What all should i test for in my reef tank?

Ok. Here is what i all ordered from dr.foster and smith aquatics just a few minutes ago!

Test Kits i ordered are below!

PH
Nitrate
Nitrite
Ammonia
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphates
Alkalinity (Carbonate Hardness)
Iodine

This is going to help me out a ton! What do you guys think? Anything i missed?

 

Looks like you got it all covered! If you are using a hydrometer to measure your SG, I would suggest getting a refractometer, they are more accurate and you want your SG very stable if your gonna try SPS imo.

 

I agree with a refractometer for sps and also agree with not dosing iodine(mentioned earlier),you get what iodine you need in the trace elements of your salt mix, it's easy to overdose and can cause much more harm than good,plus if you don't dose it,you won't need to test for it.But your looking good on the rest of the test kits.

 

Everything is coming FRIDAY from Fish & Pond Supplies | Aquarium & Garden Pond Specialists. Can't wait to see where i am at in the reef game!

 

Just curious what test kits did you get?

 

A couple different ones. Let me see here. Might be a second!

 

First one:

Aquarium Water Testing: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit

Both of these:

Aquarium Water Testing: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals KH/carbonate and Calcium Test Kits

This one:

Aquarium Water Testing: Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Phosphate Test Kit

This one:

Aquarium Water Quality & Testing: Red Sea Magnesium Test Lab

And last but not least:

Aquarium Water Quality & Testing: Red Sea Iodine Test Lab Test Kit

The iodine is for future preferences!

 

Aquariaman, if it helps checkout these links, it might help and they are a good source for research imo.

Here
and
Here

 

I think the iodine kit was a waste of money, you'll use it once or twice and never use it again, there's really no point, unless, as already mentioned you dose iodine, which I would not recommend at all. Besides that, API make decent test kits. I used them for a while and never had any major complaints. I also used Red Sea, but found them to be less accurate and harder to read. (I don't know if they have improved them since then.)

You'll find you will use the Ca, MG and Alk a lot, PH doesn't matter that much IMO. It fluctuates naturally from morning to night and things like dosing sodium bicarbonate can raise it, at least temporarily. The only things I consistently test are Ca, Mg and Alk. All others you really don't need once you have your tank established and setup. I've always been intrigued with phosphate test kits, I have one too. I bought it when I was less experienced, but have come to realize you really don't need it and/or it's not very effective. If you have high phosphates, your tank will let you know. Also, if you have a lot of macro/nuisance algae growing, you probably have higher phosphates, but you can't detect them much anyways due to the algae absorbing them.

 

Out for delivery!!!!