help with testing

thehammer1985 · Mar 5, 2013

I am using the api kits and can barely distinguish the color in the ammonia , nitrate, and ph . Its making me feel color blind. The phosphate, hardness, calcium , and nitrite are easy to read . Are there any tests that are more accurate and easy to read. I'm not worried about money or the difficulty of the test . I just need to be able to re ad it better thank you in advance.

RichieT · Mar 5, 2013

I gave up on the API kits and went with salifert. I'm also hearing better things about Red Sea pro kits as well. Im happy with the salifert kits though. It drove me crazy as a lab guy, filling stuff up to a printed line on a test tube. Atleast the salifert kit give you a decent syringe to use

dlterry85 · Mar 5, 2013

the red sea pro kits rock!

Reefing Madness · Mar 5, 2013

Use all digital testing equipment if you can afford them
Digital Aquatics Testing Equipment for Saltwater Aquariums

thehammer1985 · Mar 5, 2013

I went to the lfs and got the new red sea pro kit and its amazing I love it. So much easier to read thanks guys. The api test I guess ill keep for a "general" check . And reefing I got the american marine pinpoit ph and salinity monitors but I needed something for my cycling process. I do love the digitals though.

Reefing Madness · Mar 5, 2013

You don't need anything for the cycling process. You don't need to test for anything for 4 weeks.

thehammer1985 · Mar 6, 2013

Reef I shouldn't be testing ammonia nitrates nitrites ph and salanity right now?

thehammer1985 · Mar 6, 2013

Oh I forgot to mention I'm 3 1/2 weeks in

Reefing Madness · Mar 6, 2013

Its useless in a cycling tank. No reason to check anything but the SG when you first set up the tank. Unless you use Fully Cured Live Rock, which would cycle in a matter of days, why would anyone care what the readings are? Its going to take 6 weeks.

thehammer1985 · Mar 6, 2013

Oh lol **** I forgot to add that I used 85 lbs cured live rock in dt and 5 lbs of cured lr rubble insump

Reefing Madness · Mar 6, 2013

Oh boy. then your tank should be cycled in less than a week. By all means, test my man.

mike007 · Mar 6, 2013

I will have to disagree i think that you need to test when setting up a new tank before adding anything. You don't want to go out and spend alot of money on expensive coral or fish to have them die. You need to know your water parameters before adding anything. If you use good live rock that has been cured it does not take long to cycle a tank. I use Redsea test kits myself and love them.

thehammer1985 · Mar 7, 2013

I did my test for today and got

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
Ph-8.2
Salinaty-1.0255
Phosphates- 0
Dkh- 3.62 meql
Calcium-400 ppm

I think things are good. Should I remove my raw shrimp and water chanfe now? And mike I test daily bc I am ocd with the tank.

thehammer1985 · Mar 7, 2013

Ps mike I just bought the red sea test kits and love them my api ones make me feel color blind but I test with both kits every day just using the api as a reference point to double check all of stats.

mike007 · Mar 7, 2013

I don't understand why people use raw shrimp to cycle. I just put in my live rock and when the water clears and test are good i slowly add things. I also have different brands of test kits to do comparison test. My advice that i have learned over the years is not to overfeed. Most problems i have seen with peoples tanks is caused by overfeeding. Its just to cool to watch them fish gulp done a bunch of food. They don't need to eat much and your tank will do well.

thehammer1985 · Mar 10, 2013

reefing thank you for the info man . and mike i added the raw shrimp because some people said damsels ( i fing it cruel) , some said to use ammonia ( i didnt like the thought of using chemicals in the tank), and some said a raw shrimp (which worked but it was a disgusting removal)