Is all that testing really necessary?

[reefwiser]

It depends on what you want out of a tank. For some people a reef is just something to look at. For others the find enjoyment in learning how the biology of the corals work. If you want just a nice display test once a month to make sure you are with in the limits.
If you enjoy the challenge of SPS then you need to test alk daily or every other day. As this test will show you what the corals are actually doing. If during the coarse of testing you are continually having to dose more then your corals are growing. Alk uptake can also tell you is you have the correct flow in your reef tank. With the proper flow across a coral the water barrier at the corals skin level is less and the corals uptake more elements so you will also see and increase in dosing levels.
Testing lets you control the tank not the tank control you. I see soooooo many tanks where algae issues and other problems are caused by the tank getting out of control of the tank owner. Each tank has its own environment and things can go south fast if you don't understand YOUR tanks needs.

 

[luke33]

I use to check every other week but my sps just didn't seem to color up as well when doing so due to swings in alk or calc, sg. Now I test twice a week and seem to stay on top of things better, and my sticks color up much better. As far as testing goes, my regiment is just alk, calc, sg and tds. I really don't test for anything else. I mean, I have thousands invested in my tank so I may as well spend 5-10min a week making sure its in the correct parameters. But its totally up to everyone to find their happy place with testing, there is no correct/incorrect way.

 

[sk8elenex92]

Check ALK Twice a week on my SPS tank. On my old softie tank I never tested and everything grew like weeds.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Test based on stocking. If you have alot of coral testing mg, ca, and alk alot is a must. You can afford to not test as much if the consumption rate is low or you have a larger tank.

 

[A Toadstool Leather]

Btw check salinity often in a smaller tank

 

[Bob Escher]

I'm very strict on water changes every week at least 15 - 20 %. Testing a little less. Ph, alk and nitrates two to three times a month. Everything else twice a month of course salinity is every week with water change

 

[Rick.45cal]

As soon as someone comes up with an automated NO3 and PO4 test, I won't test anything anymore. The KHG does my alkalinity every 4 hours. Ca, Mg and salinity I test maybe once every 6.25 weeks when I am matching my new batch of seawater for the automatic water change reservoir.

When a tank is young, the ecosystem is a like an infant, it needs a lot of attention. As a tank matures, trends become more apparent, there are less swings in certain parameters and you can get more relaxed about testing.

It's very easy to allow a reef tank to consume your life. Especially in the beginning. At a certain point you have to be able to step away from it and enjoy it, regardless of what is happening inside of it, or what is going to happen inside of it.

 

[Scorpius]

I test alkalinty, calcium, magnesium, potassium, strontium, ph, nitrate, phosphate, iodine rarely, salinity. If there's a test kit out there I'll have it sooner or later, but I have Acropora and I like to know what my levels are.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I test all pramameters every weekend and KH twice a week. Adjust as needed.

Testing keeps you in touch with your tank and keeps you informed in what your corals are doing.

Also keeps "LARS" away. Lol

 

[Flippers4pups]

 

[ReefReady9]

I probably test about once a month unless something looks unhappy in the tank. I don't keep much SPS though, so I think my tank is more forgiving

 

[Wh00pS32]

For the last 2 years the only testing i've done is salinity once a week.
I only keep a 55l nano stocked with easy LPS such as acans, duncans etc and a few ricordia.
I do 15% water changes twice a week and hoover my sand bed twice as well and the tank just looks after itself.
I do not advise others to take this route it's just what works for me.