Pods and Testing equipment!

[Iplantz]

I am looking at getting into some Sps and was wondering is anyone uses Red Sea Mag. Kits? I am going to get (I think):

Red Sea Magnesium Test kit
API Saltwater Test kit
API Reef master test kit

I have used the API and there good enough for me and my corals, but what about the Red Sea kit?

Also, will pods eat strands of chaeto and ulva? Will ordering pods help clean up my tank?

[ErikH]

I am looking at getting into some Sps and was wondering is anyone uses Red Sea Mag. Kits? I am going to get (I think):

Red Sea Magnesium Test kit
API Saltwater Test kit
API Reef master test kit

I have used the API and there good enough for me and my corals, but what about the Red Sea kit?

Also, will pods eat strands of chaeto and ulva? Will ordering pods help clean up my tank?

The only recommended tests are salifert. I use API, and have had problems with bad reagents in the past. Ive never used a red sea kit. Add lots of LR and LS for de-nitrification, and you will need the plain jane SW kit much less. I would save the money on that kit, just have your LFS test your Ammonia etc, and spend your cash on CA and Alk kits. the more rock and sand, the more stable in the long run, and the less predators you have on your microfauna, the more itty bitty detritovores you get. If you want your sand stirred, get an engineer goby and a conch.

Pods will have little impact on "what you see", as they are detritivores, not so much algae eaters. Pods will proliferate on their own, just don't go buying a fish that eats them right away, or they will never make it. That would slowly starve your fish.

[Iplantz]

I don't really have a LFS here in Georgetown, all of them are in Austin. What parameter do you test for regularly? I know I need to test for Calcium, Magnesium, Alk, ph, Nitrate, Phosphates. Should I just forget all about those and just invest in Calcium alk and magnesium kits? I mean I'll make sure my waters fine first with a panel test at my LFS, but at the most I'm there 2c a month.

This is what I had planned on buying.

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Reef Master Test Kit 24.99
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit 19.99
E.S.V. B-Ionic 2-Part Calcium Buffer 64oz (32oz each bottle) 17.99
E.S.V. B-Ionic Magnesium 32oz 9.99
Marine Depot Refractometer 49.99
Red Sea Magnesium Test Lab Test Kit 15.99
65W Dual Actinic 03/7100K Blue PowerCompact Bulb - Square Pin 25.99

I know I need the supplements, refractometer, and bulb for sure. The test kits are the only grey area for me really. I don't want spend a fortune though as I only test 2c a week, and I don't need a million tests now, just 50 or so.

AND pods wouldn't be for a a Mandarin or anything special, just to thrive in the Cheato.

[wesheltonj]

I would substitute Seachem Reef Magesium for the ESV, it will go farther and be cheaper in the long run and upgrade to the Salifert Mg test kit. The Red Sea does not test as detailed as the Salifert. I would also think about getting the gallon size 2-part, it to will be cheaper on the long run and buy some small bottles, to keep small amounts in, for day to day use. Too bad, you dont need a straight pin bulb, I have 2 that I am trying to get rid of.

[jrsatx20]

I THINK THERE ARE 4 QTS TO A GALLON. 17.99X4=71.96 OR BUY THE GALLON SIZE FOR 40$. I THINK THEY SELL CONVERSION KITS FOR THE LIGHTS I JUST DONT REMEMBER WHERE I SAW THEM.

[Joshua]

I know I need to test for Calcium, Magnesium, Alk, ph, Nitrate, Phosphates. Should I just forget all about those and just invest in Calcium alk and magnesium kits? I mean I'll make sure my waters fine first with a panel test at my LFS, but at the most I'm there 2c a month.

The only things that I have ever tested for more than once (ie, I bought the kits, used them once and never touched them again) are Calcium and Alk, both Salifert and those are the only kits I'll probably ever buy unless I'm having some sort of strange problem that I can't figure out. Oh, I did have a pH meter I used to test the calcium reactor effluent to dial it in but I quit bothering to use that on the tank water because it always showed low pH and all my critters were happy so I left it alone.

EDIT: As for the refractometer, you can find them much cheaper on eBay. My neighbor got a nice one with a built-in light for like $25.

EDIT2: Also since you're buying so much it might be useful to check this out for Ca/Alk/and maybe Mag if you get a test kit and feel the need to dose it (I've never bothered): http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

[Iplantz]

I was just thinking Biotic because I didn't want to mess with any ph swinging products or powder until I was a little more seasoned. Would you recommend Bulkreefsupply?

[Joshua]

B-Ionic is great, but the Alk portion will swing your pH just like any buffer will. No matter what you use, just be careful with it and start off slowly. Here's a link that IIRC tells you how much of each product you'll need + how much you can get away with dosing per day without causing problems.
http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html