Water testing in a reef tank: What parameters are you measuring?

[Peace River]

Water testing in a reef tank: What parameters are you measuring?

Some reef keepers test seemingly everything, and others do a few basic tests, keep up with water changes, and dose some general additives. There are many water parameters that can be tested and plenty of kits, probes, and digital meters to help with the testing, so there are plenty of measurement options. It may be a focus on nitrates and phosphates, or a focus on alkalinity, calcium, and pH, or using a ICP kit for a more extensive measurement approach. Please tell us what water parameters you are measuring? Additionally, let us know other related details such as how often, what measurement devices, and any other details or tips that you are willing to share.

Photo by @hanslanda


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.tckcorals.com

 

[ReefGeezer]

Alkalinity & Salinity Weekly
Temp continuously
Nitrate and phosphate sporadically
Calcium & Magnesium just when alkalinity consumption increases

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I test alk, ca, and mg daily via Neptune Trident. Nitrate and phosphate via Hanna checkers once a week. I am trying to get better at checking iodine and potassium levels, and plan to test weekly on those too via salifert.

 

[Doctorgori]

Thanks for asking, could you folks also post frequency ?
Alk 2-3x weekly Hanna dkH if Trident atch 1x per mo
Phos 1-2X weekly Hanna ultra low
Ca 1-2X bi monthly Salifert … if trident atch 1x/mo
Mg 1-2x bi-monthly. Salifert if Trident Atch 1x /mo o
Nitrate per glass algae Hanna (if hard green specks- bi monthly, if soft green test that day, if soft brown 2x weekly…, not scientific but thats a rough guide)

That’s it….

 

[shakacuz]

ICP tests bi-monthly, or every quarter.

weekly: ph, sg, alk, cal, mag.
daily: temp.

 

[Troylee]

No3 and po4 twice a week till I get this zeo thang dialed in.. trident does the rest daily.

 

[Uncle99]

All of the listed. Weekly for 7 years. Recorded on worksheet.
Not a number watcher, but a trend watcher for sure.
I also maintain iodine for leathers and strontium for my clam community.

 

[Mschmidt]

regularly n, p, k. when Im feeling like it salinity, temp, mag, calc.

 

[rtparty]

Manually I test almost nothing. I use the little 5 in 1 test strips to double check my Trident readings. My Trident tests alkalinity twice a day and then calcium and magnesium once a day. pH and temperature are monitored 24/7 through Apex, Sicce pumps, and AquaLogic controllers

 

[Mschmidt]

regularly n, p, k. when Im feeling like it salinity, temp, mag, calc.

and by regularly, I mean to say "regularly (when I remember)".

 

[vetteguy53081]

Im finding occasionally the trident numbers are all over the place and Bought the Hanna Master kit which covers Alk -CA-PH- Phosphate- and I monitor temp and salinity daily

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[SnazzyUrchin792]

I monitor temp constantly, then weekly I test:
-salinity
-pH
-alkalinity (currently testing twice a week while dosing)
-calcium
-magnesium
-nitrate
-phosphate
I use Hanna for everything except pH and salinity. For pH, I use api (looking to get the Hanna checker soon), and for salinity, I use a hydrometer (looking to get a refractometer soon)

 

[Seansea]

Alk with hanna 2x a week. Dosing all for reef
Nitrate and phos 2x a week cuz i have to dose. Grrrr api and salifert.
Magnesium 2x a week. Salifert. Mag gets eating up by scrubber and softies pretty fast.
Calcium and ph every few weeks. Salifert. They dont change a ton.
Iodine occasionaly but can never get reading. Salifert
Temp every day.
Salinity occasionally
Oh ya icp quarterly

 

[dennislagoon]

Temp: continuously
Alk, phosphate, nitrate and salinity: weekly
Calcium and magnesium: monthly
ICP test: about every 3 months
Ph: never

But these can all change in frequency when something is off or I'm battling something.

 

[Grappler]

Salinity every two weeks with water change. Magnesium with water change. I find it hard to believe that 13% of the people don't check for salinity. My ATO with kalkeaiser and doser are dialed in to take care alkalinity and calcium check it about once a month. Temperature daily.

 

[Nemo&Friends]

As I do not have corals, I do not test my water.
Occasionally the salinity to know if I have to add salted water or fresh water, and in the winter the temperature as I keep my house round 70 degree and make sure the heater work. I had to change one of them last winter.
In the summer my house is 79/80 degree, so good for the fish.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

The only one listed that we don't test regularly is Copper. We also test for Potassium which isn't listed.

 

[littlefoxx]

I test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and Ph bi weekly. I test salinity for water changes. I monitor temp every day. I dont test for anything else as my corals are happy and I dont want to “chase the numbers” when my tank is going well. Ive got red sea tests for everything that I have should my corals all the sudden not be doing well. I use fluval for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Red sea for PH.

 

[Waters]

Salinity, ALK, Ca, Mg, and PH are tested multiple times per day by my Trident. I manually check phosphates and nitrates about once a week.

 

[RichReef]

ALK 2 days after a water change. Adjust as needed. Keep my standard dose.

Calcium every blue moon. When I feel like it. It always seems to be 460 to 480.

Salinity every water change. 2 weeks.

Temp everyday. It's a number on the wall.

I don't test anything else. Probably never will.