Water Testing - What and how often?

[reefhunter]

What do you test and how often?

 

I test monthly. I only test magnesium, calcium and alk.

[zygote2k]

same, but weekly. allows better targeting of desired levels.

[Sikryd]

Same - weekly, sometimes more.

 

+ Salinity

Temp, pH ORP daily (on controller )

 

I do spot checks of NO4/PO3

[Coral Hind]

Quarterly - NO4 and PO3

Monthly - mag, cal and alk.

Weekly - SG

Several times a day via ACIII - temp, pH

[reeftools]

ca,alk,mag monthly (correct with two part, then adjust CaRx)

[txaggies07]

Testing....I don't understand...

[bluefunelement]

generally weekly

temp, salinity, ph, ALK, & CA/MG when needed

others such as Iodine, Phos, etc when needed maybe once a month

now what software do you use to log this data?

I'm using Maquarium but wish it had an iPhone app - the iPhone apps are POORLY written

[DC_Reef]

now what software do you use to log this data?

I'm using Maquarium but wish it had an iPhone app - the iPhone apps are POORLY written

 

I'm an iPhone and Android developer. Send me a PM with some of your feature requests and maybe I can write a better app

[L8 2 RISE]

generally weekly

temp, salinity, ph, ALK, & CA/MG when needed

others such as Iodine, Phos, etc when needed maybe once a month

now what software do you use to log this data?

I'm using Maquarium but wish it had an iPhone app - the iPhone apps are POORLY written

 

hmmm, Brian Ward showed me the app on his iphone and it looked pretty sick...

[dandy7200]

alk, ca, po4, mg, salinity every few months or if I notice something doesn't look right.

 

When I first started I tested every week, if I hadn't done that for a few years I would not have known when things didn't look right and certainly wouldn't have a clue as to why.

[paul b]

My test kits came in wooden boxes so they don't work anymore. I did have the water tested by a commercial lab about two years ago. I am assuming the readings are the same .

 

Most of those parameters in an established tank should not really change much except calcium.

I know most people here change a lot of water so your parameters should be fine.

To answer the question, I check salinity occasionally and temp almost every day.

I don't test anything else as long as all the creatures seem "happy".

But if I had a new tank, I would test.

[Origami]

I test alkalinity every few weeks. This is because my hard corals are still growing, I run a higher level of alkalinity and calcium than my salt water mix provides, and because I want to keep an eye on the most sensitive indicator of my calcium and alkalinity consumption. Calcium probably gets checked every couple of months or so, for the same reason. Knowing my consumption helps me tune other things that are adding these components that I rely on for coral skeleton growth.

 

I check magnesium whenever I feel the need. It's a longer test with more steps, so it's a bit more of a pain to do. Monthly is probably about right for me.

 

I have other tests available, and I'll use them when I have a question about something or if I see something's not quite right in the tank.

 

Temperature and pH are monitored and displayed on my controller screen continuously, so I never have to "test" for them. The pH indicator is very useful to me, though. I look at it every day. Because of it, I can tell when my kalk needs replenishing, for example.

[paul b]

I can't really miss my temp reading. It is on that old, brass guage from my boiler. Very high tech.

My ORP seems to be 444 in the picture which is high. It is usually around 350 or so but the exact reading is not usually very important as it changes by almost 100 points daily.

 

[six-line]

I tend to test alk, ca, and mag weekly now that I have good test kits. pH temp and salinaty pretty much daily. The rest when I think there might be aproblem. I would like to see that iPhone app, I have been looking for one but haven't found one that I like. Thanks.