what to test

jamest0o0 · 03/09/2008, 09:34 PM

what should I test for corals (zoanthids,lps) I plan on getting saliferts and already have the cheapy kit that tests ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH... thanks!

Blown 346 · 03/09/2008, 09:48 PM

Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
PH
Calcium
Phosphate should get you started.

jamest0o0 · 03/09/2008, 10:07 PM

okay thank you!

tmz · 03/09/2008, 10:23 PM

If you are testing and dosing calcium you need to test and dose alkalinity as well.

kevin2000 · 03/09/2008, 10:34 PM

My 02

You don't need to test for phosphates - imo one of the most worthless test kits on the market.

If you keep softies then you don't need to test for calcium ... normal water changes will be just fine. As you start to add hard corals normal water changes should suffice for a while but as you add hard corals eventually the hard coral calcium/alk requirements will exceed what your providing in the water changes ... thats why you need calcium test kit (should have alk test kit even with non reef tank).

Hope this helps.

tmz · 03/09/2008, 10:37 PM

If you are testing and dosing calcium you need to test and dose alkalinity as well.

Blown 346 · 03/10/2008, 12:00 AM

Phosphate is one of the leading causes to algae growth, it should be tested not only for that but for the water you use as well.

Calcium should also be tested even with softies, just because the salt mix you have will have calcium in it, it should also be tested. Calcium is a main part of the systems health.

kevin2000 · 03/10/2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blown 346
Phosphate is one of the leading causes to algae growth, .

Phosphate test kits can only register inorganic phosphates which are quickly consumed/sequestered by algae and bacteria within the tank ... as such you can have a phosphate laden tank and your test kit won't show anything. The best use of a phosphate test kit is to determine the quality of the fresh water that your using to make SW.

Probably the best example of this is the zillion cyano posts on this forum where people have tested for phosphates and their test kits show zero. Cyano does not grow without phosphates.

As stated .. phosphate test kits are not needed - with limited exceptions a waste of money.

tmz · 03/10/2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevin2000
Phosphate test kits can only register inorganic phosphates which are quickly consumed/sequestered by algae and bacteria within the tank ... as such you can have a phosphate laden tank and your test kit won't show anything. The best use of a phosphate test kit is to determine the quality of the fresh water that your using to make SW.

Probably the best example of this is the zillion cyano posts on this forum where people have tested for phosphates and their test kits show zero. Cyano does not grow without phosphates.

As stated .. phosphate test kits are not needed - with limited exceptions a waste of money.

I agree with most of this but why do you think cyanobacteria are limited by phosphate?

kevin2000 · 03/10/2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tmz
I agree with most of this but why do you think cyanobacteria are limited by phosphate?

Cyano has been used to uptake nitrates in waste water mgt .. however they have learned that it does happen without the introduction of phosphates .. which are the limiting factor.

I recall there are a number of articles on this subject ... here's an old link with one of those articles .. might help

http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/66/1/133

bertoni · 03/10/2008, 05:30 PM

For stony corals, I would recommend calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium, since those get consumed in making the skeleton. pH, temperature, and salinity are also important to test. A good salinity device, such as a refractometer or conductivity meter, is a good investment, in my opinion.

Phosphate tends to be fairly useless, in my opinion, but it can be helpful in troubleshooting stony coral problems, since phosphate can inhibit calcification. Likewise, nitrate can be useful for certain types of problems. You might want to wait to buy them until there's an issue. Nitrite testing is useless, in general. I haven't tested any of these parameters in my tanks for years.

An ammonia kit is good to have around for emergency situations. I always have one around.

jamest0o0 · 03/10/2008, 06:05 PM

thanks a lot guys!

Aquarist007 · 03/10/2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevin2000
Cyano has been used to uptake nitrates in waste water mgt .. however they have learned that it does happen without the introduction of phosphates .. which are the limiting factor.

I recall there are a number of articles on this subject ... here's an old link with one of those articles .. might help

http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/full/66/1/133

interesting article--thanks kevin

tmz · 03/10/2008, 08:53 PM

Thanks for the article.

03/09/2008, 09:34 PM	#1
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	what to test what should I test for corals (zoanthids,lps) I plan on getting saliferts and already have the cheapy kit that tests ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH... thanks!

03/09/2008, 10:07 PM	#3
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	okay thank you! __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

03/09/2008, 10:23 PM	#4
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	If you are testing and dosing calcium you need to test and dose alkalinity as well. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

03/09/2008, 10:37 PM	#6
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	If you are testing and dosing calcium you need to test and dose alkalinity as well. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

03/10/2008, 05:30 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	For stony corals, I would recommend calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium, since those get consumed in making the skeleton. pH, temperature, and salinity are also important to test. A good salinity device, such as a refractometer or conductivity meter, is a good investment, in my opinion. Phosphate tends to be fairly useless, in my opinion, but it can be helpful in troubleshooting stony coral problems, since phosphate can inhibit calcification. Likewise, nitrate can be useful for certain types of problems. You might want to wait to buy them until there's an issue. Nitrite testing is useless, in general. I haven't tested any of these parameters in my tanks for years. An ammonia kit is good to have around for emergency situations. I always have one around. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/09/2008, 09:48 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate PH Calcium Phosphate should get you started.

03/09/2008, 10:34 PM	#5
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	My 02 You don't need to test for phosphates - imo one of the most worthless test kits on the market. If you keep softies then you don't need to test for calcium ... normal water changes will be just fine. As you start to add hard corals normal water changes should suffice for a while but as you add hard corals eventually the hard coral calcium/alk requirements will exceed what your providing in the water changes ... thats why you need calcium test kit (should have alk test kit even with non reef tank). Hope this helps.

03/10/2008, 12:00 AM	#7
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Phosphate is one of the leading causes to algae growth, it should be tested not only for that but for the water you use as well. Calcium should also be tested even with softies, just because the salt mix you have will have calcium in it, it should also be tested. Calcium is a main part of the systems health.

03/10/2008, 06:05 PM	#12
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	thanks a lot guys! __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

03/10/2008, 08:53 PM	#14
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Thanks for the article. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.