salifert test kits

cyclops23 · 04/30/2006, 06:20 PM

im going to get some test kits from aquarium supplies plus, but i was wondering what kits do i need to get. i already have two hagen kits(calcium and ph) because no one carries salifert by me. the kits i got in my cart are: alkalinity, phosphate, nitrate and ammonia. do i need any other ones?

mg426 · 04/30/2006, 06:34 PM

Calcium,nitite Mabe Magnesium

LaloV. · 04/30/2006, 06:35 PM

Maybe silicates, nitrites, it also depends if your tanks is in cycling process, maturing, etc..

cyclops23 · 04/30/2006, 08:38 PM

it is cycling again, i had to tear it down due to a phytoplankton bloom. on the plus side i added a 30g sump and a 30g fuge. ok, nitrites, but do i absolutely need a magnesium or silicate kit?

CarmieJo · 04/30/2006, 08:41 PM

I don't have them...

boviac · 04/30/2006, 08:45 PM

Depending on what salts you use you may need to supliment Mg. Test kit will really help here. You'll know Mg is low if you have a hard time keeping Ca buffered but I don't recommend going that route. If you're using RO/DI water you probably won't need a silicate test kit but hey it's always nice to know whats going on. I have those that you have plus Phosphate and Magneseium

Sk8r · 04/30/2006, 09:21 PM

If you want to keep corals you will want mg. If fish, you may need nitrite/trate. I'm corals, and don't own a nitrite kit, eg. Just depends on your goals, which is why everyone is giving you different answers. The great 3 for corals are calcium, mg, alk; for fish, it's ph, nitrite/trate, ammonia, phosphate. And everybody needs salinity (I use a refractometer) and temperature: I recommend 2 thermometers of different type: never trust just one.

cyclops23 · 04/30/2006, 10:33 PM

thanks, i'll just get all of them. if im going for broke, might as well do it in one shot

BTW, a little off topic, whats the best way to strain frozen food without dumping in the water it thawed in? would a tea strainer work?

cyclops23 · 05/01/2006, 03:22 PM

anybody? bump

facewedgie · 05/01/2006, 04:49 PM

fine mesh net, the kind used for live brine. any lfs will carry one.

04/30/2006, 06:20 PM	#1
cyclops23 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, WI Posts: 613	salifert test kits im going to get some test kits from aquarium supplies plus, but i was wondering what kits do i need to get. i already have two hagen kits(calcium and ph) because no one carries salifert by me. the kits i got in my cart are: alkalinity, phosphate, nitrate and ammonia. do i need any other ones?

04/30/2006, 06:34 PM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Calcium,nitite Mabe Magnesium __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

04/30/2006, 08:41 PM	#5
CarmieJo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 390	I don't have them... __________________ Carmie Only disasters happen fast! Current Tank Info: 54 gal AGA corner tank with a Solaris LED fixture; NanoCube 24

04/30/2006, 08:45 PM	#6
boviac Loves Tank Builds Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Altadena, California Posts: 1,584	Depending on what salts you use you may need to supliment Mg. Test kit will really help here. You'll know Mg is low if you have a hard time keeping Ca buffered but I don't recommend going that route. If you're using RO/DI water you probably won't need a silicate test kit but hey it's always nice to know whats going on. I have those that you have plus Phosphate and Magneseium __________________ No more tank.... ;-) Current Tank Info: No tank anymore - Hobby shift to Light Sport Aircraft

04/30/2006, 09:21 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you want to keep corals you will want mg. If fish, you may need nitrite/trate. I'm corals, and don't own a nitrite kit, eg. Just depends on your goals, which is why everyone is giving you different answers. The great 3 for corals are calcium, mg, alk; for fish, it's ph, nitrite/trate, ammonia, phosphate. And everybody needs salinity (I use a refractometer) and temperature: I recommend 2 thermometers of different type: never trust just one. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/30/2006, 06:35 PM	#3
LaloV. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: México Posts: 110	Maybe silicates, nitrites, it also depends if your tanks is in cycling process, maturing, etc..

04/30/2006, 08:38 PM	#4
cyclops23 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, WI Posts: 613	it is cycling again, i had to tear it down due to a phytoplankton bloom. on the plus side i added a 30g sump and a 30g fuge. ok, nitrites, but do i absolutely need a magnesium or silicate kit?

04/30/2006, 10:33 PM	#8
cyclops23 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, WI Posts: 613	thanks, i'll just get all of them. if im going for broke, might as well do it in one shot BTW, a little off topic, whats the best way to strain frozen food without dumping in the water it thawed in? would a tea strainer work?

05/01/2006, 03:22 PM	#9
cyclops23 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, WI Posts: 613	anybody? bump

05/01/2006, 04:49 PM	#10
facewedgie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 227	fine mesh net, the kind used for live brine. any lfs will carry one.