Coral Question

[parkinsn]

Originally Posted by Glennrf38

Now who would use one of those cheap plastic ones? Only the best right? I'll look at that link just incase one of my friends are using the cheap one.............

I'm also thinking of upgrading my test kit to a higher quality one. What tests are esential and what kits would you suggest?

Ca, KH, Mg, work hand in hand to keep all three levels balanced. NO2 and NO3 are always good to know. I would recommend ELOS brand or Salifert brand test kits.

[Glennrf38]

Are those 5 the ones that I would need? I have one of the "fresh/salt water" kits in the blue box from Pisces.

[michika]

I would suggest:

Nitrate, Ammonia, pH, and Phosphate (this one is iffy), refractometer for general keeping. I think I use my nitrite kit maybe once on average before it expires, and I only use it when I'm starting up a new system.
Magnesium, Calcium, and Alkalinity for SPS and LPS.
As bonus add ons, I like ORP, but it isn't a must-have in my mind.

As for brands, Elos is a nice kit to use, simple, and mostly straight forwards, Salifert is good too, but I find some kits hard to replace/find. I also use PinPoint monitors (Nitrate) and Hanna's Phosmeter (phosphates).

I don't know what the fresh/saltwater box kit is sorry...

[Glennrf38]

Is there anyone in the SW Shawnessey area that could lend me a refractometer to test how close mine is?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Glennrf38

Is there anyone in the SW Shawnessey area that could lend me a refractometer to test how close mine is?

I did this with mine, it was dead on. Then it changed somewhere along the line. Just toss it, get a refractometer.

[Delphinus]

I'm in Evergreen which is close to Shawnessy, so drop me a line sometime if you like. (But as Brad mentioned, you're better off to get your own because those swing-arms will randomly change on you so you can know your error one week and not the next.)

[Glennrf38]

Thanks Delphinus. I guess I had better go get another job....... Looks like I have some purchases to do before I can get my tank the way I pictured it....... now how to tell the wife........eek

[Glennrf38]

I guess I had better think of going RO/DI too.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Glennrf38

now how to tell the wife......

Easy. Hey honey, look what I got!! Look really happy, she couldn't possibly get mad at something that obviously makes you so happy. Or, buy her some shoes to even things out.

[Glennrf38]

Nope..... shoes can be used as weapons..... LOL