What liquid tests will I need?

gcis

AC Members
Jul 12, 2008
144
0
0
46
I am thinking about going to CO2 by the start of next year. Right now I have the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph liquid tests but I am wondering what plant specific tests I should look at getting before undertaking this?
 
Other than that I would get a GH and KH test kit. Really comes in handy.

If you want to test phosphates you can, but it's not required. I have one, but haven't used it since I got my EI dosing down pat. I'll probably start using it again in a month or two because I'm switching to PPS Pro dosing and will need to perfect those solutions for my tank.
 
Drop checkers are not test kits btw. But a glass bulb that is inverted under water containing a ph solution in a known KH solution. Here is a pic, so you dont go nuts trying to find what one is. But an absolute must in pressurized CO2, for ease of determining CO2 concentrations.

http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/co2-drop-checkers/gleaf-drop-checker.html

But as Jmhart mentioned, a phosphate test kit is helpful in the beggining, cause sometimes your lucky and have enough phosphates and dont need to add them or just tone down the addition of it, from the Estimative Index's recommendations.
 
AquariaCentral.com