How often do you test?

We test once a week..
SG, Ph, Ammonia, Phosphate, Nitrate, Alk, and temp..
We were testing Ca but our test is way off..

 

I test SG with each water change....so I can get it as close as possible.

Now that my tanks are more stable I dont test all that often, maybe every 2 months or so. But I am pretty franatic about water changes and watching my tank. I will test more frequently if I notice something going on or something does not look right.

My big reef tank I test ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, ph, kh, SG, phos (if any algea problem...have phosban reactor) and calcium. I dose 2 part solution so I will usually test the ca, kh and ph a little more freq..usually in the middle of the jug and at the end to recalculate if needed.

My 72g FOWLR tank I just test the basics, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, SG and ph

I have a 12g mini reef that only has a few mushrooms and zoos in it....I dont test that very often at all. Watch the mushrooms and the 2 clowns in there..but again do freq water changes

My 29g mantis tank I just mainly do SG and ammonia levels as they are messy eaters. However I do weekly water changes in his tank. If ammonia is off then I will test further

 

ditto.

 

Thanks for your responses. It is interesting to see how different our testing routines can be.

Hmmmmm - I'm curious to know if people who test more often have fewer problems?

julie

 

I have very few problems, but I base that on bio load, size of the tank, feeding the correct amounts and changing filter padding once a week. I haven't done a water change yet. Put this tank up in July. I just kinda set it and forget it. Only I surely don't neglect it.

 

When I first started the tank I tested about twice a week. Once you learn your tank you will be able to not test as frequent. I can looks a a couple corals and tell if things are out of wack. But until you learn your tanks consumption of things I would test at least weekly.

 

I am with Luna. Except my Nitrate is still at 20 or so. If there is a problem (like this last week when a fish went missing), I will do the ammonia and nitrite test to see if it is dead yet. I see a spike and no fish, I act.

I do record the results on my thread, but there is another program that a few 3reefers are using.....will try to find the link. I am going to start here soon.

OTTY has it in the post above this one....Tank Profiler (Parameters in Signature). Check it out.

 

Thanks guys - I appreciate the info!