GoTakeANap
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What all should I test for in a reef tank? Im not sure if my LFS is telling me everything I need to know.
What To Test For?
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redfishbluefish
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When first starting a tank and cycling, you need to monitor ammonia and nitrate.
Once established, as a minimum, assuming you are doing frequent water changes, calc, alc and mag.
In addition, if you are dosing any other stuff, I strongly believe you should be testing levels. It always amazes me the people who dose stuff, but don't test and monitor what they are dosing.
Once established, as a minimum, assuming you are doing frequent water changes, calc, alc and mag.
In addition, if you are dosing any other stuff, I strongly believe you should be testing levels. It always amazes me the people who dose stuff, but don't test and monitor what they are dosing.
1fishmonger
Active Member
A word of advice - Don't dose for things you're not testing for.
How big is your tank? Inhabitants? etc. Some details will help others provide advice. Depending on the size of your tank and its inhabitants, regular water changes may be enough to replenish ca/alk/mg etc.
How big is your tank? Inhabitants? etc. Some details will help others provide advice. Depending on the size of your tank and its inhabitants, regular water changes may be enough to replenish ca/alk/mg etc.
Pappy
Valuable Member
Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, and get a refractometer and test salinity. That would be it! As long as you're doing regular water changes recommended 10% weekly everything else will be good.
SeahorseKeeper
Where's the mysis?
I test these plus pH.
k2parkstar
Z&P Snob
I only test for ALK regularly, and salinity. Phosphates and Ca on occasion.
OP
OP
GoTakeANap
Valuable Member
75 gallon and 29. both tanks have fish and cuc in them. i dont have a test kit for mag. i test ca earlier in both tanks. small one was 520 and big was 600. alk is low but dosing to bring up. what exactly does alk and mg do for your reef?
Pappy
Valuable Member
Check mag the reason your alk keeps dropping is because mag is low. Mag is like a balancer for alk and ca
OP
OP
GoTakeANap
Valuable Member
Will have to buy one online. What brands are best to test for alk, ca and mag?
Pappy
Valuable Member
I just use API for alk and ca...as far as mag I've been using Red Sea. They all work well ime. Def wouldn't recommend sea chem as I thing u need an engineering degree to use and understand Jk lol
cdangel0
Community Member
I use the fancy red sea kits for those 3. Are you keeping stony corals or clams? If not the need to test for / dose calcium is significantly reduced.
Once oyu're through your cycle you really don't have to test for ammonia or nitrite. Weekly (at least) you should be testing for Nitrate, PH, Alk, Salinity. After your at it for a while you won't have to test for slainity as you'll be sure to mix your saltwater properly everytime and top off to a pre-marked line on your sump with freshwater. PH will fluctuate throughout the day - lights off will give you different readings than lights on. Time of year will also play a factor, when the house is buttoned up for the winter (assuming you have winter) PH will be lower due to elevated carbon dioxide in the house.
The biggest mistake people make is to chase parameters, and start dosing unnecissarily in order to achieve "perfect" - take your time and remember nothing good ever happens fast in this hobby.
Once oyu're through your cycle you really don't have to test for ammonia or nitrite. Weekly (at least) you should be testing for Nitrate, PH, Alk, Salinity. After your at it for a while you won't have to test for slainity as you'll be sure to mix your saltwater properly everytime and top off to a pre-marked line on your sump with freshwater. PH will fluctuate throughout the day - lights off will give you different readings than lights on. Time of year will also play a factor, when the house is buttoned up for the winter (assuming you have winter) PH will be lower due to elevated carbon dioxide in the house.
The biggest mistake people make is to chase parameters, and start dosing unnecissarily in order to achieve "perfect" - take your time and remember nothing good ever happens fast in this hobby.
OP
OP
GoTakeANap
Valuable Member
agree with you there. sea chem's ammonia test kit is dumb. hate it.
The only corals I have that I would consider stony would be a monti(have 3). I have never dosed for anything I havent checked.
gmoney243
2500 Club Member
at first test everything over time u wont be testing for much. i only test alk weekly. calc,phos,,mag monthly or longer. all other basically never unless something doesnt seem right. ph is mostly the one people seem to try to chase down trying to use buffers to get it to 8.2 instead of 7.8 as long as its within a safe range and stable its all fine. but thats pretty solid advice just make sure your within the acceptable ranges and stable and youll be fine.
