When should I start my water testing?

Fishlip · 03/11/2006, 06:10 PM

I just set my tank up today with LS, LR and sw (which I didnt mix myself, I bought from LFS), I have proclear75 with ca2200 pump running. My question is when should I start testing my water?

scrmbld33 · 03/11/2006, 06:13 PM

i tested 2 times a week when i cured my rock, i think thats what your asking? after the curing, usually once a week unless i suspect something, ie missing fish etc

smcnally · 03/11/2006, 06:13 PM

You should test it now, and once to twice a day until it finishes its cyclee. Otherwise you won't know when the amonnia spikes.

bertoni · 03/11/2006, 06:14 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...13#post6933213

smcnally · 03/11/2006, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...13#post6933213

LOL...or you can post this again somewhere else and see if the answer changes

Sk8r · 03/11/2006, 06:30 PM

Keep a written journal, with dates, readings, notes as to how things behaved and what unusual happened...then as you get specimens, look at their behaviors relative to those readings. You'll acquire some 'bellwether' corals or fish whose behavior can often tell you when to reach for the test kit...and that keeps you ahead of trouble.

chemisfun11 · 03/11/2006, 08:21 PM

I use a computer program called aqualog to keep track of my testing and maintainence tasks. I tested for everything weekly unil I figured out my system.

Fishlip · 03/11/2006, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chemisfun11
I use a computer program called aqualog to keep track of my testing and maintainence tasks. I tested for everything weekly unil I figured out my system.

pretty neat. I'll try that.

theop · 03/11/2006, 09:57 PM

Here is a free spreadsheet that Crumbletop and I developed for recording tank test results:

http://www.the-sanders.net/ReefAquariumLog.xls

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=2

03/11/2006, 06:10 PM	#1
Fishlip Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 48	When should I start my water testing? I just set my tank up today with LS, LR and sw (which I didnt mix myself, I bought from LFS), I have proclear75 with ca2200 pump running. My question is when should I start testing my water?

03/11/2006, 06:13 PM	#2
scrmbld33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: south jersey 08050 Posts: 2,394	i tested 2 times a week when i cured my rock, i think thats what your asking? after the curing, usually once a week unless i suspect something, ie missing fish etc __________________ a left over shrimp shedding is not "a sicilian message meaning luca brasi sleeps with the fishes" fish are friends, not food Current Tank Info: 90gal salt, 2 250mh 14k hamiltons 2 110 actinic, 127lbs LR,50lbs tonga 70lbs indonesia 7lbs tonga branch asm g3

03/11/2006, 06:14 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...13#post6933213 __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/11/2006, 06:30 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Keep a written journal, with dates, readings, notes as to how things behaved and what unusual happened...then as you get specimens, look at their behaviors relative to those readings. You'll acquire some 'bellwether' corals or fish whose behavior can often tell you when to reach for the test kit...and that keeps you ahead of trouble. __________________ 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%.

03/11/2006, 08:21 PM	#7
chemisfun11 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bellmore,NY Posts: 288	I use a computer program called aqualog to keep track of my testing and maintainence tasks. I tested for everything weekly unil I figured out my system. __________________ I wish I could think of something clever to write here... Current Tank Info: Custom 170 gallon 54"x30"x24" low iron rimless glass tank, 20g fuge, 100g sump, AquaC EV 240 skimmer, Geo Calcium reactor

03/11/2006, 06:13 PM	#3
smcnally Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: South Shore, MA Posts: 1,181	You should test it now, and once to twice a day until it finishes its cyclee. Otherwise you won't know when the amonnia spikes.

03/11/2006, 09:57 PM	#9
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	Here is a free spreadsheet that Crumbletop and I developed for recording tank test results: http://www.the-sanders.net/ReefAquariumLog.xls http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=2