What does everyone test in reef tank?

[ScottyD36]

I see some beautiful tanks on here with amazing coral growth and I am interested to know what everyone test on a weekly bases and what do you supplement. So in my tank I test Ammonio, Nitrite and Nitrate. I will test Phosphates and calcium once a week. What are some other things I should be testing as well. Thanks

 

[Ron Reefman]

SG because it's easy, Ca and alk twice a week because I still dose manually. Nitrate, phosphate and silica about once every 8 to 12 weeks just to keep track of things I feed to the tank to help corals and sponges.

 

[josephxsxn]

*PH & Tempature in real time
*SG, Alk, Cal, Phosphate and Nitrates weekly
*Magnesium monthly but ReefCode contains it in its two part so stopped doing that and let ICP tell me if it's low
*Quarterly ICP test now for Mag, K, and other trace elements or toxins.

Then if the ICP test shows me somthing is low I'll test for it while dosing to correct like K (Potassium.)

 

[MrStoffel]

Daily: Alk, No3 & PO4 => most important parameters for coral growth, stability important especially for sps (will switch to 2x weekly once tank gets grown in)
Weekly: Ca, Salinity
3 Monthly ICP for everything else

For me this makes sense since i dose ATI Essentials pro that has all elements in a balanced proportion.
For water changes i use Ati absolute ocean once a month.
If i were to run a Carx i or dose balling in 3 parts, i would test Mg and maybe K also on a weekly basis.

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

Honestly this past year I have only tested salinity. I am running a ridiculously low bio load right now in all my tanks and decided to focus for a year on just letting them sit. I've been more focused on reestablishing my personal discipline. Water changes weekly, glass cleaning every day (have a tank 3 feet from a west facing window, didn't think that one through), etc.

 

[The_Skrimp]

I test salinity, PH, calcium, alkalinity, nitrates and phosphates at least once or twice a week. Usually a day before a water change and the day after just to make sure everything stays stable. Occasionally I’ll test magnesium but it doesn’t change much.

 

[arking_mark]

I only test for things I can control...

Temp
Salinity
pH
Alk
PO4
NO3
Ca
Mag

I also send out an occasional ICP test (maybe quarterly)

 

[BCSreef]

SG, Ca, alk, NO3, PO4 every week. Temperature & pH constantly. ICP every month.

 

[Daniel92481]

Salinity, temp = every 1-2 days

ALK = daily

Phosphates, Calcium, Magnesium, nitrates = biweekly

I manually top off RO/DI vs. having an ATO so testing salinity is paramount for me. I have also been testing ALK daily for the past month or two since I started adding Kent Marine nano A&B.

 

[elorablue]

Well I'm brand spanking new and my tank is just under 6 weeks old sooooooo....
on a daily basis I'm testing
Salinity
Temp
PH
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
and every 3 days
Alkalinity
Phosphate

aaaaand just ordered Calcium and Magnesium test kits so I'll be adding those to the list.
I know, more than a little fanatical but I actually enjoy the testing. LOL. I see it as an interaction with my tank.
Plus I have so much to learn, having this information gives me a good baseline .

 

[Blitzie]

Zeo Tank here

Temp and PH Through Apex
Alkalinity Daily
Calcium 2x Week
Mag. 2x Week
Potassium 1X Week
Salinity 1X Week

NO3, PO4 only if something like PE Changes
Ammonia never

 

[Gtinnel]

Once a week I test alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, salinity, and phosphate. I test nitrate about 2 or 3 times a week because my nitrates run a little lower than I'd like so I test it frequently to make sure I don't hit 0.

I really want to get an apex with trident so I can stop manually testing most of those things.