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Old 01-08-2009, 07:04 PM
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For my Ca reactor I'll monitor (electronic meter) the pH and at it's drip rate and bubble count daily. More just a glace to get a feel of things.

About every week or two (and sometimes longer) I'll record reactor pH, counts, system pH plus alk and Ca using Saliferts kits. As the Mg seems to be steady, test less frequently with a Elos kit.

As using IO salt, know it's low on Ca and Mg so I'll record for the first couple of water changes what a new pail mixes out as so I'll know how much to supplement. I'll test for SG of the new mix and system to ensure they match before the change using a refractometer.

Been a bit for NO3, but once every month or so (measuring zero all the time gets boring). PO4, as not having any real nuisance algea problems, using ro/di, have a macro fuge, rarely test for it.

Temperature is on a controller so not really worried about that but every time I put my hand in the tank, I think about it. I'll also be mindful if the heater light is on or the evap fans running.

I'm using this routine as had the system up for close to 3 years and is stable. If I'm changing something or trying something different, I'll monitor different for a bit. Example, changed to a different reactor and would do reading multiple times a day, to daily, every couple of days then back to every week or so.

Would say also if I was adding something, I'd be testing for it.
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