Reef Aquarium Testing: Are you really using all those tests?

[WVNed]

Alk, Ca, Mg, No3, Po4, pH, ORP

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Alk, Cal, Mg, po4 and no3. The usuals, the rest is the eye test. I only grow softies and zoas @ this point.

 

[The Farmer]

Salinity
Alk
Calc
Mag
Temp
Nitrate
Phosphate
Ph
Twice a week.
I choose to do all of the above, it helps me keep a base line of my data. Just in case I notice something off I can fall back on the data that I have

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

7/8. Or at least, that's when I remember to test.

 

[FiddlersReef]

Salinity, Calcium, Alk, Nitrate, Phosphate, pH, Magnesium - all once a week at the same time, give or take an hour. Temp whenever I open the cabinet door, so multiple times a day.

Unless by "actively test" you mean probes plugged in to a controller and constantly monitoring... then zero other than Temp I suppose.

 

[bnord]

2-3X week - Alk
1 week - calcium Salinity pH temp
1-2 month - mag Nitrate Phosphate
1-2 year - ICP
Daily - hey, how you guys doin' today?

 

[MinnieMouse2]

no3 daily, po4 daily, alk few times a week, cal once a week, mag every once in awhile, salinity twice a day. I test because I let my nutrients bottom out and got dinos. Now I try to keep a sweet spot of low phos and 5ppm nitrates. I do small water changes daily.

 

[Dburr1014]

How do you "test" temperature?
It can be measured, but, tested?
Anyway, my Apex does ph and temp so I don't have to.
SG, alk, cal, no3, po4 and mag

 

[Joe Grubbs]

I run the Reef Kinetics Bot: test Alk, Ca, NO3, PO4, Mg (2x/mo), pH (2x/mo to cross check Apex pH probes)
Hanna: 2x/mo to cross check Alk and PO4
Milwaukee MA887 Digital Refractometer to cross check APEX salinity monitor multiple Xs per month
Temp: APEX, Digital Heater/Chiller, and hand held salnity-temp to confirm temps continue tracking together.
ICP mail in test every qtr to validate local testing, test for what I don't, and adjust micro-dosing (RedSea-based on Alk usage).

These tools help a great deal as my glasses get thicker with age and subtle color change is lost.

 

[SaltwaterandLime]

I moniter salinity and temp
Test pH, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and nitrate

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Actively using:
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium

Potential issue tests:
Ph
Ammonia
Phosphate

 

[David S]

I test for ALK twice weekly.
Ca, Mg, K, I, and No3 every one to two weeks.
Po4 every month.
Salinity every water change with hydrometer and/or refractometer.

 

[SimonHP]

5 Tests

Alk, Calc, Mg, PO4, NO3.

This and salinity

 

[scardall]

If monitors count I use 3 regularly . Monitor PH and Salinity 24/7 and presently testing alk 3-6 times a week. on Rare occasion I will Test phosphate and Nitrates and even less Calcium and Magnesium.

 

[scottj6]

ph, no3, po4, alk, cal, mag, salinity

 

[DrugMonkeyRX]

Trident tests for ALK,CA,MAG

I usually test nitrates and phosphates weekly

Plus ICP Test every 2 months

 

[spd3001]

I test Alk, Phosphorous (ULR), NO3 (LR) and Calcium using Hanna colorimeters. Mg with the NYOS titrate test kit. Salinity and pH using Hanna instruments. I also have a Seneye system watching Temperature, Ammonia and pH.

 

[waterskiguy]

I USE 4 tests on my tank on a regular basis. I test Alkalinity (Hanna) weekly and nitrate (Salifert) and phosphate (Hanna ULR) every few days. I also send in an icp every month or two for minor and trace plus Magnesium. Basically, I test everything in the duration of time parameters could have potential swings. I also change my testing schedule when starting new tanks due to the inherent instability.

 

[Helter Skilter]

Salinity, alk, ca, and mg are all I test weekly. Anything else would require a problem to dig further into.

 

[ceaver]

1. 7.
2. ph, no3, po4, alk, cal, mag, salinity.

Same