How often should I test my water and what to test????

[jelezoglo]

I just bought a Nutrafin master test kit and am sooooo confused....

:notsure:

. I have tests for:
PH- High 7.4-8.6
PH- Low 6.0-7.6
Fe
no2
no3
nh3/nh4
ca
gh
kh
po4
We have a 65 gl with 120 lbs of lr, 50 lbs of live sand and:
coral beauty
2 percs
red spotted goby
1 fire shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp
1 sand sifting star
1 fromia ( red??) star
2 boxing crabs
feather duster
cleaning crew
pulsing xenia
polyups (sp?)
What test should I use and how often???? I always took my water to the lfs ( they are really good...I have not lost any fish/inverts...except for a little perc that was sucked by our powerhead

)
Sorry about the long post, but I was just trying to answer all the questions yall will probably ask.....thanks

 

[lion_crazz]

I would recommend to test for high range pH (not low range), NH3/NH4 (ammonia), NO2 (nitrite), NO3 (nitrate), kH (carbonate hardness = alkalinity), and Ca (Calcium).
You do not need the Iron and General Hardness test kits. You do not need the Phosphate test kit unless you begin to have algae problems.
I would test your water parameters every week on a new tank. If it has been set-up and established for 6-12 months, you could get away with testing once every 2 weeks to a month.

 

[jelezoglo]

Thanks.....I tested for everything today....that is probably why I got some funky readings...The tank has been up for 3 months now so I guess I'll test every week....