Water testing poll part 1 take 2

[Fly Guy]

Of those of you who test your water at LEAST monthly what do you test?

I forgot salinity but i kind of assumed we all check that with water changes.

[Phishnoob]

I just have a couple of perc caretakers and a clean up crew but keep an eye on Nitrates as well..even though without overfeeding and good quality water the lack of cyano is an indicator as well.

I'll step it up soon as the tanks are transplanted and the softies and medium light corals go in. I had a tank crash and then winter set in hard so my tank is basically very patiently cured rock right now though.

[whatevva]

I clicked "other" before I saw the salinity comment...sorry.

Someone actually tastes the water??????????

[skeety]

much better to taste the skimmate. mmmmm...yummy!!!

Again...(as I said in the other post). What you test for depends a LOT on what stage your tank's in.

But if you're asking to determine which test kits you'll need...well..een though I don't test for them a lot, the Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates test kits are CRUCIAL. May not need them a lot once your tank's up and running...but if ever there's a problem...they're good to have around.

Also...what type of critters you keep will determine which test kits are good to have. Ca and Alk are pretty much standard, if you're trying to get any corals to grow. But if you have a FO tank...these aren't as important. Copper's really only useful once. Esp if your using an old FW tank. But once you test for copper...you'll rarely need it again.

But one thing to note...if you're dosing ANYTHING, you absolutely need the test kits that correspond with that. i.e. Dosing iodine w/out a test kit that will test your iodine levels can be TROUBLE!

[Loverotties]

The other is Redox.That and a Ph meter all the time.If Orp are down then I do other test!I can't believe some one taste there water for a test.

[ChrisPrusha]

I don't normally taste it, although when siphoning I have gotten a mouthful once or twice.

Maybe I am missing out...

[mg]

I didn't read replies either before voting, other is salinity. Although as stated above I also test Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate if something is not looking right.

[know-it-all]

"test kits? We don't need no stinking test kits"

[Tim224DT]

Yes Butch i taste the water dont you remember the skimmate thread???

Not dont do it on purpose it just happens.


Tim

[Geoff]

i only test pH, alk, Ca, temp, salinity, temp. that is all. i can not tell you the last time i checked ammonia, nitrite or nitrate. i do not plan on looking at them for my new setup. if you wait long enough for the tank to cycle these kits are irrelevent.

after many, many years of experience you can just tell when a tank is ready.

G~

[VWD]

I am very bad about testing my water on any tank, I have only a few test and don't test very often, If once amonth that would be good, I don't think so, I do may regular water changes and just let the tank do it's thing, I have not tested a tank during the cycle in years, I let them cycle for a few months or longer and all turns out ok. I am a pretty lazy guy.

[Fly Guy]

Im thinking these are MUCH better polls than the first one i tried a while back. Interesting to me to see what the OFR's are doing. I only test for calcium and alkalinity every week, unless there is couse ofr concern. Not counting ph as it is tested 24/7.

Thanks for participating. keep em coming

[Loverotties]

Originally Posted by Tim224DT

Yes Butch i taste the water dont you remember the skimmate thread???

Not dont do it on purpose it just happens.


Tim

LOL oh yes but then I would rather taste the water then what you tasted!

[smeese]

Personally I only taste the water in my skimmer cup. MMMMMMMMMMMMM Yum. Honestly I stopped testing, and then started again religiously.

[wharyat]

Nitrate, pH (pinpoint meter), alk, calc, magnesium.

Forgot to check "other." The others I test is temp and SG.