pen
 

Is that stuff all digital?

Re: parameters
 

My list would be this...

Plastic swing arm calibrated against a refractometer - about $12
pH? I have a meter, I can't remember the last time it got wet. I paid $100, next time I'd buy a kit - $17.95
Floating thermometer - $2 maybe?
Ca and Alk Salifert kits (once you have corals growing) $27.95 and $17.95.

The other tests, NO2 and NO3, have done at your LFS. Repay them by shopping there. That money you just saved could buy some nice stuff to put IN the tank!! :biggrin:

Your list - $415. My list, under 80 bucks.

JAWS
Is that stuff all digital?

The PH pen is I beleive. Check out the site:

http://aquariacanada.com/osCommerce/...db66400e0b2953


REEF_RAF
Plastic swing arm calibrated against a refractometer - about $12

I had the plastic swing arm checked against a glass hydrometer when I bought it some 10 years ago(refractometers were not available then :smile: ). I guess over time something happened to the swing arm.


Dave

Pricing
 

I definitely like Brad's pricing better. Question though Brad. I thought when you first establish your tank, it's really important to continuously monitor your parameters to make sure it's safe to start adding fish and corals.

Re: Pricing
 

Not really. If you're cycling rock, get a cheap Hagen NH3 kit to test daily. Once you have cured rock in the tank and it's run for a few weeks, take a sample to the LFS. Test for N)2 and NO3. If nitrites are 0, and nitrates not too high, add a small fish. You're on your way. If you're really paranoid, again, buy some Hagen kits (which will last a few months with regular testing) to keep an eye on things. I recall they're about 10 bucks a piece.

All the electronic stuff is cool and great to impress your reefing buddies, but it really isn't "required equipment"!

Re: Pricing
 

[quote="reef_raf"]Accurate testing is so important. Especailly when starting up. I agree you don't NEED the electronic equipment. You can use the standard test kits that you can pick up for about $10-15 for each. But it at times can be hard to match exact the colors against the test charts, making it easy to misjudged & be inaccurate.

Bringing water samples to your LFS is good but how many times to do actually want to do that before you get your own test kits and save yourself time.

There is must dispute about plastic swing arm to measure salinity. As they are a good starter @ $12 (cheap plastic) That even when calibrated with a refractometers gets build up of salt & are not very accurate in long term. Refractometer is most needed when you treat sick fish (ich-very common)for a treatment called Hyposalinity (lower salinity 1.09) Which needs to be exact.

When I first started in the hobby I got a the test kits to test everything (PH, No2, No3. Ca, NH3 for about $10 ea. Then measure salinity with a plastic arm.

You can always upgrade later with a refractometer for salinity & Pinpoint meter for PH. :wink: