Poll time.

[slipknotgrrl83]

Just out of curiosity, how often does everyone test and what do you test for? Just trying to get an idea, I test Sg every day. 1x a week for ph, nitrate, nitrite and Ammonia. Ca alk and mg usually 1x every 1.5 to 2 weeks unless issues arise.

 

[jason2459]

I look at my tank everyday. It's my most reliable test.

 

[beaslbob]

Woopsies I misread. Thought this was pole time.

 

[Alfrareef]

When something strange happens (have some corals that are always the first to complain) I test PO4, KH, Ca, Mg and NO3. Salinity every WC.
When I'm doing changes I test every week until stabilizes.
Never tested PH!

 

[Robink]

I test alk everyday at same time. Weekly before water change I test calc, mag, nitrate, sg.
I also have a few corals that indicate if something's off.
Also never tested ph as I couldn't tell the difference between the colors on the card. Now have a seneye so I have it if I need it.

 

[Elementalj]

I scan the pH and temp everyday, alkalinity and salinity every other, and everybody else on Sunday at 9pm, then use an app to record my readings. As with anything in this hobby, consistency is vital to overall success. That way you can actually see things change and make proper adjustments. Observation of the organisms is important, however tolerances between them will vary so I wouldn't advise going on that alone.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Woopsies I misread. Thought this was pole time.

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Hahah

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I rarely tested anything except salinity and temperature in the last 10 years of running my system. But that is after many years of operating the tank and knowing the procedures I used worked fine.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Daily:
Watch and observe the tank (best way to know if something is off track)

Weekly:
Alkalinity and Salinity
When corals loose a bit of vibrance, I also test nitrate and phosphate weekly. Otherwise I don't.

Monthly +:
Calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and nitrate.

Using Red Sea test kits (pro for those available)

 

[slipknotgrrl83]

Thanks to everyone who replied. Sounds like everyone has their own way that works

 

[p7willm]

It depends on what I am doing and how things are going.

Nitrates and phosphates are pretty constant at low levels in my tank so I just test weekly to be sure nothing is going on. If I were to get an unusual result I would test more frequently until it settled back down.

I have a salinity probe so salt is measured constantly. I do daily automatic water changes so I test the tank and new water, with a refractometer, when I mix up a new batch of water.

I am currently changing from kalk to 2 part so I am testing Ca and Mg daily while I dial in how much to add. After it settles down I plan to test weekly to see that everything is going OK.

 

[JimWelsh]

I test alkalinity every 10 minutes.

 

[Paul B]

I almost never test anything. Occasionally I will test salinity and only test for anything else if someone asks me a question about it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I almost never test anything. Occasionally I will test salinity and only test for anything else if someone asks me a question about it.

Hey Paul, what the level of octadecylsulfonium astentate in your tank?

 

[Paul B]

That's easy, it's the same as my levels of Hastelloy C, but not as high as my levels of nibral, admiralty brass or Coca Cola.
I only tested for those things because it came up in casual conversation at my Grand Daughters pre school class.

 

[Brew12]

My tank is very new and I have already found out a few things about testing.
Apex is great for tracking Temp and pH. Two less things to worry about.
Testing for Ammonia and Nitrite is worthless once your tank has cycled.
Algae eat PO4 and NO4 faster than test kits will read it. I'll start testing again if I ever get through my ugly phase.
I am testing calcium and alk every 2 or 3 days, but only because I just added my first significant amount of coral 2 weeks ago.
Kicking myself because I keep forgetting to pick up a Mg test kit. :mad:

 

[sil40sx]

Im also testing Alk and Calcium 2-3 times a week, only because I'm in the process of making adjustments. Prior to that, I only test the salinity of the new saltwater mix for WC.

 

[AdamNC]

Alk and Ca every 4 days. Mg, No3, Po4, I, Fe , I2 and SG weekly. Ph and temp is constantly monitored via an Apex. All tests done using Red Sea. I quit testing Nitrite and Ammonia long ago.

 

[scardall]

I watch the tank and spot check alk,PO4 and CA. I constantly monitor PH and Conductivity(Salinity) Check mag. when needed or once every 3-4 months ish.