What do you have to test for in a reef tank?

jab502 · 11/25/2006, 03:37 PM

I routinely test for Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonia, PH, Alkalinity, Salinity, and Calcium. But a few of my LPS and not doing well. What am I missing? What else should be considered essential tests for keeping a healthy mixed reef?

jbittner · 11/25/2006, 03:43 PM

I also test for Mag.

Sk8r · 11/25/2006, 03:45 PM

Possibly it's phosphates. They can be bound up where you can't detect them. Try running Phosban and see if that doesn't help. Plus your regular weekly water change to replenish micronutrients.

ReefWreak · 11/25/2006, 03:47 PM

Depending on the age of your tank, you can more or less stop testing for nitrites and probably ammonia as well if your tank is mature. You could check the age of your light bulbs (seems like you're relativly new to the scene [no offence] so you've probably got new bulbs). If you've got bright lights, you could be burning your corals if they're too high up in the tank. There are a TON of little variables that could be messing with your corals. Check your water change's source water?

Best advice I can give without knowing much about your tank is waterchanges. Waterchanges from a good source with the correct pH and salinity will fix up most tanks that arn't doing well. Also, what brand test kits are you using? I've used crappy test kits that gave crappy readings and had a suffering tank because of that.

Good luck!

jab502 · 11/25/2006, 06:37 PM

I am very new at this, so no offense taken. I am also testing for Magnesium, but I forgot to add to the list. I am using Salifert test kits. Are they any good? Also I am 100% sure my water change source water sucks. I just found this out. Have changed water source but have not done a water change yet. I will do a change this weekend and see how things progress. Thanks for the help.

WorldNation · 11/25/2006, 06:41 PM

could be the bad water source. as far as lps coral go, i would try feeding them as well.

11/25/2006, 03:37 PM	#1
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	What do you have to test for in a reef tank? I routinely test for Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonia, PH, Alkalinity, Salinity, and Calcium. But a few of my LPS and not doing well. What am I missing? What else should be considered essential tests for keeping a healthy mixed reef?

11/25/2006, 03:45 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Possibly it's phosphates. They can be bound up where you can't detect them. Try running Phosban and see if that doesn't help. Plus your regular weekly water change to replenish micronutrients. __________________ 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%.

11/25/2006, 03:43 PM	#2
jbittner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Humboldt, NE Posts: 1,014	I also test for Mag.

11/25/2006, 03:47 PM	#4
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	Depending on the age of your tank, you can more or less stop testing for nitrites and probably ammonia as well if your tank is mature. You could check the age of your light bulbs (seems like you're relativly new to the scene [no offence] so you've probably got new bulbs). If you've got bright lights, you could be burning your corals if they're too high up in the tank. There are a TON of little variables that could be messing with your corals. Check your water change's source water? Best advice I can give without knowing much about your tank is waterchanges. Waterchanges from a good source with the correct pH and salinity will fix up most tanks that arn't doing well. Also, what brand test kits are you using? I've used crappy test kits that gave crappy readings and had a suffering tank because of that. Good luck!

11/25/2006, 06:37 PM	#5
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	I am very new at this, so no offense taken. I am also testing for Magnesium, but I forgot to add to the list. I am using Salifert test kits. Are they any good? Also I am 100% sure my water change source water sucks. I just found this out. Have changed water source but have not done a water change yet. I will do a change this weekend and see how things progress. Thanks for the help.

11/25/2006, 06:41 PM	#6
WorldNation Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 463	could be the bad water source. as far as lps coral go, i would try feeding them as well.