Testing during the cycle

Just wondered how often I should be testing the water during the cycle. Is it a daily job or more spaced out then that? getting my tank at weekend cannot wait

 

Depends on how often you want to do it. Doing it more often won't hurt anything. I usually do mine every three days or so.

 

Thanks mate

Become a lot more confident of getting started having found this forum, good info in no time at all

 

For the cycle, you will want to keep an eye on it multiple times per week to track what stage it is in. After your params normalize, you can resort to weekly or maybe even bi-weekly once established.

You shouldn't see major spikes unless something dies after it is established.

 

With my first SW tank I tested daily during the cycle and kept the results on a graph with different colored pencil lines. I also kept a journal of every little detail about my new tank. I had forgotten all that until I came across it recently. It was fun to read through it all and relive the excitement I felt as a newcomer.

Whether you test weekly or every day use a good inexpensive kit like API during this time. No need to be pissing away expensive Salifert, Elos or other tests like them right now.

 

brilliant info thanks guys.

Any opinion on which powerheads might be good to buy, im getting a 29 gal tank hopeing just to start off with live rock, soft corals and clownfish. I heard Koralie are the way to go but any opinions on model?

 

Haha, yeah ive already got a spreadsheet set up ready to go