the neccessary test kits?

[yaneo]

Hi, guys! There are so many test kits around. What are the most important test kits to have and what is redundant?

[Gouldian]

I presume you are new to the hobby, thus the three most important test kit to get you by will be "ANN" aka Ammonia, Nitrate & Nitrite.

As you dwell further into the hobby, you will slowly add some corals and thus you will need "CAP" aka Calcium, Alkaline & Phosphates.

These are just the basics.

As to what Brand test kits to get, the general preference are Tropic Marine and Salifert.

[shoelevy]

to add to what gouldian said, don't forget ph test kit as well

[ervine]

I presume you are new to the hobby, thus the three most important test kit to get you by will be "ANN" aka Ammonia, Nitrate & Nitrite.

As you dwell further into the hobby, you will slowly add some corals and thus you will need "CAP" aka Calcium, Alkaline & Phosphates.

These are just the basics.

As to what Brand test kits to get, the general preference are Tropic Marine and Salifert.

if you do things right.. u can even do w/o the ammonia.. and even without the nitrite if u ask me...

[Acanthurus sohal]

I swear by Salifert, NO2,NO3, Phospahates, KH (hardness)-MUST HAVE!!!!

I have a refractometer (cost me under $100) from Jireh.at ginza (This is a MUST HAVE !!!!)

I have a battery operated calcium pin point tester, and a Ph one too.(dont think you need it!!!!expensive

If you perform water change weekly, you should be able to control silica, phosphates issues. I have a DIY water purification system , consisting of cannister filters for chlorine.

I am using anti-phosphates, silicate compound in 2 bags

(dont have the brand name handy- but you can source for them easily in LFS stores

[Kelmen]

The most important:

Salinity - get a refratometer, forget about hydrometer.

pH

KH - it's indirect interated to pH changes\swing

temperature

* ammonia - this testing should be intensive on initial tank run. Once tank stabled, you may do lesser test, or best, keep on always-check.

* nitrite - also intensive on initial run. You can only chk less once the tank stabled.

If you use tap-water or non-so-good water source, recommend you these as well:

chroline

- if you got chroline, and ammonia, they can be "deadly", according to my reading.

Secondary important:

Nitrate

Magnesium

Calcium - if fishonly tank, you can skip it.

HTH