ittybittypilot Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I have some live rock/snails/hermit crabs "cycling". Not sure what test kit to buy next...already have Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate. I plan to buy pH, Calcium, Alkaline, etc etc. Just doing this on a budget...what is the next most critical test kit I should buy? Link to comment
crouton Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I wouldn't really worry about any of those when you are just starting out. After you're cycled check the nitrates every once in a while. Link to comment
VW_TDI_02 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 If you're going with corals then get the Red Sea Foundations kit. That gives you Mag, Ca, and Alk. Link to comment
ittybittypilot Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 Yes, corals and inverts. Not sure about fish, maybe later on one for interest, but that's not the focus of this tank. I'm just trying to purchase everything on a tight budget as I go. I know I need to eventually test for pH and dKH, etc. Just trying to put together my "priority" list and purchase what I need next when I have a bit of cash. Link to comment
SchnauzerFace Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I'm probably going to get shamed for this, but I rarely test pH. I test Ca and dKH fairly regularly, but I definitely check dKH more often. I test Mg when my Ca and Alk are significantly different from what I expect them to be. That's not to say that Mg isn't important. It's just that it's the biggest PITA of the Red Sea test kits. All that said, I'd go for the Red Sea foundations kit. Ca, Mg and dKH all in one. If you're going to have a coral-heavy tank, you kinda just gotta bite the bullet and get these three good kits. Phosophate test kits are nice to have, but they can be misleading. You can have a phosphate problem and still read 0 if your nuisance algae is consuming it rapidly. So I don't test for phosphate. Your tank and corals will tell you when you have a phosphate problem. I don't have any specialty test kits like Iodide, Potassium, Iron, etc. But if you start dosing any of those things, you will need the test kits. I do have a copper test,but that's just because I had some unexplained shrimp deaths a couple years ago and I was trying to look for the answer (it wasn't copper!) Hope this helps! Link to comment
ittybittypilot Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 It does help. I'll see if I can find that combo test at a decent price. Otherwise I'll get the dKH first, then go from there. After the initial purchase of LR/sand/tank/etc etc, I'm wiped out financially. I'm a Vet tech....terrible payscale. Link to comment
Fnard Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 It does help. I'll see if I can find that combo test at a decent price. Otherwise I'll get the dKH first, then go from there. After the initial purchase of LR/sand/tank/etc etc, I'm wiped out financially. I'm a Vet tech....terrible payscale. prolly not the best of hobbies to get into then. just sayin Link to comment
ittybittypilot Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 Found a good price on the Red Sea kit. I think that's the way to go. More "bang for mah buck!". Thanks! Very helpful. Link to comment
Rural Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 i had similar questions a week or so ago, i found these on sale as well... so you mean testing kits like these? Salifert Testing kit list i hear red sea is also ok, but not API. looks they are on sale (Ca+) for $14. guess i will slowly amass more aqua gadgets now! i think i'll give them a try. thanks all for the advice, and continue to weigh in on the kits... Link to comment
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