What testing do you do and how often?
- Thread starter thbrewst
- Start date
Salinity every 3 weeks when I do a water change.
pH is measured with probes in ca reactor and display
Other than that, Nothing unless there is a problem or something looks off (corals don't open, or look "off", etc).
A few months ago I had issues with my CA reactor, so I was testing CA/ALK daily. Other than that, only as required which is maybe 2-3x per year.
pH is measured with probes in ca reactor and display
Other than that, Nothing unless there is a problem or something looks off (corals don't open, or look "off", etc).
A few months ago I had issues with my CA reactor, so I was testing CA/ALK daily. Other than that, only as required which is maybe 2-3x per year.
- Messages
- 6,671
- Reaction score
- 15
the more stable the aquarium, the less I test.
when I seem to be having an issue with a parem, I test more often.
Alkalinity <span style="color: red">once a quarter or more</span>
Magnesium <span style="color: red">twice a year</span>
Calcium <span style="color: #ff0000">once a quarter</span>
Phosphate <span style="color: #ff0000">twice a year</span>
pH <span style="color: #ff0000">twice a year</span>
Nitrate <span style="color: #ff0000">once a quarter</span>
Ammonia
Nitrite
Hardness
Iodine
Strontium
Copper
Others?
Salinity (calibrated to pinpoint solution) <span style="color: red">once a month</span>
when I seem to be having an issue with a parem, I test more often.
Alkalinity <span style="color: red">once a quarter or more</span>
Magnesium <span style="color: red">twice a year</span>
Calcium <span style="color: #ff0000">once a quarter</span>
Phosphate <span style="color: #ff0000">twice a year</span>
pH <span style="color: #ff0000">twice a year</span>
Nitrate <span style="color: #ff0000">once a quarter</span>
Ammonia
Nitrite
Hardness
Iodine
Strontium
Copper
Others?
Salinity (calibrated to pinpoint solution) <span style="color: red">once a month</span>
Salinity every 2 weeks when I do a water change.
pH is measured with probes in ca reactor and display
Other than that, Nothing unless there is a problem or something looks off (corals don't open, or look "off", etc).
CA/ALK/MG about once or twice a month pending on how much im messing with dosing or additional equipment that affects these.
pH is measured with probes in ca reactor and display
Other than that, Nothing unless there is a problem or something looks off (corals don't open, or look "off", etc).
CA/ALK/MG about once or twice a month pending on how much im messing with dosing or additional equipment that affects these.
SG @ water changes, CA, ALK pretty regularly (probably every 2 weeks) since I dose manually. Mag is probably every couple of months, because I've learned by testing more often that it drops really slowly in my tank.
pH, phosphate, nitrate etc are done every 3 months (I keep a log of ALL params that often)... and when something seems "off".
Never tested for iodine, strontium, copper etc. I don't dose any of that stuff in my tank, it is just whatever trace amounts are replenished at water change time.
pH, phosphate, nitrate etc are done every 3 months (I keep a log of ALL params that often)... and when something seems "off".
Never tested for iodine, strontium, copper etc. I don't dose any of that stuff in my tank, it is just whatever trace amounts are replenished at water change time.
- Messages
- 4,967
- Reaction score
- 371
I have to admit that I am TERRIBLE about testing.
I test SG when I do water changes... and monitor Temp constantly.
I know (actually from a series of tests a while back) that I need about 2 squirts of alk to keep alk where it needs to be.
My kalk reactor does great at keeping CA up where it needs to be (the few times I've tested it).
The only time I really test much of anything on a regular basis is if I'm adding new equipment or live stock that can really affect my parameters.
Should I test more?
Probably.
B
I test SG when I do water changes... and monitor Temp constantly.
I know (actually from a series of tests a while back) that I need about 2 squirts of alk to keep alk where it needs to be.
My kalk reactor does great at keeping CA up where it needs to be (the few times I've tested it).
The only time I really test much of anything on a regular basis is if I'm adding new equipment or live stock that can really affect my parameters.
Should I test more?
Probably.
B
Another opportunity for me to get hammered :thumbs:
I don't change much water (hardly at all actually), with the exception of my nano 12
The ONLY things I check for are calcium, mag and dhk. Do so about every two or three months (when I''m bored squatless).
low bio loads and common sense come first, the rest is a waste of time (in my humble opinion)
I don't change much water (hardly at all actually), with the exception of my nano 12
The ONLY things I check for are calcium, mag and dhk. Do so about every two or three months (when I''m bored squatless).
low bio loads and common sense come first, the rest is a waste of time (in my humble opinion)
