What do you guys use to test?

[L/B Block]

I think @IOnceWasLegend laid out the reasons a lot more succinctly than I would have but I will append accordingly.

I will also apologize for being hasty and facetious when I commented that i would be kicking my trident to the curb.
For the most part the current trident I have works fairly well but there has been a couple mishaps as well. I actually hope to get another 2-3 yrs out of my current one before I would really consider getting a Maven.

On my current tank, it’s pretty heavy on apex and Red Sea so adding in a third iOS per se doesn’t necessarily thrill me either.

Moreover to Alex’s point I really don’t think you have to test that often unless you are running an ultra low nutrient system or spinning up heavy carbon dosing or gfo -where you might test twice a week. That’s my 3 cents. The Hanna largely works

If I was starting up a new tank-the Maven would be an attractive option though-you could just start with that for $1200 (current) vs spending $1900 for the two tridents and the apex itself.

I don’t know much about the hydros system in terms of its programming capabilities -I have a lot of dependencies and programming out the wha-zoo but it does look interesting for sure.

 

[IOnceWasLegend]

I don’t know much about the hydros system in terms of its programming capabilities -I have a lot of dependencies and programming out the wha-zoo but it does look interesting for sure.

This would be an excellent question to bring up during the automation workshop. I am, admittedly, NOT an Apex power-user; and my (very broad) understanding is that Hydros is more accessible but a bit more limited.

 

[MichaelB]

I think @IOnceWasLegend laid out the reasons a lot more succinctly than I would have but I will append accordingly.

I will also apologize for being hasty and facetious when I commented that i would be kicking my trident to the curb.
For the most part the current trident I have works fairly well but there has been a couple mishaps as well. I actually hope to get another 2-3 yrs out of my current one before I would really consider getting a Maven.

On my current tank, it’s pretty heavy on apex and Red Sea so adding in a third iOS per se doesn’t necessarily thrill me either.

Moreover to Alex’s point I really don’t think you have to test that often unless you are running an ultra low nutrient system or spinning up heavy carbon dosing or gfo -where you might test twice a week. That’s my 3 cents. The Hanna largely works

If I was starting up a new tank-the Maven would be an attractive option though-you could just start with that for $1200 (current) vs spending $1900 for the two tridents and the apex itself.

I don’t know much about the hydros system in terms of its programming capabilities -I have a lot of dependencies and programming out the wha-zoo but it does look interesting for sure.

So you need two different tridents and a apex to get automatic testing. (I was thinking you only needed a trident the funny oval shaped box thingy) Verse a Maven that would do the same but for less money if other was purchased new.
I veiwed them online but never got that information from reading sale descriptions. I've seen a hand ful of utube videos but not as helpful and to the point like this thread has been.

 

[IOnceWasLegend]

So you need two different tridents and a apex to get automatic testing. (I was thinking you only needed a trident the funny oval shaped box thingy) Verse a Maven that would do the same but for less money if other was purchased new.
I veiwed them online but never got that information from reading sale descriptions. I've seen a hand ful of utube videos but not as helpful and to the point like this thread has been.

So I'll stop derailing the thread after this comment, but: this is a big part of why an automation workshop would be helpful. The ecosystems and pros/cons of each tester (Trident and Maven) are not directly comparable, but generally: if you want to monitor your aquarium + test alk, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and nitrate, you would need:

Neptune Apex: Apex controller (brain, can monitor temp + pH), Trident (for alk/cal/mag), and Trident NP (for phosphate and nitrate)

Hydros: Hydros Maven (monitors temp and can test for alk/cal/mag/phosphate/nitrate) and x2 controller (for pH probe)

Hydros controllers are standalone, as each one acts as its own 'brain'. A Trident on its own is useless without an Apex brain. A Maven on its own can test and monitor and do other things, but - again - we have no idea how accurate (or reliable) the Maven is, since it's not available to the public yet.

