Testing Saltwater tanks?

Question

I have ammonia and Nitrate/Nitrite test strips. My water has been perfect for 4 weeks running now. No change what so ever. Will I ever eventually be able to trust my tank and not messed with buying $10 worth of strips a month?

Answer 1

Personally, I test my salt water tank about once a week.

My tank has also been cycled for about 2 years now, so I know it's limits. I think the biggest indicator is how the fish are acting. I know if something is wrong in the tank. If they are rubbing on rocks my ammonia is to high etc etc

I would keep tests on hand, but once you are really set up, a tank maintains itself given the proper tools. (Such as shrimp & snails to clean up uneaten food & the proper substrate & rocks for bacteria)

Just keep an eye on it & you will be fine!

Answer 2

Tell us a little more about your tank.
What kind of filtration are you using? Wet-dry? bio wheel? live sand and live rock?
You can buy a good saltwater test kit that uses liquids and should save you money in the long run, about $40.00cdn.
It should last about a year or more.
When your tank is perfict, All of your tests are at 0 ppm(Amonia, nitrite, nitrate) you can start adding anything(fish, coral...) BUT add them slowly, 1 big or 2 small fish per month to let your filter catch up to your bio load.
You can add a couple of hardy corals per week if you are going to be keeping a reef tank, they don't add very much to your bio load.

I use a natural filter system (Live Rock and sand, snails and crabs... )and a large protein skimmer(in the sump tank) and I test my water every 2 months and I do a partial water change every 2 months and ALL OF MY TESTS COME BACK PERFECT.
If your Corals or Fish are acting funny, Test more frequintly to see if there is a problem.
My tank mantainance consists of topoffs every 2 days, cleaning the glass whenever needed and adding Tropic Marin Bio-Calcium once a week(I do not go by the directions).
I have 4 fish and about 15 corals so far and EVERYTHING is GROWING and VERY healthy.
I also have about 30 snails, 30 hermit crabs, a red sea star, a peppermint shrimp, a blood shrimp, a common cleaner shrimp, 2 emerald crabs...
This aquarium is ALIVE.
Dont Rush Mother Nature and you shouldn't have to worry too much about your tank.
Just Sit Back And Enjoy.