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

[Sharkbait19]

Never ask me for params…
I am the literal worst when it comes to remembering to test water….

 

[polyppal]

Nitrate (3-4 days) Red Sea (but now Hanna)
Phosphate (3-4 days) Hanna
Alk (weekly) Hanna

I wouldn’t even know how to use my Red Sea ph/nitrite/calcium tests

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I regularly test:
Salinity
Alkalinity
Calcium
Magnesium
Nitrate
Phosphate

 

[Obsessed with fish]

I only test saltinity, phosphates, nitrate and PH

 

[ss30]

Alk,Cal,Mag,No3,Po4 for me

 

[MaxTremors]

I test Alk 2-3 times a week and PO4, NO3, Mag, and Cal once a week (day before water change). I use Hanna for PO4 and NO3 and Salifert for everything else.

 

[TMC]

7
I test PH, alkalinity,calcium, phosphate, nitrates, salinity and magnesium every Saturday and PH and nitrates every Wednesday as well right now because my nitrates were up to almost 80 so added Ulva and working them down so I check the progress of that more often once stable will only test nitrates weekly with others

 

[Marks38]

Nitrate
Phosphate
DKH
Calcium
Magnesium
PH
Salinity
Temperature
Visual observations

My tank is new so after I dose something I check it a day later. I log findings and watch trends and can ALMOST predict what is suspect to go awry. Overall everything gets checked once a week. If I had a coral abundant tank again I would also include iodine. The tank has a long way to go but I keep trying to improve things. Trying to imagine the amount of stored nitrates and phosphates makes me wonder if these are a test too!

 

[homer1475]

I initially said 4 to 5, but after reading other posts, I wasn't thinking about PH, salinity, or temp. So all in all, were looking at 8.
Daily as these are probes and I can see a visual reading on my apex display
PH - Apex probe
Salinity - hanna conductivity meter
Temp - apex probe

And these I test twice a week. On wednesday, and sunday.
ALK - Hanna
CAL - salifert
MAG - Salifert
Phosphates - Hanna ULR
Nitrates - Hanna HR

 

[ShadowMan]

Currently run around 6-8 tests (at least) weekly, sometimes bi-weekly:
Salinity
pH (API) reference check for the Seneye
Calcium (API)
Nitrate (API)
Alkalinity (Hanna)
Phosphate (Hanna)
Magnesium (RedSea)

Got some frags, so the parameter requirements/uptake is still quite fluid.

Also I don't know about others out there, but being colour blind is a real issue for running some of these tests... probably why I've stuck with API for some of them. The slight colour change from pink->purple->blue is just too similar for my poor eyes. I rely on my daughter and wife for confirmation

 

[Cprivi]

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

I use two temperature probes on my Apex plus a Bayite temperature controller which has its own probe. One of the Apex probes failed recently and it caused erratic Salinity readings too. I removed both Apex probes during the diagnostic phase and relied only on Bayite to control my heaters. So 3 temperature probes were just enough in my case.

 

[vlangel]

I have a temperature probe and probably look at it daily. I test salinity weekly when I do a 5% water change. Other than those, I only test nitrates and phosphates if the tank appears off.

 

[i cant think]

I’m finally starting to get into a routine of testing every 2-3 days (The cons to having a Deresa clam juvenile in a nano). What I test altogether are:
Calcium
Magnesium
Alkalinity
Phosphate
Salinity
Nitrate
Ammonia
PH
Temperature
The only one I don’t regularly test is Ammonia as I will normally test that if nitrates are on the rise.

 

[DesktopReefer]

The joys of a Pico. I really don’t need to be testing anything but temp and salinity since I replace almost the entire body of water weekly. I’m running some tests right now so I’m regularly checking nitrate and phosphate at the moment.

 

[TheBiochemist]

Ad 1) I own tests to measure 10 different parameters (salinity, alkalinity, pH, temperature, K, NO3, PO4, ammonia, Ca and Mg). But some of them I dont measure too often (amonnia only in case of something weird is hapenning, K like once per month).
Ad 2) I regularly measure Alk, NO3 and PO4 (twice per week) and Ca and Mg (once per week). Temp and pH are measured continuously by ApexEL. I also submit samples for ICP-MS once per 2 or 3 months.

Interesting thread btw.

 

[Runningfanatic]

I regularly test pH, alk, nitrate, phosphate, and calcium. I have a magnesium kit, but hate doing that one for some reason, so don't do that very often.

 

[Timfish]

I use alkalinity probably 20X more often than calcium,pH or magnesium, PO4 or nitrate.

 

[OR20]

10 tests done every Sunday after lunch (14,00)
Salinity (Milwakee digital refractometer and GHL conductivity probe)
Temp (Bosch IR gun, GHL temp probe)
pH (Salifert Test kit and GHL probe)
Alk (GHL auto tester tests 4x per day and Hanna checker)
Ca (Red Sea test)
Mg (Red sea test)
I2 (Giesemann test)
K (Salifert test)
NO3 (Salifert test and Hanna checker, Salifert test used during the week)
P (Hanna checker converts to PO4 by PO¤=Px3,066/1000)

ICP performed quarterly by Fauna Marin and when needed bacteria test by Aquabiomics. I stopped doing Sr tests due to difficulty in getting accurate testresults (Salifert). If it was possible to get a accurate and easy hobby test I would test Sr and Fe on a weekly basis

 

[adyinsta]

Only Mg, Alk and Ca in regular basis, for Ph I have a monitor.
NO3 and PO4 only eventually in case I see something irregular (not tested in lost a year...)

 

[rusgum]

Salinity, KH, Phosphate