Testing water for corals

[Bray84]

Hi so I'm looking at starting to go reef and got few corals in mind and are lps kind so what to know what else I should test for as already test for Amm,cal,ph,nitrate,nitrite,phos,alk. Thanks

 

[Sniperhank]

A quality salt mix will keep things where they need to be in a lps tank. Keeping nitrates and phosphates as close to 0 as possible will be your goal.

 

[Bray84]

I use Red Sea coral pro salt and my alk is at about 7 but got some reef builder to dose with. Just read have to check mag aswell so is there anything else will have to test for.

 

[Sniperhank]

What test kit are you using?

 

[Bray84]

Red Sea max,salifert and got some hanna testers

 

[Sniperhank]

That alk number doesn't sound like red sea...mix the salt up and test the next batch of water.

 

[Bray84]

I get it from my lfs so next time I get some will test before do wc.

 

[Sniperhank]

Get a test kit of your own and you can test all day long.

 

[Bray84]

Sorry but I meant get my water from lfs, I've got all test kits apart from mag

 

[BigRedsReefs10]

Red Sea mixes way higher than 7 dkh, I've been using it for years and when mixed at 1.024 it's up at 12.6 dkh. If your lfs told you they were using rscp they lied to you, it mixes on the high end of the scale for everything

 

[Bray84]

Don't know what to say as I go in back with them and see what they use.
Will test some water next time go get some see what it's comes out at. I've tested and got lfs to test my water and it's the same at 7 but waiting for mag test kit to come so can see what that's at as read low mag can cause alk to drop.