What to test for?

[tawnylane]

Hi guys -
Since it looks like I'll HAVE to have a planted tank with all my light, what should I be testing for (aside from the usual FW stuff)?
And what test brands do you like/dislike?
Hope to get some good info

 

[TomFromStLouis]

Not sure what you are asking - if you mean what chemical tests should you make then reading the sticky above about ferts and so on should help you out. pH, NO3, Iron, CO2 etc. are things you need to know about....

 

[happychem]

NO3, PO4, pH and KH are the most important things to test for. I've heard several people suggest that Fe is a waste of money and I tend to agree. Being the cheapskate that I am, I'll let the plants tell me if they need more.

 

[djlen]

Pick up a 'master test kit'. It will have tests for gH,kH,nitrites,ammonia,pH, and probably nitrates. It is cheaper to buy them all in the same kit than individually.
If you either have many of them, or have an established tank which probably won't need to be tested for ammonia or nitrites, you want to have kH,pH,nitrates and phosphates. The kH/pH combo is important, especially if you decide to inject CO2 at some point.
N and P should be tested regularly until you learn your tank's needs and how much of each to dose.
K is hard to overdose if reasonable care and research is done, and Fe test kits are, at best, difficult to use. I don't use either and would suggest not wasting your money on them.
I use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals for N and pH and Hagen's(Nutrifin) for P. They are relatively accurate, IMO.

Len

 

[tawnylane]

Thank you all! Had already read all the stickies a couple of times - I guess they weren't specific enough for me Have the master test kit, just ordered kH.
Len - just the info I needed. Will be on the lookout for those tests, as yes, I believe with my light situation, I will have to have CO2.
This hobby certainly does multiply! Suddenly I have 4 tanks

T