How often do you test?

[H2o2]

I test when ever I get home to see if the doser needs to be tweaked as it is before water changes

[gregzz4]

I'd say it's safe to assume the ammo badge won't cause any harm

I test the big 3 weekly, and no3 and po4 every month or 2.
For salinity I test my new saltwater before each WC and test the tank maybe once a month.

[Coasting]

Ive tested once in my lifetime of owning this tank.... only because I got a free API reef test kit. I don't think I even looked up if the results were within normal range.

I check salinity whenever I do a water change (so once a month or every other month) and that's it.

[WarDog]

Wow, for the first couple months I was testing alk, cal, mg, nh3, no2, no3, po4 and salinity every second day.

I'll just stop that then. lol.

[gobytron]

Originally Posted by WarDog

Wow, for the first couple months I was testing alk, cal, mg, nh3, no2, no3, po4 and salinity every second day.

I'll just stop that then. lol.

your lfs and major test manufacturers thank you.



Seriously though...good saltwater is designed to get you the right water parameters.

Once you start to do things like add a reactor, or dose, testing becomes more necessary.

Also, I know that many people who spend 1000's on corals probably sleep better for testing.

Testing is better than not testing, just not a total necessity for every reef.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by gobytron

for me, after 15 years of reefing or so, no sps = no testing.

Testing helps, but it's not necessary for a successful reef.

Weekly, regular water changes really eliminates the need for it.

I am in the hobby same amount of time as this guy and I strongly agree with everything he just posted. But I have lots of SPS
I test never.
Last time I tested was a few years ago.

[reefwars]

I test every Sunday same with water change its like 10 mins on a slow day lol

[WarDog]

Just finished testing.

No3 : 5 ppm Salifert... opps!

All other params in check and tank looks happy.

[sumpfinfishe]

I perform my water changes on the first of every month give or take a day or two, then in the the middle of the month I do test for ca/alk.
I would and have bumped up the testing if something out of the norm takes place.

[Myka]

I have a maintenance company, and on all my clients' tanks I do the following:

Tank salinity - every week before water change
W/C bucket salinity - every week before w/c
Tanks with dosers (med-high demand) - cal and alk every week before w/c, Mg every 2nd week
Tanks without dosers, but lots of coralline - alk every week before w/c, cal every 2nd week
All reef tanks - NO3 and PO4 monthly
TDS in RO tubs - monthly
Check calibration of probes and refractometers - monthly


Fish only tanks - alk, NO3, and PO4 monthly, cal and Mg once every couple months. Yes, I dose fish only tanks. The tanks do better.