Water testing question

[Ilija Z]

Hello all. This is my first post. I am very new to saltwater reef tanks. I recently set up a small tank and was wondering what water tester to get first. I picked up the test strips but I want to gradually get better testers. I just don't want to get all at once. I was thinking about getting the Hanna. Which one should I get first... nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, etc. I'm also open to suggestions for other brands but I'm not ready to spend the big bucks on the top of the line. Thanks for any help.

 

[bushdoc]

First- if you were thinking about Hanna, it is a top brand and costs big money.
second, no need to test for nitrites.
suggest Salifert or Aquaforest for Ca, Alkalinity and Magnesium and Hanna for Nitrates and phosphates.
I do not have suggestions for ammonia, but you will need this test for cycling your tank first.

 

[Ilija Z]

First- if you were thinking about Hanna, it is a top brand and costs big money.
second, no need to test for nitrites.
suggest Salifert or Aquaforest for Ca, Alkalinity and Magnesium and Hanna for Nitrates and phosphates.
I do not have suggestions for ammonia, but you will need this test for cycling your tank first.

Thanks for your input. The little bit of research I've done so far is what got me to decide on Hanna. The price is also why I want to buy 1 at a time in kind of order of importance. I just wasn't sure if there were other brands that I haven't come across yet that were a lot more money. Would the test strips be sufficient for the ammonia?
I just took another look at the Hanna testers and yep. They are up there in price. It is kind of overwhelming looking at testers.

 

[ElementReefer]

Are you still cycling? Is this your first tank? Then I would get the API Saltwater Master Test Kit. Cheap, easy, and really only good for watching the cycle happen.

If you are going to keep coral and you are set on Hanna checkers, I would get them in this order:

#1 Ultra Low Range Phosphate
#2 High Range Nitrate
#3 Alkalinity

More important is that you really understand what the tests are for.

 

[Rmckoy]

Hello all. This is my first post. I am very new to saltwater reef tanks. I recently set up a small tank and was wondering what water tester to get first. I picked up the test strips but I want to gradually get better testers. I just don't want to get all at once. I was thinking about getting the Hanna. Which one should I get first... nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, etc. I'm also open to suggestions for other brands but I'm not ready to spend the big bucks on the top of the line. Thanks for any help.

First things first ..
welcome to r2r
You will find many of us are welcoming and helpful .
If your budget is restricted and can’t jump on the expensive Hanna band group I would strongly suggest salifert .
they’re affordable and still considered good quality kits.
You will need an ammonia kit to cycle the tank but that’s it .
Next you will need nitrates . Which I also recommend salifert
alkalinity , calcium ,phosphates/phosphorus and magnesium can wait until you are ready to add corals . Calcium and magnesium I use salifert , alkalinity I went with Hanna as well as phosphorus .
Also need to suggest .
with the first round of tests you will need a refractometer ( affordable and on average around $20 on Amazon ) be sure it’s for saltwater .
Feel free to ask questions along the way .
Happy reefing .

 

[Idech]

I like the Red Sea kit for alk, magnesium and calcium. It’s not too expensive either.

I use Hanna for nitrates and phosphates.

 

[doubleshot00]

Red sea master kit is really hard to beat. For cycling.

Hanna alk, ulr phosphate and nitrate HR are the only ones that are worth it.

 

[Ilija Z]

Are you still cycling? Is this your first tank? Then I would get the API Saltwater Master Test Kit. Cheap, easy, and really only good for watching the cycle happen.

If you are going to keep coral and you are set on Hanna checkers, I would get them in this order:

#1 Ultra Low Range Phosphate
#2 High Range Nitrate
#3 Alkalinity

More important is that you really understand what the tests are for.

Thanks for the info. Yes. Fist tank and still cycling. I am starting to understand what they mean and I am reading and watching videos to get as much info as possible.

 

[doubleshot00]

Thanks for the info. Yes. Fist tank and still cycling. I am starting to understand what they mean and I am reading and watching videos to get as much info as possible.

Its a deep rabbit hole. You just have to decide how far down you want to go.

 

[Ilija Z]

First things first ..
welcome to r2r
You will find many of us are welcoming and helpful .
If your budget is restricted and can’t jump on the expensive Hanna band group I would strongly suggest salifert .
they’re affordable and still considered good quality kits.
You will need an ammonia kit to cycle the tank but that’s it .
Next you will need nitrates . Which I also recommend salifert
alkalinity , calcium ,phosphates/phosphorus and magnesium can wait until you are ready to add corals . Calcium and magnesium I use salifert , alkalinity I went with Hanna as well as phosphorus .
Also need to suggest .
with the first round of tests you will need a refractometer ( affordable and on average around $20 on Amazon ) be sure it’s for saltwater .
Feel free to ask questions along the way .
Happy reefing .

Thanks. That helps. I have the Salifert ammonia kit coming. I saw a refractometer on a local group for $10. If it is still available, I will check it out. Right now I have a hydrometer for salinity. Thanks again.

 

[Ilija Z]

Its a deep rabbit hole. You just have to decide how far down you want to go.

LOL. I am already seeing that. I will do my best to keep it under control.

 

[Rmckoy]

Thanks. That helps. I have the Salifert ammonia kit coming. I saw a refractometer on a local group for $10. If it is still available, I will check it out. Right now I have a hydrometer for salinity. Thanks again.

Floating or swing arm ?

if you’re looking at the refractometer .
be sure to get 35ppt calibration solution and calibrate it to the proper salinity

keep it clean and check its calibration often

 

[Rmckoy]

It’s a deep rabbit hole. You just have to decide how far down you want to go.

Why is there no diving warnings now ?
Just like some us up . Close your eyes and jump in head first .

 

[Ilija Z]

Floating or swing arm ?

if you’re looking at the refractometer .
be sure to get 35ppt calibration solution and calibrate it to the proper salinity

keep it clean and check its calibration often

Swing arm.

Thanks. I will see if it comes with solution. I hope i can find it and it is still available

 

[Rmckoy]

Swing arm.

Thanks. I will see if it comes with solution. I hope i can find it and it is still available

They are cheap to buy if it’s not available .
even if it does come with solution , I would pick up a new one to have on hand

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

This is an excellent guide... Just scroll to the point you're at (i.e. if you don't need equipment advice, scroll past to setup/cycling)

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...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hello all. This is my first post. I am very new to saltwater reef tanks. I recently set up a small tank and was wondering what water tester to get first. I picked up the test strips but I want to gradually get better testers. I just don't want to get all at once. I was thinking about getting the Hanna. Which one should I get first... nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, etc. I'm also open to suggestions for other brands but I'm not ready to spend the big bucks on the top of the line. Thanks for any help.

Salifert for everything except phosphate. Hanna ULR for phosphate.

 

[doubleshot00]

Why is there no diving warnings now ?
Just like some us up . Close your eyes and jump in head first .

Yeah ill admit if i knew what i know now at the beginning I wouldn't have started my big tank. Now i have three. Obsessed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd drop magnesium testing from the early needs. it is likely to do more harm than good by giving incorrect readings, and magneisum cannot really be off for a long time in a starting reef tank.