Test Kits

[BCOrchidGuy]

Well this was a pain for me figuring out which test kit I really needed so I hope this will help new people get the right stuff for testing their water paramaters.

1) Ammonia, get an ammonia test kit for cycling the tank, once it is cycled and stabilized you probably don't need to test for it as often BUT it doesn't hurt to check it regularly.

2) Nitrite, same thing, get a nitrite test kit for the break in period, once the tank is broken in same as ammonia

3) Nitrate, use your nitrate test kit after your nitrite level has spiked and started to fall off, THEN use the nitrate test kit once a week....

4) Calcium, a good calcium test kit will help you to measure the calcium being used in your tank. If you keep hard corals your calcium consumption should be alot more than if you just keep softies.

5)pH a good pH test kit is a cheap insurance policy, it should be checked often. Actually the easiest way to do it is to get a digital pH meter and keep it in your refugium or sump. This way you can quickly look and see if your pH is at an acceptable level, you will also see the differences between your nightime low pH and your daytime high pH.

6)Iron and Phosphate test kits are good if you find you are having problems with algae, always test your water for Phosphates before you mix your salt into it, You may need to get a RO filter or a De Ionizing filter if you have high Phosphates or Iron.

&) Iodide, Magnesium etc test kits are used by some people, they are usually cranky, and labour intensive.... If you find your calcium level is falling off more than it should try a Magnesium test kit to see where your Mg level is. If you have pulsing Xenia, Anthelia etc and it isn't pulsing or if you find you loose shrimp often test for Iodide....

As a edit.... Don't forget a hydrometer for measuring your specific gravity. The little scales on the side for salinity are usually only accurate for a specific temperature so find a good conversion table to figure out your salinity.

[TRS]

BCOrchidGuy,

Thanks for the information.

There are several Test Kits on the market (i.e. Aquarium Systems, Hach, Lamotte, Salifert, Red Sea, etc.). Can you and/or others make recommendations as to the best Monitors or Test Kits that you have found for each particular test? What is most accurate and reliable for you?

1) pH

2) Ammonia

3) Nitrite

4) Nitrate

5) Calcium

6) Iron

7) Phosphate

8) Iodide

9) Magnesium

10) Alkalinity

11) Strontium

12) Boron

[BCOrchidGuy]

I use the Pin Point pH monitor and I use Hagen test kits for most of the rest, EXCEPT magnesium, ammonia and Nitrate, for these I use a Seachem kit.

From what I've read most people like the Salifert and Lamotte, my experience with the Red Sea ones hasn't been favourable, Aquarium systems has been decent though.

One thing with test kits is they do either go flat or expire, I've had pH kits that read a pH of 5 when the water tests out at 7.5 with a friends kit, a new kit verified that mine was useless, so remember to take a sample of your water to the LFS once in a while to verify your test results.

[EmilyB]

If you can't get reliable test kits, take your water to a reliable reefer in your area, if possible. Do not take it to a LFS.

Never test Ca without testing Alk.

[BCOrchidGuy]

Why not take it to a LFS?

And yep I forgot to mention Alk... anything else?... I must be getting old

[EmilyB]

Taking it to an LFS is a rather broad statement.

One would not want to do that here, in Calgary, for example. We do not have JL or SWC here.

On the other hand, people on this group, knowing the advanced people in the hobby in their area, can still, likely, get their water tested using a reliable kit, and reliable results.

[wayne170747]

Cheap tester,


Well do you think I could get by with just three test kits? Amonia, Nitrate and Nitrite?

Some of the others like PH and Calcium seem a bit much and at $10.00 per kit it can quickly overwhelm the budget for fish.

[Aquattro]

Wayne, if you want to run a reef, with corals and inverts, you'll need Ca and Alk kits

[BCOrchidGuy]

If it is a real stretch for your budget get the last two kits next pay period, the kits don't all run out at the same time.... One nice thing about Hagen kits is you can buy the refills seperatly so you don't have to buy the whole kit again.