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ReefLady · 01-15-2004, 07:55 PM

I'll first make a disclaimer (LOL), that how often you test greatly depends on the age and stability of your tank, as well as your experience level.

Since our water parameters rarely budge, I rarely test. However, this is in part because we have a lot of water in our system, which offers more stability. Parameters may fluctuate more in a smaller system. Also, using a Calcium Reactor and a Kalk reactor as our only "dosing" implements, also offers stability.

That said, I test for the following:

Ammonia & Nitrite - Never.
Nitrate - Once ever ~ 6 - 8 months
Phosphate & Silicate - Every ~ 3 months

Ca & Alk - ~ monthly
Mag - Every 2-3 months

Salinity - weekly & at water changes.
pH - glance at the monitor a couple times a day.

What I shoot for:

A/N/N = 0.00
P04 - 0.03 or less
Silicate 0.00
pH - 8.05 (am), 8.25 (pm)
Ca - 400-450 (usually is about 420)
dKH - 8 - 11 (usually about 9)
Mag - usually tests right where the Salifert test indicates it should be.

That's about it. If something doesn't seem "right", I'll drag out the test kits. Other than that, at times I'll go 4-6 months without testing anything.

01-15-2004, 07:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
ReefLady Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 2,029 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'll first make a disclaimer (LOL), that how often you test greatly depends on the age and stability of your tank, as well as your experience level. Since our water parameters rarely budge, I rarely test. However, this is in part because we have a lot of water in our system, which offers more stability. Parameters may fluctuate more in a smaller system. Also, using a Calcium Reactor and a Kalk reactor as our only "dosing" implements, also offers stability. That said, I test for the following: Ammonia & Nitrite - Never. Nitrate - Once ever ~ 6 - 8 months Phosphate & Silicate - Every ~ 3 months Ca & Alk - ~ monthly Mag - Every 2-3 months Salinity - weekly & at water changes. pH - glance at the monitor a couple times a day. What I shoot for: A/N/N = 0.00 P04 - 0.03 or less Silicate 0.00 pH - 8.05 (am), 8.25 (pm) Ca - 400-450 (usually is about 420) dKH - 8 - 11 (usually about 9) Mag - usually tests right where the Salifert test indicates it should be. That's about it. If something doesn't seem "right", I'll drag out the test kits. Other than that, at times I'll go 4-6 months without testing anything. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice."