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jfinch 
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 Posted: July 16 2004 at 9:07am |
Anyone can learn to test their water. It's not very difficult or expensive. The experienced eye can see when a tank needs attention quicker then an inexperienced one, but it's always after the fact. It's just too darn easy to maintain calcium and alkalinity through testing and dosing, which is why I will always recommend it. As for the myriad of other additives... I would exercise more caution and maybe lean more to the eye of experience.
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coreyk
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Posted: July 16 2004 at 12:16pm |
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how often do you guys test your ca, alk, and mag?
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reptoreef
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Posted: July 16 2004 at 12:28pm |
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Ca and alk seem to be the most quickly depleted... Do you have a lot of sps or clams? Test your Ca regularly until stable(dose if neccessary). Alk is a big factor in maintaining the PH of the bulk water. If ph drops, chances are that Alk is low( again, test and dose as neccessary, testing less frequently as stability is maintained). As for mag, I tested for my first time in 5 years, last week and it was at 1350(perfect)... I have been given the impression that so long as your doing regular water changes, your mag levels should naturally maintain well. If not, test then dose accordingly.
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jfinch
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Posted: July 16 2004 at 12:42pm |
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I test my alk weekly, calcium monthly and Mg "less frequent" If I'm fiddling with my levels and changing my dosing regime I'll test every couple days.
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Weimers
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Posted: July 16 2004 at 2:21pm |
Jon,
Just checking for clarification - if I remember right, you test your Alk weekly (because it's a good and quick indicator of any problems). You personally don't need to test the calcium all the time, because you know that your alk is steady. Correct? If it was high or low, then you would test Calcium. Right?
Btw, my Alk is still tilted to the low side, but my calcium is steady. Your suggestions are great - it has really helped. Thanks!! But I have to admit that I sometimes wonder whether I should be looking toward a calcium reactor. Reptoreef sounded like he had a nifty calcium reactor. (Sorry - repto - I can't remember enough of the details to be more detailed. But I'll bet Jon would love it.)
Renee
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: July 16 2004 at 3:23pm |
 jfinch wrote:
I test my alk weekly, calcium monthly and Mg "less frequent" If I'm fiddling with my levels and changing my dosing regime I'll test every couple days. |
I don't think it would be possible for me to test "less frequently".
Adam
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: July 17 2004 at 6:52am |
Adam and all,
Wouldn't you say that doing no testing whatsoever has a lot to do with your years of experience giving you the confidence to set up the tank in the right way from the start.
1. Using all Aragonite substrate of sufficient quantity and proper size.
2. Buying sufficient light, circulation and external filtration(skimmer, etc.) to make it all grow.
3. Then adding the right amount of LS, LR, LW and algae to get it going and keep it going.
4. And finally, inserting the right mix of organisms in the right order and quantity. (lots of coral first, followed by other inverts and more herbivorous rather than carnivorous fish)
Did I leave anything out?
Oh, and keeping a watchful eye on the janitor population so that algae is kept in check. 
Edited by Mark Peterson
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Suzy
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Posted: July 17 2004 at 8:05am |
jfinch wrote:
I test my alk weekly, calcium monthly and Mg "less
frequent"Â If I'm fiddling with my levels and changing my dosing
regime I'll test every couple days. |
When did you start testing for Mg+?? Mr Smarty pants!!!
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: July 17 2004 at 8:17am |
Mark,
Yep I think you got it. Plus, I don't keep those lame corals that end in pora. You stony guys what is it that makes you like them?
Nope, just green stars and polyps for me.
Adam
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Travis
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Posted: July 17 2004 at 4:28pm |
I test ca/ alk weekly usually... magnesium every two to four weeks. I both my tanks the ca/ alk levels can drop pretty quick, the 110g has a ca reactor and I drip kalk so I monitor that regularly (usually get the same readings) and the 55g with mostly softies and some LPS corals and one sps coral but it has a more fluctuating ca/alk level than the 110g... I test it weekly and add ca/alk as needed (which it is needed twice a week) and test nitrates monthly. All the expeariance in the world wouldn't make my tanks take up any less ca/alk. Now if you never add additives I guess there would be no reason to test...
edit: forgot phosphates which I test for monthly... and PH often.
