How often do you test?

[goldnlovr]

I have a 13.5g fluval evo and was wondering how often I really need to test. I usually test right before a water change and a day after. I'll also test if something starts to look weird. Should I test more or is this overkill?

[humphreyhh]

I used to test very frequently, about every week, but gradually I found my water level quite stable so I check it every two weeks and rotate on what I check. For example I checked nitrate this time then next time I will check ammonia.

I have two clownfish one damsel and one lta in my 20g long. I think it all depends on how you maintain your tank.

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[Knighthawk]

My schedule is test KH,CA,PO4 and NO3 weekly. Then test MG once a month


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[Dew reefing]

I test every couple of months only nitrates

[Potatohead]

Alk about four or five nights a week, everything else once a week.

[JUNBUG361]

Twice a week

[A sea K]

Check Cal, Alk, and Mag weekly then rotate between Nitrate and Phosphate every other week.

[Ron Reefman]

The newer you are to the hobby, the newer your tank is and the smaller your tank is, the more often you will need to test.

New tanks: ammonia, nitrate and maybe phosphate.

Older tanks: Ca and alk regularly, Mg every couple of months... maybe nitrate or phosphate if I see any algae or if something dies and I can't find it in the tank.

Smaller tanks can get out of balance VERY quickly, so testing more frequently until you get very stable is the smart thing to do.

I have a 200g system that is just over 6 months old and I've been in the hobby about 12 years. Given the newer tank, but big system and all the experience, I test Ca, and alk every other week until I get stable results for a few months and then will switch to monthly testing.

[thegrun]

Great advice Ron. I still like to test weekly, it gives me a good chance of finding a problem and correcting it before it becomes a disaster. You see occasional posts where and established tank crashes due to unnoticed equipment malfunctions, many of which could have been prevented had the tank's parameters been tested prior to the crash.

[cincyjim]

Weekly and I test Alk, Calc, Mag, Phosphates, and Salinity.

[AshikurAB]

I test once per month.

[MiddletoM]

alk and ca about twice weekly.
Mag monthly
Phos monthly
nitrate never unless something isn't right
ammonia never unless something isn't right
nitrite never unless something isn't right

[Reefiez]

the more in-tune you are with your tank, the less you need to test.

alk,ca,mg twice a week (still figuring out my dosing)
salinity twice a week
phos/nitrate/pH once a week (holding steady at near undetectable levels)
ammonia never (after the first month)
nitrite never (only during cycling as a measure of cycling progress, and nitrite toxicity is negligible in the reef tank)
i also check at the temperature everytime i pass the tank

[Tspors58]

Testing can get people in trouble. As stated above, I also have 210g and bigger is better in this case,,,,regarding stability. I have about 20 years in this. 80g to 150, now 210g. I never tested during a cycle, some live rock and 2 months you need your CUC 2 months later fish. I test about once a year, maybe and only the basics. Most stay stable with schedule water changes. I watched someone distroy a tank from "tinkering" to test and make alterations. Small tanks are susceptible to swings. So yea once a year here.

[PirateToast]

I never test. I check the temperature whenever I feed and salinity maybe once a month. Nothing else.