What’s your preference

[Nano_Man]

What is your routine on testing your water

 

[Reefing102]

If I test at all, it’s when something looks wrong for an extended period. I say this because I’ll usually resolve most issues by a small water change and no testing. If it still progresses, then I test and figure it out

 

[vlangel]

I would hardly call my testing a routine, ha ha, (so maybe I should have voted when I can be bothered)! I only test nitrates and phosphates since I have a softie/macroalgae dominant display. My macros are growing so well that even though I feed heavy, I worry that the nutrients will be depleted. They have recently dropped by half of what they use to be so lately I have been testing about every 3 weeks and always a day after a water change.

 

[MarineandReef Jaron]

I have recently realized that I need to schedule tests and just do them. I got used to nitrates and phosphates staying low so I stopped testing but after 6 months nitrates were over 100. I firmly believe in finding some testing schedule and sticking to it so things don't slowly drift away. I think people fret over parameters more than they should but there is still some tipping point where things are absolutely bad for your tank inhabitants.

 

[doubleshot00]

WC on Wed or Thur then test on Friday.

 

[RichReef]

i have a dosing schedule. So it's 24 hours post WC just to make sure levels are consistent.

I only test ALK. The only time I use other tests is when something seems off. Which is rare.

 

[EricR]

Depends on what's going on but I tend to force myself to test most things late in my water change cycle just to make sure nothing's getting too out of whack.

"Before water change" was closest option in poll so picked that but not exactly accurate and not always consistent

 

[Nano_Man]

I use AquaticLog app and it reminds me to do the next water change . When you put your test results in it tells your if everything is in range or not shows you your reading on graphs so you can follow your readings from past to present. If your manual dosing it will remind you

 

[kevgib67]

I test when things look off. I religiously do 12.5% weekly water changes. If things aren’t looking right I’ll double them and if no improvement I will test. When I do it is before a water change.

 

[Dburr1014]

I actually do water changes 5 days a week but I try to do my testing on Mondays. Sometimes I go a couple weeks cuz I may be busy on a Monday.

 

[fodsod]

Right now, I'm testing every day/every other day because I started dosing All For Reef maybe a month ago and I also just started dosing NOPOX. So I'm in the monitor and adjust if needed phase of all that. Prior to that I only tested a day prior to water changes just to see where my Nitrates and Phosphates were.

 

[SouthwestAquaculture]

We test our systems every Monday, and always prior to water changes. Weekly testing gives us data that we can compare against results reported by Tridents, in addition to identifying trends.
Cheers!

 

[Dolphis]

On my reef tank, I test No3, Po4, and Alk weekly, on the same day. I’ll sometimes test calcium too, but cuz it’s more involved with a Hanna checker, I tent to skip it, especially with corals looking good.

For the FOWLR, i tend to focus more on Po4, testing weekly, on the same day with No3 once at the beginning of the month.

I don’t test the Pico tank, as there’s not a heavy bio load and I do a weekly 50% - 75% water change. I have tested No3 and Po4, but more of a curiosity.

There are times when I get too busy or life in general gets in the way and I can’t test, but typically try to keep a good schedule.

 

[killer2001]

Before water change, I give myself a one hour window to do all my water testing from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Testing around the same time of day is key in my opinion.