What Are You Testing?

[TopNotchCorals]

I test my water parameters every 5 days,my tank is SPS and Chalice's.There are 4 things I test for and thats it,so Im wondering if there is something else others test for that maybe I should.My routine is every 5 days I test P04,MAG,CA,and DKH.All the test are done with Salifert test kits except for the p04 which is done with a Hanna Checker.I don't worry about ammonia,nitrites,and nitrates as I can usually tell if algae pops up that it is time to check for those three.I do a 15g WC every 2 weeks on my 50g cube so water quality is as good as it can gets:wink:I also run these 4 test on my mixed water before the WC and also do a TDS check with a digital TDS meter before mixing the RO/DI water with salt:wink:so if there is anything that is being left out that you test for and think I should, or it just makes you feel better about your tank I would love to hear it:bigsmile:

 

[condor]

you can also test for iodine, maintining the correct level helps with the corals color

 

[RBursek]

First the rule is if you do not test for it do not add it!! Which I break with Iodine and Strotium, but I add half of what the instructions say and only half the time. Otherwise I test PH with a meter everyother day, Alk, and Ca once a week, Mg and trates strips, NO is always 10 once every 4 weeks, but I know my tank chemical consumption, I dose in my MUW Kalk, use RC salt, and do 3qts a day water change. I run carbon and GFO in a reactor 24/7, I have not tested PO4 in about a year but my tank is not an algae problem, use Randy's recipes as needed.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

you can also test for iodine, maintining the correct level helps with the corals color

Interesting,I will definitely read up on that.I thought I read somewhere that Iodine was more for softies??I may be wrong as I usually am:tongue:

First the rule is if you do not test for it do not add it!! Which I break with Iodine and Strotium, but I add half of what the instructions say and only half the time. Otherwise I test PH with a meter everyother day, Alk, and Ca once a week, Mg and trates strips, NO is always 10 once every 4 weeks, but I know my tank chemical consumption, I dose in my MUW Kalk, use RC salt, and do 3qts a day water change. I run carbon and GFO in a reactor 24/7, I have not tested PO4 in about a year but my tank is not an algae problem, use Randy's recipes as needed.

I read about if you cant test for it dont dose it and that is something I do live by.The only chemicals I add to my tank at the moment are BRS 2-part w/mag,fish food,and Oyster Feast.

 

[gilmour01]

at the moment, i'm testing the patience of the people around me

 

[TopNotchCorals]

at the moment, i'm testing the patience of the people around me

So what was the reading?It sounds like its at 1,000,000ppm

 

[Brad Syphus]

at the moment, i'm testing the patience of the people around me

No need to test for that, I know it's way too high. :wink:

 

[gilmour01]

off the chart. i need to dilute and test again.

 

[cee]

Those you state plus strontium, nitrate, and potassium.

 

[slovan]

I am too lazy to test for anything. However, my corals do a great job of letting me know if something isn't right.

 

[schminksbro]

I test alk occasionally but I pretty much just observe my corals and I can tell whats going on.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I test alk occasionally but I pretty much just observe my corals and I can tell whats going on.

I go with the eyeballer thing on algae related issues with my tank but I dont want to wait until I see something wrong with my coral to run test

 

[lvsuckerfish]

i tested phos and nitrates for the first time since my tank has been up in feb. of this year still have not tested ca alk or mag no need I do water changes every week and everything is doing great. when testing my phos it was un detectable on the elos kit and nitrates were also low I dose mag and ca alk but little amounts. and every other week.

I know it is a reefers NO NO

 

[reefsUP]

good one