 

[iCon]

Haven’t tested for most of 10+ years. Simplicity and stability will win every time

 

[L/B Block]

Haven’t tested for most of 10+ years. Simplicity and stability will win every time

How do you know alk is stable if you don’t test for it

 

[iCon]

How do you know alk is stable if you don’t test for it

Stable tank, that is. Went through all the controllers, dosers, etc. to chase perfect parameters for a while and wouldn’t do it again - Even with all of the cool gadgets on the market. But to each their own - I’d suggest long-term success requires balancing value/benfit:cost. More won’t always be better

To the OP’s question:
Hanna for alk ca po4
Salifert for mg

 

[MichaelB]

Stable tank, that is. Went through all the controllers, dosers, etc. to chase perfect parameters for a while and wouldn’t do it again - Even with all of the cool gadgets on the market.

Just wondering do you dose anything/ water changes?

 

[iCon]

Just wondering do you dose anything/ water changes?

No dosing, just 5% water changes “when I got to them” when the last tank was up. This was mostly due to logistics and not “what I’d want.” Water changes were up to 6 weeks apart at various points. Less than ideal but ended up with 12”+ acro colonies etc.

Plan for the new tank is bi-weekly 10%. Location helps encourage wcs

Last thought: Ask if you really need dosing carx etc. Probably wouldn’t do it unless the tank and coral load demands it.

 

[iani]

My tank consumes 2-3 dKH a so testing is a must. I use a trident that controls my calcium reactor. turns it on when low then off when high.

 

[derek_SR]

Alkatronic tests alk twice a day. I have not manually tested Ca or Mg since setting up my tank over a year ago. Hanna for no3/po4.

IMO - ICP test a couple times a year is all you need for Mg, maybe not even that. I don’t dose it and it just came back perfectly normal (1380).

Maybe someday but my tank consumption continues to increase and I am still able to ignore Mg, knock on wood.

 

[Coral reefer]

I use my freakin eyes goddamnit

 

[richiev]

Testing Nitrate or Phosphate more than once a week does not resonate with me. In fact, I am hoping to go to a monthly testing some time (not right now). Automating a weekly or less frequent process does not work for my understanding of efficiency. I do not like testing, but it is so easy to do with the stirrer that John mentioned, and using tests which are easy to do and to replicate results. And if there are any issues with my testing, I will see them in the ICPs, which I feel are a much better investment. Or in other words, if ICP can run automated in our tanks, that would convince me, but not some simple nitrate or phosphate or alk tests. That seems spending more time reading forum over forum article on how to calibrate the device etc, than just testing the water quickly. What I found out I like less than testing, is equipment maintenance. I know I am in the minority with my view here.

Some people don't want to deal with testing anything and the info is useful (eg if you're adding new animals or switching food or playing with ...). One person's simple and low maintenance is another person's over engineered. Eg a machine testing the main nutrients/chemicals in a reef tank versus repeated ICP tests + aquabiomic tests + multiple controllers + special dosing programs + ozone + CO2 scrubbers + phyto dosing + bacteria dosing + ...

Different people consider different things simple. IMO testing the main 5, in a consistent manner, even when you're busy at work or sick or out of town seems like a pretty low maintenance equipment choice in relationship to all the other stuff one can do.

 

[Alexander1312]

Some people don't want to deal with testing anything and the info is useful (eg if you're adding new animals or switching food or playing with ...). One person's simple and low maintenance is another person's over engineered. Eg a machine testing the main nutrients/chemicals in a reef tank versus repeated ICP tests + aquabiomic tests + multiple controllers + special dosing programs + ozone + CO2 scrubbers + phyto dosing + bacteria dosing + ...

Different people consider different things simple. IMO testing the main 5, in a consistent manner, even when you're busy at work or sick or out of town seems like a pretty low maintenance equipment choice in relationship to all the other stuff one can do.

Agreed in principle. I just think the impact of automated testing does not provide a great cost (financial/time) / benefit result, at least not for me.