what to test
- Thread starter jamest0o0
- Start date
My 02
You don't need to test for phosphates - imo one of the most worthless test kits on the market.
If you keep softies then you don't need to test for calcium ... normal water changes will be just fine. As you start to add hard corals normal water changes should suffice for a while but as you add hard corals eventually the hard coral calcium/alk requirements will exceed what your providing in the water changes ... thats why you need calcium test kit (should have alk test kit even with non reef tank).
Hope this helps.
You don't need to test for phosphates - imo one of the most worthless test kits on the market.
If you keep softies then you don't need to test for calcium ... normal water changes will be just fine. As you start to add hard corals normal water changes should suffice for a while but as you add hard corals eventually the hard coral calcium/alk requirements will exceed what your providing in the water changes ... thats why you need calcium test kit (should have alk test kit even with non reef tank).
Hope this helps.
Blown 346
Active member
Phosphate is one of the leading causes to algae growth, it should be tested not only for that but for the water you use as well.
Calcium should also be tested even with softies, just because the salt mix you have will have calcium in it, it should also be tested. Calcium is a main part of the systems health.
Calcium should also be tested even with softies, just because the salt mix you have will have calcium in it, it should also be tested. Calcium is a main part of the systems health.
Phosphate test kits can only register inorganic phosphates which are quickly consumed/sequestered by algae and bacteria within the tank ... as such you can have a phosphate laden tank and your test kit won't show anything. The best use of a phosphate test kit is to determine the quality of the fresh water that your using to make SW.
Probably the best example of this is the zillion cyano posts on this forum where people have tested for phosphates and their test kits show zero. Cyano does not grow without phosphates.
As stated .. phosphate test kits are not needed - with limited exceptions a waste of money.
Cyano has been used to uptake nitrates in waste water mgt .. however they have learned that it does happen without the introduction of phosphates .. which are the limiting factor.
I recall there are a number of articles on this subject ... here's an old link with one of those articles .. might help
http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/66/1/133
For stony corals, I would recommend calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium, since those get consumed in making the skeleton. pH, temperature, and salinity are also important to test. A good salinity device, such as a refractometer or conductivity meter, is a good investment, in my opinion.
Phosphate tends to be fairly useless, in my opinion, but it can be helpful in troubleshooting stony coral problems, since phosphate can inhibit calcification. Likewise, nitrate can be useful for certain types of problems. You might want to wait to buy them until there's an issue. Nitrite testing is useless, in general. I haven't tested any of these parameters in my tanks for years.
An ammonia kit is good to have around for emergency situations. I always have one around.
Phosphate tends to be fairly useless, in my opinion, but it can be helpful in troubleshooting stony coral problems, since phosphate can inhibit calcification. Likewise, nitrate can be useful for certain types of problems. You might want to wait to buy them until there's an issue. Nitrite testing is useless, in general. I haven't tested any of these parameters in my tanks for years.
An ammonia kit is good to have around for emergency situations. I always have one around.
Aquarist007
New member
interesting article--thanks kevin
