Which Testing Kit?

[LIttle Reef Keeper]

Hello, I have been told to buy several testing kits for my pico reef. Wondering what brand and tests I should be doing for a 3.5 gallon pico tank with Coral and cleaner crew?

 

[heath]

Is your tank up and running ? I think it would depend on what is in the tank, your equipment and lights that you are using and of course what you want to accomplish..There are so many different brands/types of test kits out there..

 

[EricTMah]

I swear by salifert. Others like red sea as well.

 

[LIttle Reef Keeper]

Is your tank up and running ? I think it would depend on what is in the tank, your equipment and lights that you are using and of course what you want to accomplish..There are so many different brands/types of test kits out there..

Not running yet! In my other post I responded with two links and what I'm planning on housing as far as corals.


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[LIttle Reef Keeper]

I swear by salifert. Others like red sea as well.

What tests should I be performing for a 3.5 gal on a 25% weekly WC?


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[EricTMah]

Are you looking to monitor the cycle? Or are you talking about after the cycle and maintaining?

Top ones for Cycling:
Ammonia
Nitrate

Best for maintenance:
ALK
CA
MAG
PO4
NO3

 

[LIttle Reef Keeper]

Not to worried about monitoring the cycle, but testing to make sure everything is good before I add coral and through the tanks life.


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[reeferkeeper420]

Depends what you want to keep. But for the most part your going to want Alk, Cal, Mag, N03, P04, if your cycling youll need ammonia and nitrites. Also a refractometer, for measuring your salinity, not a hydrometer.

 

[LIttle Reef Keeper]

Wanting to keep softies such as gsp, zoa, mushroom


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[EricTMah]

Honestly. I wouldn't worry too much about it. In such a small system, you probably won't exceed what's already available in the salt. That's if you perform small, very frequent water changes.

Mods should merge this with your other thread.

 

[LIttle Reef Keeper]

Meaning not to worry about testing? Or testing Mg and Ca?


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[heath]

ok, I am in the process now of setting up a 75 gal, which is going to be lps and softies..I got the following test kits; mag,cal and of course I have the usual po4, nitrates and nitrites.. they are the salifert test kits.. I also have a 125 fowlr, and I only do the standard test on that tank..fyi, Iam using reef crystals on that tank as well..and I agree with Eric, with that size tank you should be fine with good husbandry practices..

 

[TORX]

There's are not many nano guys here and I don't recall any pico guys other then myself. Due to the frequency of water changes, I never tested anything other then temp and salinity.

 

[EricTMah]

Yes. That's exactly what I mean.

In such a small system, your corals will never get to the size that they will use up all the available CA, ALK and MAG in a good reef salt. That's why I suggested doing more frequent smaller water changes to keep the replenishment up.

I personally wouldn't waste my money on test kits for a pico. I spend it on better lights.

 

[EricTMah]

There's are not many nano guys here and I don't recall any pico guys other then myself. Due to the frequency of water changes, I never tested anything other then temp and salinity.

Exactly how I run my nano.

 

[heath]

great advise from great guys..

 

[LIttle Reef Keeper]

Should I at least buy a kit for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite to see if the cycle did its job?


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[EricTMah]

If you really want to. Get the Ammonia and Nitrate. Skip the Nitrite.

 

[LIttle Reef Keeper]

Ok! are we able to talk privately? I'm new to forums.


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[TORX]

Should I at least buy a kit for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite to see if the cycle did its job?


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I never thought I would say what I am about to say...

Just a basic cheap API salt water test kit will work. That is if you even want to test for it.