Tests, Medications, Chemicals...What Do I Need?

[Slayvoff]

I want to make this a one stop shop for everything I need to purchase for fish health and monitoring. In planning an eventual saltwater tank, I want to make sure I am prepared. I just lost my betta to dropsy because I really messed up and it's heartbreaking. Never again.


So for a saltwater tank...what water tests, fish medication, and any other chemicals do I need to have on hand for maintaining and monitoring my tank and for medicating purposes?

I have the API Freshwater Master Test Kit..can this be used for saltwater as well? At least for the Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite tests?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You won't need a nitrite kit as it is never high and is not toxic in seawater.

Alkalinity is the most important, beyond something to measure salinity and also temperature.


I discuss these issues in these articles. They are older now, but still basically accurate:

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 1: The Salt Water Itself by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 2: What Chemicals Must be Supplemented by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 3: pH by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 4: What Chemicals May Detrimentally Accumulate by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/rhf/index.php