Edited by Travis
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Travis
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Posted: July 17 2004 at 4:35pm |
Mark Peterson wrote:
Maybe someone else would like to jump in here too. And maybe you know what I'm talking about and I can't see the teasing, I don't know  But I will assume that you are serious and attempt to describe what I mean by "the look". |
It would seem to me the "look" is healthy vs unhealthy?? I'm I right?? I test to keep from getting a unhealthy tank... preventive maintenance. I'm sure you're correct in your observations but at the point you can see signs of trouble, the tank is already in trouble.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: July 18 2004 at 9:14am |
Well, Yes, ...and No.
First, the reason for my "No"
There really are subtle changes that occur before problems emerge. In my own tanks, I try to notice those subtle changes, though sometimes a problem emerges and I think back and realize that I saw the subtle change, but failed to act. 
And second, Yes in tanks that I visit just once or twice, I cannot see subtle changes for obvious reasons. As Travis said, "...the tank is already in trouble." That's usually why I'm there. 
I'm pretty sure that you too are learning to notice those subtle changes on your own tank(s), and yet only when you stop to think about it do you become aware of the gift of this developing ability. 
Perhaps I should explain. Even though I don't test much or often, I do believe that testing is important.
When we listen to someone tell us about their tank's problems, one of the things we want to know is their testing results. This is a way for them to communicate something of the tanks' condition, without actually examining the tank. And often, as is the case here on the MB, this and other info can lead us to a good diagnosis and effective solution, having never "seen" (or smelled  ) their aquarium.
$0.02 x 2000+ posts, that's over $20 of advice I've contributed to this MB
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: July 18 2004 at 4:03pm |
Mark Peterson wrote:
When we listen to someone tell us about their tank's problems, one of the things we want to know is their testing results. This is a way for them to communicate something of the tanks' condition, without actually examining the tank. And often, as is the case here on the MB, this and other info can lead us to a good diagnosis and effective solution, having never "seen" (or smelled ) their aquarium.
$0.02 x 2000+ posts, that's over $20 of advice I've contributed to this MB |
I actually don't care what there testing results are. Maybe I should. Usually I think people are including that info for Mark, and I just skip right over it. I usually care about how much rock, corals, fish, and light are in the tank.
Also, Mark's $.02 x 2000 would be $40
Adam
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: July 18 2004 at 7:18pm |
If my advice is like my math skills, I'm in trouble
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jfinch
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Posted: July 18 2004 at 9:23pm |
Just checking for clarification - if I remember right, you test your Alk weekly (because it's a good and quick indicator of any problems). You personally don't need to test the calcium all the time, because you know that your alk is steady. Correct? If it was high or low, then you would test Calcium. Right?
I check alk more frequently then calcium because it will vary more then calcium. And if you're using a balanced calcium/alkalinity additive (CO2/CaCO3 reactor, kalkwasser, b-ionic) then you're adding both in the same proportion that they are most likely being consumed (so yes if alk is fine, calcium will be fine too). For every 1 meq/l of alkalinity consumed through calcification there will only be 20 ppm of calcium depleted. If my aquarium is sitting at 3 meq/l and 430 ppm Ca and I stop adding supplements, within a week my alkalinity will drop down to 1.5 meq/l but my calcium will only drop to 400 ppm. An alk of 1.5 is stressful to calcifying corals, but a calcium level of 400 ppm is fine. That is why I check alkalinity more frequent then calcium.
When did you start testing for Mg+?? Mr Smarty pants!!!
I've always tested "less frequently" . I check Mg about once very two to three months. I've never tested low until just recently. Apparently my coralline is growing faster and consuming Mg faster then I'm adding it in my fish food and water changes.
Plus, I don't keep those lame corals that end in pora.
Hey if it weren't for those corals (and other calcifiers) you wouldn't have coral reefs as we know them. I'm just doing my part to acknowledge they're role 
If you don't add calcium and carbonates to a tank with calcifying corals you're most likely stressing them unduly. They need both to grow. I would dare to bet that neither Mark or Adam has kept a tank dominated with calcifying corals. If I neglect my tank (which I occasionally do ) my alk will drop down below 2 meq/l. The first sign is the growth edge on my plating montiporas lose their color. It doesn't take a real long time of low alk to cause this, maybe a week. And once the damage is done it takes a few weeks to get them back to full color and growth rates. Why should I wait until my montis start to lose their color before acting?
Adam and Mark... you know I love you guys, but I've got a feeling that we will aways be at opposite ends of this discussion.
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