Testing Alkalinity Frequency POLL

[Fourstars]

I guess I get to write in 4 times per day ;)

Guess your a control freak ;)

 

[Graffiti Spot]

When I am using dosing pumps and they are dialed in maybe once every two weeks or once a week if I remember. When I am using a calcium reactor maybe once a month. Reactors seem to be steadier for me. But like c eymann said, if I can check of any of those boxes I try and check it because that’s when I see drifting. I don’t think having it spot on at all times is needed like most would think. Matching the number with your nutrient level is more important ime. As long as it’s near my number and not continuing to drift one way I don’t care. When I use a reactor I rarely have to do anything and I am missing it right now, but I just don’t need one yet.

 

[Rjmul]

Way too often. Manually every day with Hanna.

maybe every two or three days if I'm feeling confident.

 

[Dr. Jim]

Once a day with GHL Kh Director and with one or more of the following (daily):
-Red Sea
-Salifert
-Hanna checker

I'm recording results in an effort to compare tests and settle on one.

 

[scabbedwings616]

4 times a day and every two months by hand when I change out the reagents. I also calibrate the trident when I change out the reagents. Getting a tank full of acros as we speak and need to make sure the calcium reactor isn’t messing up at All. I would have lost tons if I didn’t have a trident.

 

[X-37B]

Every day in the morning with Hanna.
I like to keep a log and it only takes a few minutes.
I run a carx and could get away with once a week or longer but I like to test as it keeps me in the know with my tank.

 

[walloutlet]

No Trident or automation, I just like stats so I test a couple times a day.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

4 times a day via trident

 

[Rich Klein]

Ditto - Trident 4 times pre day

 

[AdamNC]

Twice a week with a Hanna dKH checker.

 

[Laith]

6x a day with the GHL KHD.

 

[anth]

Im doing it every day with hanna at the moment lol
Recently installed a co2 scrubber so ph has changend along with alk consumption, also increasing light intensity, building my coral collection and building up my feeding so im forever adjusting my dosing pump.
Once all is set and i get the same result everyday for a couple of weeks then i will switch to once a week

 

[Kyl]

Twice daily, 10AM and 10PM. If I do a lot of fragging I will increase that to 6 or 8x daily while the alk consumption fluctuates for a few days.

 

[Salemsoul]

I test twice a week and monthly I'll do 3-4 days in a row to make sure things are still correct. If I add anything like colonies or start fragging then I'm checking once a day

 

[Robert Binz]

Guess your a control freak ;)

There needs to be less frequent options in the poll. I have a pico and do weekly 50% water changes so I never test alk

 

[Salemsoul]

There needs to be less frequent options in the poll. I have a pico and do weekly 50% water changes so I never test alk

do you have a mixed reef pico or an sps pico?

 

[Robert Binz]

do you have a mixed reef pico or an sps pico?

It’s all LPS, RFAs, and Softies. I tried a bird’s nest but it bleached immediately. The tank is still only 6 months old so it’s still pretty unstable

 

[rusgum]

If changes were made, then every day at the same time. When the system is stable, then every other day.

 

[K7BMG]

Trident here as well so 4 times a day.
I do use my Hanna ULR every once in a while to double check.
Before the Trident in the beginning once a day, then once a month.

 

[SPR1968]

I just test once every week on both my tanks manually

I don’t really see any need to test more often unless you have issues with the system, especially with an established tank with either a calcium reactor or auto dosing, and I use both.

If you have trident then fine, I decided it was just something else to maintain, and fail, and testing both my systems takes about 15 minutes every week so....

Its all personal preference I guess.