When do I start testing my water?

[GoBigGuy]

Hello All,

I setup my new tank, (90 gal Seaclear w/built in filter), on the 4th and added some live rock and Dr. Tim's One & Only yesterday. My question is when do I start testing my water and how often while it cycles?
Also I wanted to start doing some research on a CUC but need to know what will work with crushed coral? (I know not the best choice but my hands were tied)

 

[cmaxwell39]

I would start testing every few days until the cycle is complete. That way you can get a handle on what is going on with the system. I have never used the Dr. Tim's product myself, but I have heard that it will greatly speed up the cycle. If that is the case, you will want to test fairly often so that you don't miss your ammonia/nitrite spikes.

As far as cleanup crew goes, the only thing that I would avoid is things that dig through the sand bed like nassarius snails or cucumbers. All the other normal cleanup crew critters should be fine.

One other word of caution on the crushed coral bed. In order for it to not become a nutrient sink it is going to require fairly frequent maintenance. I would plan on vacuuming out the crushed coral at least once a month in order to avoid it becoming a nitrate factory.

Nice looking setup. Good luck with it. What are your plans for the tank?

 

[HiddenUser]

During the cycle I would test once or twice a week.

 

[reefwatcher]

During the cycle I would test once or twice a week.

I would also test it 2 more times the week after cycle.

 

[GoBigGuy]

I'm going FOWLR, between my 2 girls and my wife I got out voted for a reef tank lol (that will be the next one) My wife wants colorful fish and my girls of course want Dory and Nemo

 

[Dalmatia]

I've had a nassarius snail live in a ht tank with out knowing it with a copper level of 0.6 for at least 5-6 weeks and lived? I think they are the hardiest snails around?????