Tests - How often do you...

[xxmurrxx]

Seems like i'v been slacking on my water tests as of late..
Everything is going good, I don't really try and keep my calcium, alk, etc up to "perfect" levels, I currently don't dose anything just doing my weekly 10% water changes.

Just curious how often you's test your water, and for what?

 

[Cal_stir]

monthly for ca, alk, mag, strontium, nitrates, I test everything that I dose.

 

[MDGraves]

I test on Sundays
Nitrates, phosphate, calcium, alk, ph, mag
But have not been able to find the strontium test where did you get it?

 

[Cal_stir]

I test on Sundays
Nitrates, phosphate, calcium, alk, ph, mag
But have not been able to find the strontium test where did you get it?

I got it at MOPS, it's a tricky test and takes about 15 minutes

 

[Zakk]

PH and ORP and temp monitored constantly, Ca and A[sub]T [/sub]tested twice a week, PO4 tested every two days (for now), NO3 once a week and Mg once a week as well.  Salinity tested after every water change on both the tank and makeup water, although currently I am doing 18gal changes every 2-4 days.  I also test RO/DI output with a TDS meter now, and plan to add an inline monitor to that setup. 

 

[Seggsy]

I am horrible.
Temp - maybe once a week.
Salinity - maybe once a month (I know the weight of salt in my water changes now, so I don't always test that even)
pH, amonia, nitrate, nitrite - every 3 or 4 months
calcium - maybe twice a year (though I have a clam again, I suppose I should monitor that more and dose as needed)

 

[Salty1]

I only test with general "test strips" once a month otherwise just monitor the corals and fish. You can tell when something isn't just right. I know I will get all kinds of flack for a comment like that but the environmental impact of the test kit chemicals concern me greatly. I have some old test kits that have some dangerous heavy metals that are quite toxic to humans and the environmentI always wonder what others do with their used test kits? Putting them down the drain affects your local environmentplease dispose of properly! Most communities will have a toxic substance drop off area (paints, bulbs & household chemicals)please use these services.

My 2-cents

 

[Seggsy]

Ya, that's it, the environmental impact, ya, that's why I don't test much.

 

[Darryl_V]

I dont test for PH, NO3 or PO4 at all unless I think there is a problem....which hasnt been in years.

I test ca,alk and mg once a month....might test salinity 4 times a year and I visually monitor temp constantly on my Ranco temp controller.

This is in a tank with very high ca,alk, and mg demands.  I dose 2liters of 2part a week....but Im very comfortable with my routine at this point and everything is pretty stable.

 

[Zakk]

I only test with general \"test strips\" once a month otherwise just monitor the corals and fish. You can tell when something isn't just right. I know I will get all kinds of flack for a comment like that but the environmental impact of the test kit chemicals concern me greatly. I have some old test kits that have some dangerous heavy metals that are quite toxic to humans and the environmentI always wonder what others do with their used test kits? Putting them down the drain affects your local environmentplease dispose of properly! Most communities will have a toxic substance drop off area (paints, bulbs & household chemicals)please use these services.

My 2-cents

Does make you wonder how much a packet of reagent can do to the environment (when it goes to a water processing plant), when gauged against an oil spill that sends millions of gallons of oil into the ocean unfiltered or unfettered.  However, would there not have to be some sort of warning on the packaging?

I'm not a tree hugging hippie, but if I really should be bottling the used test water, I'll likely do it.  Is there certain tests that are known contaminates?  Do I even want to be touching or breathing this stuff?

 

[Salty1]

[quote author=Salty1 link=topic=1289.msg8508#msg8508 date=1312068874]
I only test with general \"test strips\" once a month otherwise just monitor the corals and fish. You can tell when something isn't just right. I know I will get all kinds of flack for a comment like that but the environmental impact of the test kit chemicals concern me greatly. I have some old test kits that have some dangerous heavy metals that are quite toxic to humans and the environmentI always wonder what others do with their used test kits? Putting them down the drain affects your local environmentplease dispose of properly! Most communities will have a toxic substance drop off area (paints, bulbs & household chemicals)please use these services.

My 2-cents

Does make you wonder how much a packet of reagent can do to the environment (when it goes to a water processing plant), when gauged against an oil spill that sends millions of gallons of oil into the ocean unfiltered or unfettered.  However, would there not have to be some sort of warning on the packaging?

I'm not a tree hugging hippie, but if I really should be bottling the used test water, I'll likely do it.  Is there certain tests that are known contaminates?  Do I even want to be touching or breathing this stuff?
[/quote]

I would imagine this varies from manufacture to manufacture but simply open the package and look at the product warning symbols.  I feel the test strips limits what makes it into the environment. Actual electronic test units are probably better.

Not trying to change the subject of the post