- Joined
- Jan 27, 2020
- Messages
- 416
- Reaction score
- 347
Once adding corals to my tank, what are the most important levels I should be testing for to keep everyone alive, happy and healthy?
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, and phosphateOnce adding corals to my tank, what are the most important levels I should be testing for to keep everyone alive, happy and healthy?
Alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, and phosphate
I use the Red Sea test kit for alkalinity, calcium, and mag. I’ll probably get the Red Sea nitrate test kit soon too because I don’t have a very good test for that. For phosphates I use the Hannah phosphate checker. The Hannah checkers are a bit pricey, but they make testing a whole lot easier because they give you a digital readout rather than you having to compare colors.Any suggestions as to a good quality, reliable test kit?
Any tips/tricks?
I use the Red Sea test kit for alkalinity, calcium, and mag. I’ll probably get the Red Sea nitrate test kit soon too because I don’t have a very good test for that. For phosphates I use the Hannah phosphate checker. The Hannah checkers are a bit pricey, but they make testing a whole lot easier because they give you a digital readout rather than you having to compare colors.
Any suggestions as to a good quality, reliable test kit?
Any tips/tricks?
Suggestions on a good quality refractometer?
I use Hanna checkers for everything but NO3 and Mg. I use Red Sea and salifert respectively. I rely more on consistency over accuracy and Hanna has been very consistent. Just FOLLOW the directions. I think that where a lot of people mess up with Hanna. I also use the standard kits and calibrate once a month.
+1 I would say to check ALK weekly unless your making changes to itsalifert, and red sea are good ones.
hanna is convenient, but only reliable for alk and po4 imo.
any i agree with the list above. alk being the most important imo because alk and calc tend to track each other and mag decreases very slowly.
po4 and no3 tend to stabilize out, I don't check them often.
alk: nearly daily
calc, mag, no3 monthly or so
po4 about every couple weeks.
check more often when changes are made, you'll see things stabilize out.
I bought an established Reed from someone and after I got it moved to my place I tested my amonia, calcium, alk, ph, phosphates, salinity, magnesium and nitrates every two days. I was able to establish an average consumption doing this and am now dosing alk and calcium. Having great results with this
Can you go into more detail on how you went about establishing an average consumption?
+1 I would say to check ALK weekly unless your making changes to it