Ph monitor or test kit?

[Cacopepo]

I currently lack on checking up on this, I really have no clue what it is. I have a sort of mix reef( 24 gallons). Is it better and cheaper to just buy a test kit or some type of monitor? If monitor comes out to be the topic, you guys mind recommending some inexpensive ones and maybe one that has multiple functions that check ph, temp, salinity, whatever the case may be. Thanks

 

[Lasse]

Does the aquarium look well or do you have problems with it?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[vetteguy53081]

Test kit. Lower in cost and reveals any changes occurring

 

[Cacopepo]

Does the aquarium look well or do you have problems with it?

Sincerely Lasse

It looks well at the moment

 

[Lasse]

Salinity - a good refractometer and calibration fluid. a good tip is to suck up the calibration fluid (if it is delivered in a bottle) in some larger syringes - that way - there will be no risk for evaporation, hence change in salinity of the reference fluid.
A good temperature meter

If you have stony corals
Calcium - a good test - type salifert, red sea pro and others
KH (alkalinity) - a good test - type salifert, Red Sea pro and others
IMO - this is the most important at the moment

You can ad a Phosphate Hanna checker and a good NO3 test kit later on

But first of all - trust your own eyes and do not try to fix anything not broken

Sincerely Lasse

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I would go with a monitor/probe.

I probably wouldn't worry about pH though. It's relatively difficult to control in reef aquaria, and unless your pH is dangerously low (which is uncommon because of how seawater is buffered), there's not a huge benefit from controlling it.

 

[jda]

You only really need a refractometer, calcium and alk test kits. Salifert at cheap and accurate for calcium and alk.

I would not waste a brain thought nor penny on pH unless you are really looking to fine tune for something specific. Keep alk stable and don't worry about pH.

 

[Cacopepo]

Thanks everyone for the new knowledge, is never to late to learn new things