What do I need to get???

[bbailey231]

I need some advice.
I have a 125 gal, fish, lr, one soft coral, four inverts (not much of anything yet). Been up for about 6 months. I need to know what chemicals I need to purchase for the corals, rock, etc., to feed them and help them grow.
Also, I need to know what water parameters to test for what I have in my tank. I currently am only testing ph, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I want to order the salifert testing supplies, but want to make sure I get everything I need. I am currently using Red Sea testing products. Has anyone used the Red Sea and the Salifert? I would like to know the difference in how to perform the tests. While I read Salifert is the most accurate, I hear it is difficult to use the Salifert testing supplies.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[saltwaterjunki]

I test my calcium and alk at leat 1 every 2 weeks - I've been told that, but obviously didn't really believe, that testing calcium isn't that important b/c your corals will 'show you' if your calc is low.
I add calc at the min. when i do a water change, put in the clean water and let it cycle with the salt along with the ph maint. - not sure if it's the right way but, my corals are looking great.
I also feed my corals cyclopeeze

 

[bbailey231]

Thanks for the help saltwaterjunkie...btw, we are neighbors. I am in Raleigh! What a SMALL world!
Can anyone else help with my other questions???

 

[trigger11]

I mainly test for Alkalinity and Calcium, and Nitrates in my tank. Keeping the alkalinity stable is the best thing to do to keep the PH stable. I havent tested the PH in quite a while actually. Corals definitely use up the Calcium so need to keep up on that. I do agree though. Once a week or every other week to test seems about right. Depends on how often you do water changes really. If you plan on having a lot of corals then you will also want to test for magnesium and salifert is just about the only company that makes a test kit for it. Yes, the salifert tests are a little more complicated to work with but they are also more accurate. I had the Red Sea tests and about the only one I found accurate in there was the test for PH. The ammonia test invariably gave me a reading of 0.25 and I have heard this is a common occurance. The only time I test for ammonia and nitrites these days is if I add new LR or add a new fish which hasnt been in a while. And this is only to see if the bioload has changed significantly.

 

[bbailey231]

Thanks for your help!

 

[petjunkie]

I have the sailfert calcium and nitrate, the nitrate takes less time than my red sea test did and the calcium a little longer but not too hard to understand. My two kits tested out about the same on those two parameter though. As for supplements, calcium may be nessaccary depending on your salt mix and water changes should do the rest.