How often do you test your water?

[homer1475]

The more a tank matures, the more you can slack off on testing. Even with SPS I have my dosing pretty dialed in, so testing unless something looks off, is not something I do very often.

I tested more when this tank was newer, then I do now.

 

[Daveph68]

I run an APEX Trident so get daily testing for the major three, (Alk, Ca, Mg)

 

[Paul B]

I tested mine a few weeks ago, the next time before that I think Ford was President and the time before that Nixon was President then Kennedy. So not really very often.

 

[vlangel]

I test the salinity (with a swing arm hydrometer) when I do my weekly water change. Other than that, I don't test anything else because my weekly water change keeps all the parameters pretty much in balance.

 

[AKL1950]

Trident tests daily and I do backup test weekly. If trident shows a unexpected fluctuation, I test that item manually to see if there is truly a swing.

 

[homer1475]

With all the threads about the trident being off, I would never trust it over manual testing. And I would certainly never allow it to dose my tank based on it's readings.

 

[Dburr1014]

I try and test alk every week.
The others, maybe 1 or 2 times a month.

 

[polywise]

OLD SCHOOL-ish

2x / wk
PH - hand held tester
SG - glass hydrometer '88
KH- salifert test
TEMP-IR tester to compare vs temp probe


Jim C.

 

[Homey D. Clownfish]

Funny, I picked up some Hanna checkers to make it a little easier and convenient to test, but I still find I only do it if something looks out of whack.

 

[BaliReefBox]

i tested daily when the tank was new and cycling, lasted about 5 days due to the excellant live rock i had... then weekly for a few months, then daily to establish mineral usage, started dosing and continue daily for a month or so now back to weekly..

 

[A Young Reefer]

The more a tank matures, the more you can slack off on testing. Even with SPS I have my dosing pretty dialed in, so testing unless something looks off, is not something I do very often.

I tested more when this tank was newer, then I do now.

+10 to this it’s what I do, you develop a 6th sense as the tank matures and you can “read” your corals.

 

[BaliReefBox]

I tested mine a few weeks ago, the next time before that I think Ford was President and the time before that Nixon was President then Kennedy. So not really very often.

lol i think your test kits might be a tad out of date

 

[flyingscampi]

I test Salinity, KH, PO4, & NO3 weekly (all Hanna). I test Ca & Mg (Salifert) bi-weekly.

I have a small tank (15 gallon) and I need to keep an eye on nutrients which can rise pretty quickly.

 

[Floyd-]

I normally only test when there is an issue or when im trying to dial in dosing.

 

[besskurz]

OLD SCHOOL-ish

2x / wk
PH - hand held tester
SG - glass hydrometer '88
KH- salifert test
TEMP-IR tester to compare vs temp probe


Jim C.

Do you meant those IR gun style temperature meters?

 

[AydenLincoln]

Funny, I picked up some Hanna checkers to make it a little easier and convenient to test, but I still find I only do it if something looks out of whack.

I had Hanna Checkers which I sold because I found them to be a pain. The powder spills easily/is hard to get all in a small vial and it takes awhile to get the reading.

 

[Paul B]

lol i think your test kits might be a tad out of date

You think! They came in a wooden box.

I am slightly old school. I take my swing arm hydrometer to the tropics whenever I go there, jump in the water with it and draw a line on it where the arm floats. I am still using it.

 

[The_Skrimp]

Daily or every other day: alkalinity, calcium, salinity, and temp

Weekly: nitrates, phosphates, magnesium, ph

Less often: iodine, potassium

 

[tigre44]

Hi. I’m fairly new to reefing. Have had a SW tank for about 11-12 months.
I do weekly water changes. I have always wondered when is the best time to check your parameters (salinity, nitrate, phos. Alk, Ca, Mg) with regard to when water changes are done? What are your thoughts?

I test the day or two after a water change

 

[JZ199]

I'm on the same page as you. If everything looks happy and healthy I don't really test, I test my salinity during water changes, and before I start to acclimate any new editions. All other parameters I only check if I'm seeing a change in my tank (such as when I was just battling GHA, I checked every single parameter under the sun lol)