Water testing

[reef4Tom]

Hi all,
As I read through a lot of the awesome threads on here, a common thing I come across is "what are your parameters?"
Obviously the conditions in the tank are important to help diagnose problems.

What would you recommend for water testing?

I have an API "reef master" kit, but quickly found out that's not what I need right now (I have one frag of zoas)

My intentions are to add more "beginner" corals to the tank, but my zoas are not doing so hot.
I took some water to the LFS and the only thing they found was that my PH was a little on the low side around 7.8. I picked up some Instant Ocean "Sea Buffer" to help raise the PH. After a does, my frag looks worse than it did before.

What do you all recommend for testing water? Also, I am very much on a budget. I inherited this hobby from my grandfather-in-law who passed. I don't have a lot of money to through at the tank. As much as I love my tank and the hobby, I need to be budget minded.

Also, in my initial testing with the reef-master kit, I can say I hate using it.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[chris31759]

I like the salifert test kits. First two to buy would probably be the calcium and alkalinity test kit. If you can only afford one go with the alkalinity kit. With only one coral these shouldn't change much. Maybe nitrate and phosphate are more important in the beginning. Try to really on your LFS for now. Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions.

 

[rayn]

I like salifert, but like Red Sea more. Once you get used to red sea they are great to use and can buy refills rather then a whole new kit each time.

I use api for basics like ammonia and nitrite, anything else I don't trust them enough.

 

[dakoop]

Red Sea is what I use. I am not sure if you are asking what kit to use or what parameters to test.
salinity and alkalinity are the big 2, imo, for beginners. Nitrates and Phosphates and Magnesium should be tested for anything beyond a Xenia coral :)

 

[reef4Tom]

Thank you so far for the replies. I test salinity with a very basic hydrometer (not digital). I do make sure to "un-stick" the gauge. When I fill it, I also make sure I tap it to release any bubbles. My salinity is very consistent at 1.026. When I had my water tested at the LFS Nitrates were at zero.

I wish there was digital tester that would give you all your parameters in one device, why haven't we invented this yet??? haha.

Thank you for all the help so far.

 

[briancarterkc]

The swing-arm hydrometers are notoriously unreliable. Bulk Reef Supply has a refractometer for $40 that's way more reliable, provided you regularly calibrate it with the 35ppt calibration fluid.

Also, I second your notion that someone should invent a "reef tricorder."

 

[dakoop]

They are working on all in one testing, hopefully for later this year

 

[blacktippr]

They are working on all in one testing, hopefully for later this year

Who's working on all in one testing.

What you mean by that. A single test for all parameters, like one that you can make at home. That will give you

Alk, Calcium, MAG, Iron, Potasium, Phosphates, Nitrates. Something like that would be sweet.


Could it be even possible.

 

[PatW]

For tests, API is quick and dirty for ALK, only to one significant figure so it is crude. But for most purposes, it is close enough. API also is fine for calcium but again a little crude.

I use Red Sea Pro for nitrate. I can detect nitrates at about .1 ppm with this test.

I use Red Sea for magnesium. It works OK. But it isn't my favorite.

I use Red Sea for ammonia. It has a lower detection limit than API.

For pH, I have used Red Sea.

For phosphates, Hanna is about the only thing that tests at low enough levels to be useful. Even then, often phosphates read 0 because nuisance algae have tied them all up. So one infers a phosphate problem by the presence of algae.

I use the BRS refractometer. I find that it works best when pointed at a bright light. Mine holds its calibration very well. A refractometer is the way to go. You can measure salinity much faster than a hydrometer. Also you can measure with a very small volume.

 

[cb684]

Tests
Salifert: Ca, Mg, NO3, K
Hanna checker: PO4, Alk

I check:
Alk every day (or at least every other day)
Ca, NO3, PO4, K once a week
Mg every two weeks

I do not test other parameters

 

[dakoop]

Who's working on all in one testing.

What you mean by that. A single test for all parameters, like one that you can make at home. That will give you

Alk, Calcium, MAG, Iron, Potasium, Phosphates, Nitrates. Something like that would be sweet.


Could it be even possible.

http://www.mindstreamh2o.com/

I really hope they figure it out because this would be awesome

 

[reef4Tom]

So, I'm doing my usual browsing of my tank and come across this little yellow thing on the bottom side of some live rock. What is it? Also, two other pictures showing some "stuff" on the sand bed almost right next to each other. I have a couple red-leg hermits, a lawn mower blenny, scarlet red shrimp, and a coral banded shrimp. Is my clean up crew to small? I have a 75 gallon tank. Had some snails but haven't seen them for a while.

 

[Oceansize]

If you're really tight on money, I would stick to fish for now. I can't speak for others, but most of the serious coin I've dropped has been on all the stuff required to keep my coral from dying.

 

[reef4Tom]

If you're really tight on money, I would stick to fish for now. I can't speak for others, but most of the serious coin I've dropped has been on all the stuff required to keep my coral from dying.

Yeah, I can understand that. I wanted to keep some zoas and or start a small colony. Everything I've read, is that they're relatively easy to care for (Except in my case).