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

[codenfx]

Salinity, Nitrate, Alk, Phos, Mag, Cal

 

[OlafsReef]

Tests frequency is increased when making a change to a given parameter.

Monitoring:
Salinity: 2-3 x weekon AIO Nano 1x week on 100gal
Temp: Monitored via probe , double checked 1x week
PH: Monitored via probe

Major Tests:
ALK: 2-3x week
Phosphate: 1x week
Nitrate: 1x week
Calc: 1x month
Mag: Every other month

Cycling:
I'm old school, I mostly just toss in a slice of frozen shrimp, wait a month, and call it good.
Ammonia: When starting a new tank
Nitrate: Looking for spikes to trigger wc
Nitrite: Sometimes when starting a tank... generally not

 

[Cprivi]

This week at R2R we're going to be focusing on TESTING in a lot of different ways! I wanted to kick off Monday with a poll and question for you.

1. How many different types of aquarium water tests do you actually use? (not how many test kits you have but how many you use)

2. Please list the types of tests you ONLY actively test? (alk, cal, mag?)

image via @AbjectMaelstroM

PO3
PO4
Alk
Calc
Mg
Ammonia

 

[Reef Altitude]

pH
Ammonia Alert badge
Nitrate
Phosphate
Alk
Magnesium
Calcium

My tank is around 4 months old. We test weekly right now but plan to reduce testing to every other week and maybe drop the nutrient testing after a few more months if everything is still stable.

 

[Cprivi]

PO3
PO4
Alk
Calc
Mg
Ammonia

Forgot Salinity since Apex probe does that 7x24

 

[Koty]

Alk every other day (still tuning the dosing pumps)
NO3, PO4, Ca, Mg pH Salinity about once a week
K once every 2-3 weeks

 

[54Dutchman]

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

 

[G Santana]

Every Monday, I test so much that I have to wear a white lab coat when I go into the fish room.

Hanna
N03
P04
Alk
Cal

Salifert
Magnesium
Ph

Salinity Milwaukee

 

[Pyrat80]

Sal
Temp
pH
Alk
NO3
PO4
Cal
Mag

And I check Ammonia and Nitrite monthly.

 

[AVVITT]

I regularly use tests as follows:
Kh, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, nitrate

 

[sfin52]

Salinity, calcium,mag,alk. Once in a great while ph, phosphates and nitrates. Its been a good two years since i tested the last two. 180 and 0.25 respectfully using api.

 

[md2882]

Trident so: Alk, Ca, Mag
Hanna: Nitrate, Phosphate (weekly)
Copper in my QT with a Hanna.

 

[Ghostweim]

10 - if you count temp. I test every Sunday - salinity, ammonia, nitrate, alk, pH, phosphate, mag, Ca, and silicate. Use all Salifert except for the silicate one which is Seachem.

 

[Oldss72]

I routinely test nitrate, phosphate, mg, ph, calcium and alk. Nitrate and phosphate are every other test cycle. I try to test ec
Every 3 days - so nitrate and phosphate are every 6 days

 

[Tone002]

This week at R2R we're going to be focusing on TESTING in a lot of different ways! I wanted to kick off Monday with a poll and question for you.

1. How many different types of aquarium water tests do you actually use? (not how many test kits you have but how many you use)

2. Please list the types of tests you ONLY actively test? (alk, cal, mag?)

image via @AbjectMaelstroM

I test for Alkalinity, Phosphate, Salinity, Nitrate, Calcium, Magnesium every other week with individual test kits.

 

[Colleen McLain]

This week at R2R we're going to be focusing on TESTING in a lot of different ways! I wanted to kick off Monday with a poll and question for you.

1. How many different types of aquarium water tests do you actually use? (not how many test kits you have but how many you use)

2. Please list the types of tests you ONLY actively test? (alk, cal, mag?)

image via @AbjectMaelstroM

Basic ph, nitrates, nitrite, ammonia, salt, 1 other... dosing myself at HH. Lol

 

[b breef]

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

+1

 

[rtparty]

Alkalinity monthly...maybe. ICP every 4-6 weeks is my go to.

I monitor temp and pH 24/7 through Apex. No idea when I last tested PO4 or NO3. Year or so?

 

[ziggyjane07]

I only really physically test po4, no3, cal, alk
Seneye does the ph, temp and ammonia

 

[Dbichler]

Man everyone tests a lot. I rarely test anything anymore. Salinity for water changes and tds of my rodi. Nitrate and phosphate if algae shows up. I only do softies though so not much to worry about.