Starting out in the aquarium hobby, most people simply buy test strips (which I do not recommend whatsoever) or “master” liquid test kits. While these liquid tritration tests are pretty accurate, it can be extremely difficult to decipher color charts and differentiate between ever so slightly differing shades of yellow, green, and red. This leads to frustration and inaccurate test results, and may end up effecting coral or invertebrate health should a particular element be off. As we get more involved with the hobby, and want to keep more difficult corals, it may be time to invest into more accurate, easy to understand test kits, and possibly start testing some trace elements.
Colorimeters for Trace Elements
These handheld testers are small pod-like devices that you insert a test vial into. Directions are very easy to follow, as they tell you how much tank water, reagents, etc. to use. Results are displayed on a digital screen, so no guess work is involved. If used correctly, these tests are extremely accurate and much easier to use than typical tritations. Hanna Instruments offers a wide range of these handheld devices, including basics such as calcium, alkalinity, and phosphate, along with trace element tests such as silica, iron, iodine, nickel, and bromine.
Lab Testing
If you don’t want to actually perform easily over a dozen tests yourself, your life just got easier. Some companies, such as ATI and Triton, have developed tests in their lab that you can send a sample to and receive your results in under a week. These tests are extremely in-depth, and include all important trace elements, and even heavy metal contaminant parameters. I highly recommend these tests every year or so, more often if you are experiencing problems such as coral bleaching or algae blooms that seem to have no real cause. It could reveal that an often overlooked element is off in your tank. If you are keeping corals such as Acropora, Montipora, or Chalices that often lose color in many tanks, these tests are a good idea as little-known traces such as iodine and potassium play a large role in coral color, growth, and overall health.
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Probes
Some tests are simply a device or probe that is dipped into the aquarium to receive a reading. Most commonly, this is a pH or temperature probe that immediately gives you a digital reading. Some companies like Ice Cap have also produced instant salinity readers that are even easier to use than refractometers as they are simply held in the water for a few seconds. Calcium, ORP, and alkalinity probes are also being made by companies such as Pinpoint and Seneye. These are usually the most expensive option, but are the most reliable way to always know your parameters and if anything needs to be corrected. If you are able to save up some money and want to be able to automate your tank for the most stable environment possible, I highly recommend these monitoring units.
Important Trace Elements to Test for
Here is a list of important parameters to test for if you are keeping more advanced corals, or just want better color and growth rates.
- Strontium- This is a major ingredient in aragonite. Aragonite is a mineral excreted by corals, worms, and
bivalves. This fact, coupled with much faster growth rate in test aquariums dosed with strontium shows
the importance of strontium in healthy coral and invert growth. - Boron- Helps maintain pH and has been shown to increase growth of coralline algae and excretion of
aragonite by corals and inverts. Also enhances red, yellow, and orange colors within corals.
Advanced Testing and Trace Elements
- Potassium- Tests show that tanks with potassium dosing see enhanced growth rates and better blue and
purple coloration in clams and corals (especially Montipora and Acropora). - Iron- In tanks without iron, corals appear pale. Green, red, and most other colors are all intensely
enhanced when iron dosing is used. It also helps oxygen transport in the respiratory system of fish. - Iodine- Shown to help macro algae and sponge growth. It may also be an antiseptic for coral and help
them fight off diseases like tissue necrosis.
A Quick note about Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium
While beginner articles review the proper levels and some basic tests hobbyists use to measure these variables, it is important for us to understand how the three interact with each other. This further knowledge helps us understand why our parameters need to be kept constant and at the correct levels instead of simply doing it because we are told to.
Firstly, understand that alkalinity is a measurement of the total amount of carbonate, bicarbonate, and a few other ions. Coral utilizes bicarbonate. Calcium and bicarbonate are used by corals to produce calcium carbonate. Naturally, calcium and carbonate combine into insoluble calcium carbonate as these to molecules are naturally attracted to one another, This causes it to precipitate out of the water.
Calcium is naturally much more abundant than carbonate and bicarbonate (alkalinity), so it does not deplete as quickly. If you have excess of either alkalinity or calcium, more precipitation will occur, therefore reducing the level of it and the other element. If you have a shortage of one element, corals cannot use the other and will not be able to build skeleton.
Now, remember how calcium and carbonate can precipitate out as insoluble calcium carbonate? Here is where magnesium comes into play. Just as calcium and carbonate are attracted to each other, they are also highly attracted to precipitated calcium carbonate. So, precipitation will naturally pull more and more calcium and alkalinity from the water and leave it unusable to corals. Magnesium actually binds to the surface of the calcium carbonate crystal. In doing so, the magnesium ion has made the calcium carbonate precipitation less attracted to calcium and carbonate, leaving them free in the water column as a coral food. This is why tanks with low magnesium levels often don’t have much coral growth and have so much white precipitation around pumps and heaters. These three elements must all be kept within healthy levels for coral to be able to use any of them.
