How important is testing?

[Saaqib_Ansari]

Say you have a few coral maybe 10 and about 15 fish. How important is it to test your water parameters I was under the impression if you’re tank is mainly fish based testing for alkalinity, mag, cal, phosphates etc isn’t really needed.
I know il probably be told to do more research etc if I’m serious about this hobby, but I only test nitrates and ammonia rarely,

is this a accident waiting to happen?

 

[Cell]

If you are doing regular water changes and have only a few coral, assuming frags, I wouldn't test alk/calc/mag unless my corals were struggling and I needed to diagnose the issue. I'd never test ammonia. I'd test nitrate long enough to get a handle on the load between water changes, but eventually would stop testing that too sans symptoms.

 

[WIReefer]

I’m sure you will get many answers on this but I would suggest testing the main parameters. Also depending on kind of corals in tank.

 

[Webslinger]

I think I test about 3 years ago. (except salinity/temp). Your corals will tell you if something is off. If you're a noob you'll need to test till your comfortable. If you do 10% weekly water changes testing is really not needed once tank is established.

Don't go chasing numbers

 

[New&no clue]

What type of corals do you have (Softy, LPS, SPS) and how large (Frags or Colonies)? Also how often do you do a water change, what percentage, and how many gallons is your tank?

Obviously yes you need to test your water... eventually. if you have small frags in a giant tank then while it is good to test, it's probably not critical that you test right away. If you have large colonies in a small tank (although with 15 fish I'm assuming it's not that small) then yes you should definitely be testing.

 

[Cell]

A lot of this will depend on how good a feel you have for your tank. Some people have crazy stable tanks and don't ever test unless they have a visual cue that tells them something might be off. Some people test religiously and pour over every tenth and hundredth variable on their excel sheet weekly. Personally, I work in a lab for a living so when I get done with work, rarely do I feel like breaking out the pipettes again for some rousing nightly titrations.

 

[Saaqib_Ansari]

If you are doing regular water changes and have only a few coral, assuming frags, I wouldn't test alk/calc/mag unless my corals were struggling and I needed to diagnose the issue. I'd never test ammonia. I'd test nitrate long enough to get a handle on the load between water changes, but eventually would stop testing that too sans symptoms.

I do a water change every 2 weeks maybe around 50 litres. I’ve done so many things wrong with the tank, with salinity and temperature but the coral seem to be okay some how feel so bad about it

 

[Cell]

This hobby is a learning process and can be punishing at times. Learn from mistakes and move on, no use dwelling, there will be more in your future.

 

[nereefpat]

If you do 10% weekly water changes testing is really not needed once tank is established.

Many reef tanks consume more alk and Ca than can be replaced by weekly 10% water changes.

If you mean that once you have your dosing schedule figured out that you don't need to test often, then I agree.

 

[Saaqib_Ansari]

What type of corals do you have (Softy, LPS, SPS) and how large (Frags or Colonies)? Also how often do you do a water change, what percentage, and how many gallons is your tank?

Obviously yes you need to test your water... eventually. if you have small frags in a giant tank then while it is good to test, it's probably not critical that you test right away. If you have large colonies in a small tank (although with 15 fish I'm assuming it's not that small) then yes you should definitely be testing.

I have a mix of everything few SPS few LPS and some softies, all are smalllllllll frags most have shown growth mainly the euphilia and toadstool.
it’s a 700L tank and I do 50L water changes every 1 or 2 weeks.

 

[Saaqib_Ansari]

A lot of this will depend on how good a feel you have for your tank. Some people have crazy stable tanks and don't ever test unless they have a visual cue that tells them something might be off. Some people test religiously and pour over every tenth and hundredth variable on their excel sheet weekly. Personally, I work in a lab for a living so when I get done with work, rarely do I feel like breaking out the pipettes again for some rousing nightly titrations.

I think as I’ve picked fish that are hardy and coral that are usually for beginners and that are more forgiving they are coping well in my tank. By the time I get off work lights are off and I barely see anything. Just go off what my parents tell me they saw

 

[Cell]

I kind of read the original post too fast and thought you had just a few coral but you said 10 right after which is definitely more than a few.

 

[Saaqib_Ansari]

I kind of read the original post too fast and thought you had just a few coral but you said 10 right after which is definitely more than a few.

Lol erm I thought that was a few and I’ve underestimated what’s in my tank but all are very small frags. I have around 6 different zoas Maybe 1/2 heads. 2 hammer head corals 2 torch 1 frogspawn 3 mushrooms 3 motipora maybe 1cm big, pulsing zenia, toadstool GSP and a Bubble tip anemone. Writing it all out, I do have more than a few

 

[snowhite]

I have a mix of everything few SPS few LPS and some softies, all are smalllllllll frags most have shown growth mainly the euphilia and toadstool.

Keep in mind... a mixed reef is THE toughest arrangement to keep everyone in it happy, because no one is entirely happy, because they all want varying different specific things to be happiest.

 

[Duncan Tse]

IMO testing is a must if you're planning to keep corals. Weekly water changes will definitely not be able to sustain your parameters once those sps grows out

I would get into the habit of testing now.

 

[Miszka]

In my opinion, it is best to test the water just before the water change. You can then make a correction in dosing for the next week.

 

[Billldg]

Salt water tanks are constantly changing. They may seem to settle down and use the same Alk and Cal for a month, and for no reason they start to consume more or less. In reality, it isn't for no reason. Its when we become complacent is when bad things happen. The came goes for N03 and P04. I say to just get into a rhythm of testing weekly at least, then after a week or 2 it will seem like no big deal as it is part of your daily routine.

We are all guilty of becoming complacent, and have usually payed the price as a result.