Which Test Kit

Logzor · 09/29/2007, 09:12 AM

I have a 55 gallon tank filled mostly with soft corals. I have two fish, a blenny as well as a gobi. My lighting is PC.

What test kit is right for me?

lark · 09/29/2007, 09:27 AM

I use the salifert tests. Never had a problem.

Craig Lambert · 09/29/2007, 09:31 AM

Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. Those are the three most important water parameters for you to monitor. Salifert test kits are excellent, and lots of RC members use them.

You will want to keep Alkalinity level between 7-11 dKH, Calcium 400-450, and magnesium 1250-1400.

On a side note, you hobby experience says one month. I do hope the tank has been running more than 4 weeks before you introduced fish and corals.

Logzor · 09/29/2007, 09:43 AM

Yeah I added fish and corals at the 4 week mark and everything is doing fantastic.

All the parameters that I can test, Ph nitrate, nitrite are all at more than acceptable levels too.

With all the live rock, sand, and water I got I did not have to go through much of a cycle.

Thanks for the help,
Logan

Lifes A Beach · 09/29/2007, 11:02 AM

I highly recommend API test kits (American Pharmacutical Inc.) - they're great and priced right. I just bought the Salifert Magnesium test kit and very disappointed. In reading some posts here, many are having problems with the Salifert Alk and Mag tests so I would stay away from them for now.

As far as the type of tests, I would go with Ph, nitrate, alk, phosphates, and calcium for starters.

Craig Lambert · 09/29/2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by prideprops
I highly recommend API test kits (American Pharmacutical Inc.) - they're great and priced right. I just bought the Salifert Magnesium test kit and very disappointed. In reading some posts here, many are having problems with the Salifert Alk and Mag tests so I would stay away from them for now.

As far as the type of tests, I would go with Ph, nitrate, alk, phosphates, and calcium for starters.

Just to clarify. There were no problems with magnesium test kits other than that a packaging error occured, so some were sent in Copper test boxes, with a sticker placed on them showing that they were magnesium kits. (I received one of these recently myself). Magnesium is a key test and should not be overlooked. Certain salt brands are low in Magnesium (Instant Ocean), and it needs to be supplimented. As your tank matures it will consume more ALK, Mag, And calcium and low Magnesium will prevent you from being able to raise calcium. Also, Phosphate tests (regardless of brand) are relatively ineffective. They can only measure inorganic phophates and not organic phosphates.

The Alkalinity test kit issue was minute. Here is the information about it from the Salifert forum. (They are an RC Sponsor):

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1185538

Lifes A Beach · 09/29/2007, 12:53 PM

Here is a link showing problems with Salifert Magnesium tests:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1154964

Apparently Salifert is having problems with Alk and Mag tests kits besides their packaging issues. I would just be aware of these problems and know that there are other options.

As far as phosphates, high levels are a major cause of algae problems. Living in South Florida where phosphates are a concern, that is one of the tests I perform and recommended by many LFS. That's why so many reefers run PhosBan or RowaPhos is their systems!

Craig Lambert · 09/29/2007, 01:13 PM

"As far as phosphates, high levels are a major cause of algae problems. Living in South Florida where phosphates are a concern, that is one of the tests I perform and recommended by many LFS. That's why so many reefers run PhosBan or RowaPhos is their systems!"

That's true, I run a reactor myself. My point was that the test kits are ineffective.

09/29/2007, 09:12 AM	#1
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Which Test Kit I have a 55 gallon tank filled mostly with soft corals. I have two fish, a blenny as well as a gobi. My lighting is PC. What test kit is right for me?

09/29/2007, 09:31 AM	#3
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. Those are the three most important water parameters for you to monitor. Salifert test kits are excellent, and lots of RC members use them. You will want to keep Alkalinity level between 7-11 dKH, Calcium 400-450, and magnesium 1250-1400. On a side note, you hobby experience says one month. I do hope the tank has been running more than 4 weeks before you introduced fish and corals. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

09/29/2007, 01:13 PM	#8
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	"As far as phosphates, high levels are a major cause of algae problems. Living in South Florida where phosphates are a concern, that is one of the tests I perform and recommended by many LFS. That's why so many reefers run PhosBan or RowaPhos is their systems!" That's true, I run a reactor myself. My point was that the test kits are ineffective. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

09/29/2007, 09:27 AM	#2
lark Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 535	I use the salifert tests. Never had a problem.

09/29/2007, 09:43 AM	#4
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	Yeah I added fish and corals at the 4 week mark and everything is doing fantastic. All the parameters that I can test, Ph nitrate, nitrite are all at more than acceptable levels too. With all the live rock, sand, and water I got I did not have to go through much of a cycle. Thanks for the help, Logan

09/29/2007, 11:02 AM	#5
Lifes A Beach Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: By the Beach, Florida Posts: 1,368	I highly recommend API test kits (American Pharmacutical Inc.) - they're great and priced right. I just bought the Salifert Magnesium test kit and very disappointed. In reading some posts here, many are having problems with the Salifert Alk and Mag tests so I would stay away from them for now. As far as the type of tests, I would go with Ph, nitrate, alk, phosphates, and calcium for starters.

09/29/2007, 12:53 PM	#7
Lifes A Beach Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: By the Beach, Florida Posts: 1,368	Here is a link showing problems with Salifert Magnesium tests: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1154964 Apparently Salifert is having problems with Alk and Mag tests kits besides their packaging issues. I would just be aware of these problems and know that there are other options. As far as phosphates, high levels are a major cause of algae problems. Living in South Florida where phosphates are a concern, that is one of the tests I perform and recommended by many LFS. That's why so many reefers run PhosBan or RowaPhos is their systems!