What do I need to Purchase for Testing

Hi All,

I just set up a salt water tank on November 26. 30 Gallon. Added 30lbs live sand washed until running clearly, 30lbs of cured Fiji LR on Nov 31st. I have a power filter on it for a 60 gallon tank and a circulator 2500 & heated to 78 degrees.

I bought a Hydrometer and have been using my API freshwater test kit. Is that ok or do I need a marine test kit. I'm also seeing a lot about calcium testing?
I need help with what test kits I should own so I can make sure I am all good before I add anything else.

Thanks a bunch for you help

 

Sounds like a good start.

Consider a refractometer if your goal is to keep corals.

You should test routinely for ammonia, nitrates, pH, alk, ca and magnesium occassionally. What you intend to keep is usually an indicator about what you need to test for.

Personally I would look to a different test kit than the API.

 

Can you tell me what I should order for a brand plz and do I have to buy marine test kits or does fresh water test kits work too?

Right now just LR and maybe in a few month I will add a few fish.

 

Freshwater test kits do not necessarily work in saltwater, so you want test that state saltwater or marine. Seachem, Elos and Salifert are some of the better test kits.

 

Also can you tell me what the results of each of these tests should read?

Thanks so much for your help

 

Buy the API master and reef test kit, they are only $20 each. A refractometer cost $27 from ebay
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Reef Master Test Kit
Salinity Refractometer 4 Aquarium Hydrometer - SOFTCASE - eBay (item 390240155644 end time Dec-14-10 12:53:42 PST)

 

Is a hydrometer and refractometer the same thing or do I need both?

 

Pet Paradise

your tests need to be
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = if its soft coral and fish - less than 20ppm if its SPS less than 2ppm
SG/ salinity - 1.025 - 1.026 or 35 ppt
Magnesium - 1250 - 1350
Calcium = 380 - 450
Alkalinity/ DKH = (2.5 - 4 meq/l or 7 - 11 DKH
phosphate - 0 - 0.03


Steve

 

They do the same thing except a hydrometer is really inaccurate. You need to clean the hydrometer or else it will lead you to killing your livestock.

 

Thank you so much!!