Automatic Water Testing - Fish Only Tanks

SakanaChama

New Member
Hi Everybody - Do you know of an automatic water testing solution that replaces the API Saltwater Master test kit? I am looking to test 4 things - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite and and Nitrate. I don't have corals so I don't care about all that other coral-specific stuff. I have looked into the Seneye Reef Monitor but that doesn't test for Nitrite or Nitrate (wish it did). Would greatly appreciate any suggestions. Thank you -

 

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
Neptune has a system as well but I’m not sure what it tests. Personally I don’t think it is worth the money for any of the automated systems. My pH is monitored by my Apex, only because the probe came with the system, and I rarely test the others. When I do, I use the salifert test kit for nitrate and SeaChem for ammonia. I hate API kits they are notoriously inaccurate. I have never owned a nitrite test kit. Personally I don’t worry about pH. There is no point in chasing it especially if you have no coral. Chasing pH can really mess things up.

I know seaChem has both a pH and ammonia badge that cost very little (~$10) and hang in the tank. They give real time readings. I’ve never used the pH one but I always use the ammonia badge in my QT tank. It works really well.

My current tank (A reef tank) has been up and running for over 5 years and I’ve had SW tanks for over 20 years. I attribute a lot of my success with my current tank to the fact that I don’t stress over parameters. I just let it run as it’s own tiny ecosystem. I do water changes and that’s about it. My stock level is appropriate for the tank size. So things stay stable. In the time I’ve been in this hobby I’ve had the more success with this approach than I did in the past where I chased parameters.
 

SALTWAT3RFISH

Administrator
Staff member
Neptune has a system as well but I’m not sure what it tests. Personally I don’t think it is worth the money for any of the automated systems. My pH is monitored by my Apex, only because the probe came with the system, and I rarely test the others. When I do, I use the salifert test kit for nitrate and SeaChem for ammonia. I hate API kits they are notoriously inaccurate. I have never owned a nitrite test kit. Personally I don’t worry about pH. There is no point in chasing it especially if you have no coral. Chasing pH can really mess things up.

I know seaChem has both a pH and ammonia badge that cost very little (~$10) and hang in the tank. They give real time readings. I’ve never used the pH one but I always use the ammonia badge in my QT tank. It works really well.

My current tank (A reef tank) has been up and running for over 5 years and I’ve had SW tanks for over 20 years. I attribute a lot of my success with my current tank to the fact that I don’t stress over parameters. I just let it run as it’s own tiny ecosystem. I do water changes and that’s about it. My stock level is appropriate for the tank size. So things stay stable. In the time I’ve been in this hobby I’ve had the more success with this approach than I did in the past where I chased parameters.
I like to keep things simple. I also like robots lol. #reefsingularity
 

SALTWAT3RFISH

Administrator
Staff member
Cars parallel park themselves now. Some are fully autonomous. All I am saying, is that if Elon Musk invents an aquarium robot. I will smash that preorder button lol
 
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