Which water test kits do I need?

[dapel]

So then I decided to do my own water testing in the comfort of my own home instead of having to bring in baggies of water to the LFS for chemical testing. I went to another LFS today and I told him what my tank is for. He says for now all I need are water test kits for Ammonia and Nitrite, both kits total to about $32 + tax. The kits are good for up to 60 tests per box.

Are there any other tests that I should run while I'm at this subject?

TIA.

-Dan

 

[aquababy]

NO3, CA, ALK, MG, PH & PO4. There are kits for Iodine and Strontium that are very difficult to use and even more difficult to determine the results. I am assuming you are keeping a reef tank. Even if you are not it doesn't hurt to test.

 

[dapel]

aquababy thanks for the info. I'm preping for a mantis setup with a few snails and maybe some other fishes. I'm not sure about LR yet tho.

-Dan

 

[sbwood007]

What size is your tank? Mantis shrimp like to hide in rock. Just my 2 cents. Good luck

Stephen

 

[dapel]

sbwood007 - My tank is 40gal, so it's pretty big for just a mantis. I would love to lay out some LR all over the place but for the money they cost, I'm afraid the mantis will mess it all up. However I will use just the regular rocks to start out for the shrimp to make a new home.

-Dan

 

[sbwood007]

You can use base rock, then add a piece of live rock and it will seed the base rock. Its alot cheeper that way. Your mantis will be happy in that size tank....

Stephen

 

[dapel]

Ah, thanks for the tip. I'm going to add some tank mates and design a bunch of hiding spaces just in case the mantis feels like being a bully....