Testing

[Big_Mclargehuge]

I recently added my first corals to my tank. GSP and some zoas. What should I be testing on top of nitrates, ammonia, ph. Also what test kits would you recommend and any tips on coral food etc... Thanks!

 

[Bryn]

What you have in the tank is not going to be a large burden on parameters such as Alk, Ca, or Mg, but you still need to get them in the right number range for when you are consuming Alk, Ca, and Mg. Also if these parameters are in the right range, you will get growth of Coraline Algae, indicating your tank is maturing. Don't worry about pH, that is not a number worth worrying about right now, also with a cycled tank, ammonia should read zero or very close, and does not need to be tested.

Everyone has a preferred test kit, some liking one test of one company for one parameter, and another tesat kit for something else. I'm used to Hanna tester for Alk, and Redsea for Ca.

 

[Daniel92481]

+1^ I use Hanna for salinity, ALK, and phosphates, Red Sea for calcium, Salifert for nitrates, and Aquaforest for magnesium. These work for me, but it seems like it’s personal preference on which colors are easier to see when testing.

 

[Hydrored]

Right now just figure out how to get your parameters stable as possible once you get your test kits. Add some coraline and wait for it to grow. I recommend spending the money up front on Hannah for salinity, ulr poshates, and alk. I like Red Sea for nitrates

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I recently added my first corals to my tank. GSP and some zoas. What should I be testing on top of nitrates, ammonia, ph. Also what test kits would you recommend and any tips on coral food etc... Thanks!

Check out Milwaukee ma887 for salinity little expensive but I can’t look threw that site glass for refractor no more I’m getting old and my eyes are, then Hanna for alk and definitly phosphates , Red Sea for nitrates. I will point out when new to the hobby all this stuff seems expensive but you will find that for how much you will use it in the future they are well worth it

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

What you have in the tank is not going to be a large burden on parameters such as Alk, Ca, or Mg, but you still need to get them in the right number range for when you are consuming Alk, Ca, and Mg. Also if these parameters are in the right range, you will get growth of Coraline Algae, indicating your tank is maturing. Don't worry about pH, that is not a number worth worrying about right now, also with a cycled tank, ammonia should read zero or very close, and does not need to be tested.

Everyone has a preferred test kit, some liking one test of one company for one parameter, and another tesat kit for something else. I'm used to Hanna tester for Alk, and Redsea for Ca.

Thanks. I like the Hanna ones just because of the ease of them. So I may slowly purchase one for each.

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

Right now just figure out how to get your parameters stable as possible once you get your test kits. Add some coraline and wait for it to grow. I recommend spending the money up front on Hannah for salinity, ulr poshates, and alk. I like Red Sea for nitrates

I really like the Hanna testers so I may get some of those. Thanks!

 

[PatW]

Hanna is very good for ALK. Hanna ULR phosphate or phosphorous is very good. Their calcium is not so great because they dilute the sample hurting the precision. Salifert and Red Sea Pro are good for calcium and nitrate. I use Salifert for magnesium.

 

[blasterman]

That tank should be handled properly via water changes. No need for dosing.

You can buy a bunch of test kits, but watching water params is worthless unless they have the potential for correction.

I would focus on nitrate. I dont see the point in the others if you are doing regular water changes with a good mix.

 

[Big_Mclargehuge]

That tank should be handled properly via water changes. No need for dosing.

You can buy a bunch of test kits, but watching water params is worthless unless they have the potential for correction.

I would focus on nitrate. I dont see the point in the others if you are doing regular water changes with a good mix.

Thanks I've been doing weekly water changes and I test my nitrates regularly they always seem to be around 20 parts per million but I'm also using API test kits so I know they can be a little inaccurate

 

[this is me]

Although GSP and Zoas are not difficult corals, don't get into the habit of putting corals before testing the tank to see if it's ready for corals or not.