How Often Do You Test Your Water?

[NaH2O]

How often do you test your water parameters? What do you routinely test for?

Daily I check pH (monitor) and temp (monitor). About every week I'll check my salinity (refractometer). Then, every 2 weeks I test for Calcium, Phosphates, Nitrates, Alk, and Magnesium. Since the bulk of my tests are around 2 weeks, that's what I chose.

 

[Llarian]

I check the SG and temp of my nano every couple days when I top it off, and I check the pH when I do water changes.

I do water changes frequently, since I don't have a skimmer, but if things look stressed, or once a month or so, I'll check the full range of parameters.

I check to see how deep the layer of dust is on the bottom of my 50G once every couple weeks.

-Dylan

 

[Shoreliner11]

I test mostly as needed which is farely often when dealing with a nano. I still have not got dosing to be stable yet. Fast growing clams and corals make me constantly check the calcium/alkalinity to make sure they have not gone out of whack. Other than those I test as needed. I am meaning to get a pH monitor because mytest kits are pretty inaccurate.

 

[wrightme43]

I'm a little obsesive compulsive so I go with once a week. Theres never really any point it just gives me something to do. I know the test kit people love it. Also I like playing with the chemicals. It makes me feel important. LOL.

 

[Woodstock]

Temperature - daily... all other testing (ph, salinity, nitrates, ca, alk, mag, po4) is done monthly.

I do, however, test newly made salt water before using it for my weekly water changes.

 

[Hooked]

I do, however, test newly made salt water before using it for my weekly water changes.

That's smart--always good to know what you're dumping into your tank!

I monitor pH and temp constantly, but check SG, calcium, magnesium and alk every other week. I checked these weekly up until the tank was a year old. I also check iodine monthly since I supplement it (lightly)

 

[kevinpo]

I just check calcium and alkalinity levels every week.

Kevin

 

[pondguy]

I check temp. daily, SP as water evaporates; seems like evaporation rate changes every other day. Everything else gets checked monthly, or before a water change.

 

[CarlaW]

I check temp and ph daily and Ca. and Alk. levels weekly.

 

[class clown]

although it varies, I usually run some sort of test once every 2 weeks or so. Usually when there is a problem I'll test more frequently.

 

[SeaMonster]

test

i find it easier and so far effective by watching my livestock closely on daily basis, test if someone is not happy

 

[Basile]

I dose so i test differently depending if i just added new specimens of sps in. For nitrates and nitrites for example, its monthly, for Ca,Mg,Dkh its weekly, my phospate bi-weekly, PH, is done by my controler every 4 min, and my salinity done weekly too, thats my routine. I change my Phosban and carbon every 3 weeks. I've put other because i don't follow a set of weeks but as i said more along the need for it .