When to test Calcium & Alkalinity?

[Apayson]

At what point in the 4 month cycle of a new saltwater tank should I start testing & adjusting the Calcium & Alkalinity? Is it best to start immediate when you initially set up the tank? Or a few months down the road when a few fish are already living in the tank & I want to introduce coral?

 

[ColoredRock]

Lots of variables... and hard to answer.

Lets start with a couple...

What do you have in the tank now?
How often do you do water changes?..

 

[ColoredRock]

And welcome!!!!..

 

[Apayson]

Thanks for the reply, I have yet to set up my tank.
I'm setting up a 13.5 gallon tank & plan to keep it relatively simple with utilitarian fish & test corals to start this months long journey.

 

[ColoredRock]

Awesome!

10% water changes will be more then enough.. get your feet wet.. dont worry about testing for alk an cal .. water changes will go along way.

You should definitely budget in good test kits. GO SLOW.. nothing good in this hobby happens fast!

 

[ColoredRock]

This is not an endorsement of BRS.. lots of good vendors out there... but this is a good snippet of information broken out 5 mins at a time.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/category/brs-tv/5-minute-saltwater-aquarium-guide