*SBB Corals*- Games by codybot-End of Year/ New Year!!!! 650 WYSIWYG +100 Auctions!!! Prize, games, Giveaways- $1, $5 Corals. up to 80% off

[Gtinnel]

I have a tank that I’ve had setup for 6 months now that outside of the initial cycle and setting my initial salinity I haven’t tested anything on it. I probably should test something on it eventually.
ETA it does only have a few cheap corals in it though.

 

[stoney7713]

How often does everyone test their tanks? I'm overboard and test at least something almost daily..lol. overkill I know. Curious about others..

Keeping an eye on my phosphate and nitrates, every 2-3 days. Fairly steady at 10-15 and .08-.12, I do carbon dose. Probably could cult back to once a week.

Ph Pen, so I check it whenever I do any testing. SG once a week with Milwaukee, double check with refractometer a few times a month. I have an ATO.

Alkalinity once a week, water changes has kept it steady at this point.

Calcium once every 3-4 weeks, same deal, water changes keep it steady. I figure Alk will be a tale tale of any changes to consumption.

Magnesium once a month or so.

I have a low demanding tank at this point, 22% water change every 2-3 weeks.

 

[SBB Corals]

500k lol LFG!!!!

 

[StatelineReefer]

500k lol LFG!!!!

 

[StatelineReefer]

500k lol LFG!!!!

 

[Gtinnel]

 

[billyocean]

I have alk, cal, phosphate on dosers and I'm not confident in them staying fine..lol. just make it part of my daily regimine for alk and test phosphate every few days at this point. Calcium every 4 or 5 days, mag maybe once a week or two and nitrates once a week. I overtest but like to think I'll catch a problem somewhat quickly

 

[StatelineReefer]

I have alk, cal, phosphate on dosers and I'm not confident in them staying fine..lol. just make it part of my daily regimine for alk and test phosphate every few days at this point. Calcium every 4 or 5 days, mag maybe once a week or two and nitrates once a week. I overtest but like to think I'll catch a problem somewhat quickly

Part of the reason I check salinity daily. If salinity is off, everything else is too

 

[billyocean]

Part of the reason I check salinity daily. If salinity is off, everything else is too

What could change your salinity besides an ato issue? Serious question.

 

[StatelineReefer]

What could change your salinity besides an ato issue? Serious question.

Evaporation, dosing byproducts...

 

[stoney7713]

I do have a doser ready and will use kalk or 2 part, or maybe AFR when the time comes.

 

[StatelineReefer]

I do have a doser ready and will use kalk or 2 part, or maybe AFR when the time comes.

AFR contains selenium, be aware of that if you decide to dose it

 

[Gtinnel]

I do have a doser ready and will use kalk or 2 part, or maybe AFR when the time comes.

How old is your tank? Water changes usually won’t keep alkalinity and calcium maintained for very long, unless you’re doing huge water changes.

 

[billyocean]

AFR contains selenium, be aware of that if you decide to dose it

Interesting. I've thought about switching to AFR but still on red sea cal/alk. Working great so scared to change anything.

 

[Gtinnel]

Sonicare?

 

[StatelineReefer]

Sonicare?

Sonic Hair

 

[stoney7713]

How old is your tank? Water changes usually won’t keep alkalinity and calcium maintained for very long, unless you’re doing huge water changes.

About 6 months, I'm waiting and watching for it to move. I have about 30-40 frags. I use Reef Crystals, my Alk stays between 8.6 and 8.9 with Salifert, I use the crappy API sometimes and it's not as accurate but usually about 9.0. Thinking of getting the Hanna for it too.

But things are definitely growing.

 

[stoney7713]

Interesting. I've thought about switching to AFR but still on red sea cal/alk. Working great so scared to change anything.

Deadly to alien creatures and keeps my head flake free.

 

[StatelineReefer]

About to kick off a

Deadly to alien creatures and keeps my head flake free.

That was a great movie even if it didn't have David Duchovny in it, but it did

 

[Gtinnel]

About 6 months, I'm waiting and watching for it to move. I have about 30-40 frags. I use Reef Crystals, my Alk stays between 8.6 and 8.9 with Salifert, I use the crappy API sometimes and it's not as accurate but usually about 9.0. Thinking of getting the Hanna for it too.

But things are definitely growing.

Yeah it won’t take long.
The Hanna alk checker is incredibly easy to use, but has a bad habit of different batches of reagents, or older reagents, giving false reading. The reading will be consistent but not accurate IME.