What's your testing schedule?

Daniel@R2R · Feb 4, 2021

I'm getting much better about testing, so I'm wondering what you guys are doing on this. What's your testing schedule? What do you test and how often?

Mjl714 · Feb 4, 2021

In my case, weekly I test alkalinity of main display tank and I also test all salinity of display tanks, qt and replacement saltwater.

Tiki Reef Joshua · Feb 4, 2021

Alk daily
Cal 2 times a week roughly
Salinity- never. Only at WC
Nitrates and phosphate about 2 times a month
PH once in a blue moon. Basically never
Mag - rarely. Probably start testing more as SPS colonies grow.

X-37B · Feb 4, 2021

Alk every morning on my 120.
Ca, mag every 2 months or when I remember as they never change.
Po4, no3, every month or when I remember.
Temp weekly.
Sg weekly.

DaneGer21 · Feb 4, 2021

Honestly...random

Alk
Cal
Mag
No3
Po4

rknapp · Feb 4, 2021

Alk, NO3, PO4 - weekly
Cal, Mag - monthly
pH, Temp, Salinity monitored by Apex - 24x7x365, I peek randomly at dashboard, usually at least 1x day, but not always.

Dvanlier05 · Feb 4, 2021

120gal SPS tank
Alk-daily
NO3-every other day
PO4-every other day
Cal-weekly
Mag-weekly
Salinity-weekly

Sigmund · Feb 4, 2021

Once or twice a year, based on curiosity. Have 3 mixed reef tanks. No Acros.

Mastiffsrule · Feb 4, 2021

I stopped taking tests. Too many bad memories

sp1187 · Feb 4, 2021

slim to none

RobB'z Reef · Feb 4, 2021

Alk/ca once per week, probes for ph and salinity using apex. NO3 once every 2 or three weeks.

Tastee · Feb 5, 2021

Two tanks, 65g LPS/Softie 4 years old, 130g Mixed Reef 1 year old. I dose Aquaforest 3 part 24x7 and water testing depends on what is happening in the tank. For the 65g I test Alk fortnightly, Alk/Ca/Mg every 4-8 weeks, PO4/NO3 every 8-12 weeks. This tank is very stable and no livestock is being added, just all maturing.

For the 130g a bit more frequent as it is still settling in. For example I didn’t test Alk last week for the first time as it was starting to get to very stable levels. The older and more stable the tanks get the less I test, unless I am adding livestock or feel I have an issue I need to stay on top of.