ChiTown81
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I’ve taken the plunge in starting a saltwater tank. Right now I’m cycling my 40 gallon tank, but I’m not sure what tests I need to do weekly and other saltwater terminology ( dosing, cycling).
Peace River
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Welcome to Reef2Reef!!! Here is a great place to start!
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The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium
The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...
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Fish Think Pink
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Welcome!
Glad you joined. Good info in post #2.
Once you're done cycling, nitrates will be your most tested. I've been using the API nitrate test because it's easy but its hard to judge one shade of yellow from another shade of yellow. People are going to jump on me for saying API as their tests aren't most accurate. Hanna *just* launched a high range nitrate checker ("high" starts at 4... so their low never was an option for most) and later this month its rumored to be available on Bulk Reef Supply so its my next tank purchase.
During cycling, test your ammonia to watch it come down and then you'll know your cycling is done. Mini cycles happen whenever you add something new/more to your tank. I do check ammonia on my little 5g Petco quarantine (QT) tank whenever I have that setup in use (otherwise it lives under or beside my desk).
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JAC-
Active Member
Welcome friend not trying to disagree with our friend @Fish Think Pink but, you will definitely want to consider alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium if you plan on keeping corals. You'll need something to check salinity no mater what. I recomend anything other than API as soon as the budget allows.
Fish Think Pink
5000 Club Member
@JAC- is right, if your saltwater setup is going to have corals then you'll also be testing other things... Some days I feel more like a chemist than a reef keeper LOL
Once you are testing, also recommend a notebook or spreadsheet or some way of logging your results... but all this and more starts in post #2 info and just grow from there, depending what you want to keep in your saltwater tank.
Glad you joined!
