Testing water parameters... before/after water changes , or both?

[fishbox]

What's the general rule of thought? I'd add a poll but can't figure out how through the Android App [emoji3]

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

Salinity and pH before on both. After if you dosing and need to get your levels correct. I only test after if there is an issue with the tank.

 

[fishbox]

I'm not dosing yet but I'm anticipating it soon. Right now I'm testing salinity, ph, phosphate, alk, ammonia, trates.

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

No Cal or mag calcium alk is probably more important.

 

[fishbox]

I just recently started adding coral to the tank. Ca and Mg tests are on my next to buy list. So would You do phos after too?

 

[PatW]

Depends on the mix and if your DT is running an Alkalinity much different than your change water. I would measure after for ALK. Measuring ALK before and after for the first changes is a good idea until you settle on how the change affects ALK. ALK is the parameter I watch the closest. I want to keep it in a narrow band. I know pretty much how the other parameters move. I also measure salinity. It is so quick and easy so why not?

 

[Maacc]

I do everything before, I figure if it's ok before the water change, should be better after.

 

[fishbox]

I do everything before, I figure if it's ok before the water change, should be better after.

That's been my thought up to this point. However, I'm glad I asked because I now see the reasoning behind doing some things after if dosing.

 

[hecterma]

I used to do it before and after a water change to see if there was any substantial fluctuations in my parameters. Now I check parameters only after a water change to make sure everything is stable. What type of corals are you starting with?

 

[Maacc]

That's been my thought up to this point. However, I'm glad I asked because I now see the reasoning behind doing some things after if dosing.

I check alk daily, other parameters before the change. I haven't had anything else out of whack when my alk was stable.

 

[fishbox]

I used to do it before and after a water change to see if there was any substantial fluctuations in my parameters. Now I check parameters only after a water change to make sure everything is stable. What type of corals are you starting with?

Just some softies and lps to start but wanna eventually get into sps at some point

 

[Homebrwr]

Check the difference between the newly mixed salt water and what the levels are in your display. this will give you an idea of what the possible changes may be dependent on volume.. my 2cents

 

[fishbox]

Check the difference between the newly mixed salt water and what the levels are in your display. this will give you an idea of what the possible changes may be dependent on volume.. my 2cents

Can you please give an example

 

[1stNoel]

Check salinity & KH before, continue checking KH after.

I had an KH spike during my first water change that killed some of my SPS. I tested KH before, then after, and it checked out fine.

I continued dosing my tank's daily amount of KH. However, for some unknown reason, my tank stopped uptaking ALK and it caused a huge spike.

If you want to keep SPS, closely monitor that KH level.