Test Kits

What test kits should I purchase before turning my FOWLR into a reef? I know I should deff get a calcium test but what else?

 

ph,ammnonia, nitrite, nitrate, calcium, alk, mg, and phosphates

 

I have the Red sea master kit. Im just wondering the other tests I would need specifically for a reef

 

I use the API reef master test kit, along with the marine test kit. The reef master one covers calcium, phosphates, alkalinity, and with my marine one I have nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, and pH covered.

 

Read post two that's all you need.

 

I would ask you how long has it ran as a Fish only and are you going to break the entire tank down and restart from scratch ? or are you hoping to leave it running as it is , with using the sand and or rocks in there now and just build up a reef system ?

PO4 and NO3's are where I'd start if you are not breaking the entire system down and just trying to convert over , And I find little to no use is wasting money on Ammonia and NO2 kits if you cycle , construct the system properly . I myself have not used either or in many many many yrs .
Patients is the most often needed and least applied element to any reef system.

 

*maybe* copper... if the tank/fish has ever been treated with something that has copper...

 

No no I'm not breaking it down I just wanna have the test kits needed to successfully keep a reef. All the sand and rock will stay ( I may add a few pieces of base rock but no cycle there) The tank has been established for almost six months now and I'm just getting bored with Fish only so I am starting a reef.

Right now I am using Instant ocean for salt and heard that I will need to buffer it. I am specifically looking for test kits for that reason. I did buy a bag of redsea salt and will be switching over to that fairly soon as I have heard it is the closest thing to sea water.

 

This is what I would do, I've found that API test kits are much easier and more accurate that Red Sea marine lab type ones. I got the API Saltwater Master Test kit and API Reef master test kit. They are both doing great for me. Then I ordered the MG salifern Magnesium test kit which I'm yet to get but i've heard salifert is really good stuff- though kinda expensive! This way you have everything you need and you know you can rely on it. If you had the money i'd probably do everything salifert however they are expensive buying them all separately. And most tests you don't really need to know exact anyway.

 

Honestly right now i have the API saltwater master.

I dont test any of them anymore because i got sick of them reading zero ;D

I do check Po4 every now and again though.

Right now i am testing Ca, mg and alk once every week or two at LFS because i dont want to spend the money on the tests....and because i dont see how my water would change if i dont change any variables...i.e use the same salt : reef crystals and keep dosing the same 2 part everyday - B-ionic. I have been getting the same readings for a while.

I personally dont think you need to be testing more often than i am for those things, but thats just MO. Id rather spend my money on the never ending list of other things that i seem to need