Most Important Test Kits?

Quantum_Reefer · Apr 14, 2020

All my test kits are slowly creeping up on their expiration date. And I'm picky when it comes to things expiring lol. I know I will need to replace them all but don't have the money to buy them all at once. My question is which test kit is the most important to have? A list from most important to least important to have right off the bat.

Thx!

cvrle1 · Apr 14, 2020

Open ended question with many different answers without more info. How old is your tank, fish only or reef, what do you currently test for, and so on....

vetteguy53081 · Apr 14, 2020

Nitrate and ammonia. (Mag, alk and CA if you are doing coral and other live inverts)

Quantum_Reefer · Apr 14, 2020

cvrle1 said:
Open ended question with many different answers without more info. How old is your tank, fish only or reef, what do you currently test for, and so on....

Tank has been running since Novemeber. Already got lots of corals and a few fish in it. Usually test Alk

BeejReef · Apr 14, 2020

They're all kinda important.. lol.

I'd be more willing to push the expiration envelope on magnesium... maybe calcium.
If your tank is a year old or better and you have no big changes planned, you might not bother with ammonia... certainly not nitrite.

Alk, nitrate, phosphate are the ones I do most often.

If you have been using Red Sea, look into the refills. They're a fair bit cheaper than a full new kit.

ReefGeezer · Apr 14, 2020

For a mature tank: Alk; TDS; and Salinity. Ca; Mg; and Ultra Low Range Phosphate are also necessary every once in a while to verify things are remaining stable.

For a tank that is maturing, all the above, used more often, plus: Nitrate.

For a new tank, all above plus: Ammonia; and Nitrite.
It won't be long before the ammonia and nitrite kits are unnecessary, and they really don't need great resolution, so I wouldn't spend a lot of money on them.

I wouldn't waste money on pH unless you have a need like dialing in a calcium reactor.