View Full Version : testing tank
drywall_guy87
06/11/2011, 08:22 PM
i have a 20g with two clowns blue hermits(4) small,fl turbo snails(2),small red shroom,small xenia and zoos. its been runing for around three mounths. so how often should i test the tank i do it weekly now at the LFS. im going to buy the little test boddles soon because i cant stand not knowing how my tanks levels are runing. ive always heard small tanks can crash easier than big ones. is it worth buying them?
kfisc
06/11/2011, 08:33 PM
Yes, very much so- you'll be glad you got them, especially mag, caclium and alk. If your parameters are generally good, you can test infrequently, but obviously if they're off, at least once a week. With a newer and smaller tank like yours, I'd definitely test 1x a week or so.
drywall_guy87
06/11/2011, 08:38 PM
yeah thats what i though. one of my LFS has the bottles that are 1oz or close for 15 a piece. is that a good price or atleast in the ball park
clarky11
06/11/2011, 08:39 PM
yes you should begin testing at home. I would strongly suggest creating an excel spread sheet so you can compare previous parameters with the current one. This way you can spot abnormalities easier. The first couple months I tested every 3 days. When the tank matured to 5 months and up to 12 months I tested once a week. Now that the tank is way beyond 12 months I test once or twice a month. I have all the data on my spread sheet from every test. I use this to help with my dosing. I know through the trends when it's about time to add calcium and mag to the tank.
kingfisher62
06/11/2011, 08:41 PM
Since your tank has cycled , I would just start with a nitrate, pH and alk kit for now. When or if you decide to start dosing the tank then you can buy the calcium and mag test kits. With that size tank and the corals you have regular water changes should keep things in check.
mike5051
06/11/2011, 08:43 PM
I agree, get the test kits. Nitrates and phosphates are important things to check also. Water quality can go pretty quickly in a 20 gallon system.
clarky11
06/11/2011, 08:43 PM
I would add phosphate to what kingfisher suggested too.
kfisc
06/11/2011, 08:52 PM
yeah thats what i though. one of my LFS has the bottles that are 1oz or close for 15 a piece. is that a good price or atleast in the ball park
Check out Salifert or Elos test kits; if your LFS doesn't carry them, try a good online retailer- Drs. Foster and Smith, Premium Aquatics, etc.
drywall_guy87
06/11/2011, 09:03 PM
clarky11 i really like the spread sheet idea ill have to get my wife to show me thru excel im not to good at computers. man thats going to be sweet
kingfisher62 i do 20% water change every week its easy with a small tank and i enjoy doing it. i have most of the dosing stuff already my cuzin gave me alot ive dosed it what the guy told me to at the LFS
mike5051 yeah they were pretty good last week before my water change and im forsure going to get the test
drywall_guy87
06/11/2011, 09:04 PM
do yall think 15 bucks each is a good deal
kingfisher62
06/11/2011, 09:10 PM
Seems a little steep.
I usually pay about 7 bucks for most of them. Although the mag test are usually expensive , maybe $24.
drywall_guy87
06/11/2011, 09:20 PM
true where do you get your online or a LFS
mike5051
06/11/2011, 09:32 PM
I got an API reef master test kit for about 40 bucks. It includes calcium, carbonate, phosphate and nitrate test kits. The magnesium test kit costs about $25. The PH tests are about $8. The piece of mind from water quality tests is priceless.
mike5051
06/11/2011, 09:36 PM
I get them at petsmart/petco, I don't like supporting their business but the convenience gets the better of me. I buy the 5 gallon pails of salt from them also, I don't want to pay shipping costs on salt.
drywall_guy87
06/11/2011, 09:42 PM
nice ill check it out tommarow
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