty of fish, mushrooms, todstools, button polypos, xenia, pulse corals, plate corals, Leather coral, clams... Sorry about the localised naming but unfamilular with full names....

 

[spleify]

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[charlie h]

WHAT YOU MEAN

 

[charlie h]

SHOULD I TEST FOR EVERY THING ON THE LIST OR ARE SOME REALY NOT THAT IMPORTANT COMPARED TO OTHERS

 

[mbbuna]

IMO the tests that are most important (after the obvious temp and salinity) would be, calcium, alkalinity and magnesium.

if your setting up a new aquarium then you are also going to want to test and track your nitrogen cycle with ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests, but once your cycle is done and if you aquarium is set up properly you shouldn't need to test for ammonia or nitrite.

also IMO i think testing for PH is over stressed. when your first setting up a new tank i think its a good idea to test for PH but after you get in the habit of good husbandry and maintaining a stable relationship between Ca, Alk and Mg you will find that PH will go where it wants but never go above or below into the danger zones. i haven't tested for PH in about 2 years but i know its somewhere between 7.8 & 8.4

testing for phosphate or iodine with hobby type titration test kits is a waist of money IMO, they just dont have the resolution to pick up these low levels.