Final Words
While everyone in the aquarium hobby has their favorite brand of test kit or probe, their function is universal. While the above tests are typically more accurate than tritration tests, they are not always required to have a healthy tank but rather aim to simplify testing for the user. Most people overlook testing altogether and in turn can run into major problems with their tank, especially reefs. Even if you have been in the hobby for decades and haven’t felt the need to test your parameters, it’s a good idea to do so to ensure you are providing the best environment as possible. If all of your basic tests come back with good results and you still aren’t seeing the growth or color of your corals that you want, it may be time to test for the above trace elements or others that I have left off of this list. Either way, performing regular water parameter testing is a good habit that I believe every single hobbyist could benefit from.
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Wesley Paulson says
Amazing stuff !
mcc says
This is a good article. I’ve been very sloppy on maintenance and have to force myself to do it regularly. After all, I’m responsible for providing and excellent environment for the critterrs in my tank.
Ken Ishiki says
I noticed better growth with calcium dosing
Julia Burr says
Thank you
Erica N Montano says
I’m new to the hobby so testing is really difficult!!
conner stumpf says
Great read on some of the elements. With our ability now to supplement pretty much anything, it’s good to refresh on what the purpose of each is
Erica N Montano says
I find testing really confusing so this helps!!
Victoria Brewer says
The 3 Major elements are so essential to reefing and are fairly easy to test for everyone should test for them
don price says
Who knew testing was so important. thanks
Karen says
Following
Jenni0211 says
Great info! ??
Kenta Asazu says
Coolio
Douglas Campbell says
Good info need to check into some of these
silvercityreefer says
I find the titration test kits to be the fastest and easiest way to text my parameters. However, I do have a Hanna Checker for Calcium and it’s much nicer to have an accurate result every time. I plan on purchasing addition checkers for Alkalinity & Phosphate as it’s important that these test results are as accurate as possible.
Rhonda Swetnam says
Another great article! Love this website! Thank you!
Jack says
I want those fish
Leslie Pustilnik says
Great explanation
Adrien says
This really helped me! Thanks again
James says
Wow great work
Joseph Post says
I don’t test very often
JJ8033 says
So many books and articles say that you don’t need to do this in a nano tank. It’s confusing to try to figure out. I keep considering testing with Triton Labs to at least get a baseline.
Hardguyy says
thank you
Perry Eason says
Very concise information.
David Oreol says
Thanks again for the information. I guess my next purchase will be additional test kits. 🙂
Jonathon Berry says
Great info thx
Mike says
The amount of knowledge is mind boggling! I’m fairly new to reefing, only a couple years under my belt. I have yet to get to the stage where Its necessary to do the over the top testing…but I look forward to the science of it all
Savoury Kem says
Interesting
Mike Boisvert says
Great info , thanks!!
Diana Aliprandi says
Are use Hannah and Red Sea test kits about 2 to 3 times per week to check my water. I do need to send my order out to be fully tested. Thanks for the article
Compy Ginorio says
Great info.
Carol Mauch says
Appreciating the informative articles. I knew magnesium was important, but now I know why!
eddie roggero says
Good read, stability is defiantly key…
Jonathon Berry says
Great info
Matthew MacKrell says
I luv this stuff!!!
Dwayne Newell says
Macroalgae is the best in grade and free of and hitchhikers.
Krish says
Appreciate the information. Thanks
Wizzard_Dilla says
many thanks!
Jose Ponciano says
Because of you guys I went out and got the Hanna calcium Ph and kh and o boy it’s been very helpful and easy.
Robert Vice says
hannah needs to make a nitrate tester
Jorge says
I did not know what the deal about trace elements was, but this helps me understand a bit more.
Nelly Acevedo says
Such great info
Alyssa says
I have a master test kit, but I need to get some more advanced testing so I can keep things in check. Great info on how important it is
Chas Johnson says
I just want the free fish
Andrew B says
Elements in a reef? YES!
Kathryn Ertl says
Thanks for the good info!
chris head says
Elements rule!
chris head says
Elements are awesome for my tanks!
Tricia B says
testing, yeah!
Todd C Messner says
Thank you
Kris Kasarda says
Great post!
Chad Sosby says
❤️ AB!
cgault99 says
Thank you!
Austin berry says
Thanks for the info
Austin C Berry says
great info thanks
Andrew says
Amazing thanks
Nick says
Thank you
Carrie Harvey says
I need to up my testing
Tanman says
Love apocyclops
Kenneth Showman says
Hanna checkers are by far the easiest testing solution. Along with Hanna checkers I constantly monitor some of my parameters with my Apex probes. I am going to be switching to the Triton method to eliminate water changes, so just wanted to say thanks for all the helpful info. Wasn’t sure how I should set up the refugium or which type of macroalgae to use, but with all the knowledgable info you guys provide, I know I’ll make the right choices.
djuell says
another shameless contest entry
ems . says
great article and feed back. i love these blog topics, always very in depth and informative.