What is your testing regimen?

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I'm curious what others' testing regimens look like.

When I first started testing (I use all Red Sea products), testing took over an hour to complete. After I cobbled together a homemade magnetic stirrer, the testing regimen was shortened to about 35 minutes (I can post an article on the stirrer if there is interest).

I test for Ca, Mg, alkalinity, PO4, and NO3. I also record temp and pH off of the Apex in my log, and I measure specific gravity. Because the Red Sea nitrate and phosphate tests require at least 24 minutes to complete, it would be difficult to get the testing time down much further. I have tested for Fe, I, and K in the past, but I haven't really bothered with testing since I regularly supplement.

What do you test for? How long does your regimen take to complete? How often do you test?

 

[sde1500]

When I remember to, I test the big 3. Salifert is quick, probably 15 minutes and done.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Depends on what i am testing. If not doing a nitrate test 5-10 minutes.
if have to do nitrate another 12 minutes or so.
yay for automated alk testing, means i dont have to do as often lol.

edited Use:
hanna alk and po4
Aquaforest mag and calcium(were on sale) comes with a standard
red sea no3
i use a mixture of calrx + all for reef and silicates i do not bother testing for them. Use my gorgs and ph to tell me to and how much. Ph done by profilux and khd monitors alkalinity.

 

[happyhourhero]

I use salifert for alk, cal, mag, nitrate
Hanna for phosphate.

I usually test alk, cal and mag about once a week. Test phosphate and nitrate here and there.

I’m usually done in less than 15.

For sg I have a Milwaukee digital but hardly ever test.

 

[User1]

What do you test for? How long does your regimen take to complete? How often do you test?

Hardly ever.

Daily, 4/2/2. Alk x 4, Ca, and Mg, x 2. Trident with lowest settings. Doesn't take me any time at all. However, I will once a month break out the Hanna Alk and Phosphate test kits and test in the around the Tridents afternoon run. I collect a sample of water and the Hanna kits take maybe 4 minutes max.

The only reason I run the Hanna tests about once a month is because I have reagents left and it is fun to compare the Alk reading to the Trident which it is always near. And because it only takes a minute, why not. I'm not going to lie - that is why I chose those tests

Previously I would rarely test because it isn't something I enjoy and usually eye balling the tank could point me in the direction. Call it blind luck maybe or lazy.

 

[X-37B]

I test dkh twice a week. Running Carx.
Running dkh at 8.
I test ca and mag once a month as its very stable at ca 430 mag 1350
I test potassium, strontium, and iodine once a month.
I dose trace as I dont do water changes.
SG once a week at 1.026.
Temp once a week at 78-80.
No3 and po4 once a week and sometimes more as my
no3 runs 1-2ppm and po4 .02.
I use Hanna and salifert.

 

[Daniel92481]

I test using Hanna digital salinity/temp checker, Hanna ALK, Hanna ULR phosphate, Salifert nitrate, Salifert magnesium, and Red Sea calcium. I also have Aquaforest for magnesium, but haven’t tried it yet. BRS says it’s really good, and has a good video on it. I figured I would finish the Salifert before I start using it. I usually test all parameters 2x week. The full panel usually takes about 30 minutes to complete.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I'm curious what others' testing regimens look like.

When I first started testing (I use all Red Sea products), testing took over an hour to complete. After I cobbled together a homemade magnetic stirrer, the testing regimen was shortened to about 35 minutes (I can post an article on the stirrer if there is interest).

I test for Ca, Mg, alkalinity, PO4, and NO3. I also record temp and pH off of the Apex in my log, and I measure specific gravity. Because the Red Sea nitrate and phosphate tests require at least 24 minutes to complete, it would be difficult to get the testing time down much further. I have tested for Fe, I, and K in the past, but I haven't really bothered with testing since I regularly supplement.

What do you test for? How long does your regimen take to complete? How often do you test?

Get all your test vials filled with tank water, ready to go. start with the 15 minute PO4, while that's timing down do the 9 minute NO3 test, and while thats timing down do the mag, cal & alk.

Also, interested in your stirred.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Get all your test vials filled with tank water, ready to go. start with the 15 minute PO4, while that's timing down do the 9 minute NO3 test, and while thats timing down do the mag, cal & alk.

Also, interested in your stirred.

LOL. Yeah, I tried that. It really sucks when you put the nitrate reagent in the phosphate test! (I blame the rum and coke )

I made the stirrer out of an old computer fan, an old power supply, some leftover magnets, and a project box from Radio Shack. I bought the magnetic stirring rods on Amazon. I'll try to put together a quick writeup on it

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I made the stirrer out of an old computer fan, an old power supply, some leftover magnets, and a project box from Radio Shack. I bought the magnetic stirring rods on Amazon. I'll try to put together a quick writeup on it

Please do.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Please do.

I should have time tomorrow to do it. Now, go play a word already

 

[Bob Lauson]

About every other week I test Ca, Mg, Alk, NO3, PO4, and Salinity - it takes about 30 minutes. My controller monitors pH real time along with temperature

 

[dadnjesse]

I used to test Alkalinity daily until I got a Trident, now I just test Nitrate and phosphates every couple weeks and Alkalinity once a week to check the Trident but so far it's been spot on with my Hanna.

 

[mucky1957]

Every Friday. All salifert kits. Alk, Mag, Cal, Phos and Nitrate. Less than 30 mins..BOOM.

 

[cumbeje]

ReefBot

 

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[CindyKz]

Alk once or twice a week on my mixed reef, every couple weeks to a month on my softie tank.

Mg, Ca, PO4, NO3 every couple weeks to a month both tanks.

Hanna checkers for Alk and PO4, Salifert for everything else.

Spot check specific gravity and temp occasionally to double check my apex.

 

[Conor_K]

I test once per week. Alk,PO4, Ca, Mg.
NO3 once/month (maybe).

Hanna first two
Redsea second two (toying with salifert currently too for Ca)
Nyos for NO3