Next Item On The List?

[dayzofspeed]

got a small amount of extra cash coming my way tomorrow from an unexpected small landscaping job and am splitting it 50/50 with swmbo, with my share i will definitely get a 25kilo bag of sand as i think thats the next natural progression for the tank but cant decide whats the best use of the rest, choices are between a couple of powerheads (currently using a couple of pumps for circulation but want them out as one is for my skimmer once the sump is set up) and refractometer, a range of testing kits, or some softie frags to supplement the free mushroom i got with my LR, was also thinking about an ro unit but i feel thats not necessary at this point in time. livestock is not on my mind at the moment, also saw a nice 7ft'er on ebay but expect that to go for more than £50 quid i'm not normally indecisive but i'm struggling to make up my mind so any input would be welcome......... Kevin

 

[seffieuk]

Well, its all according what the test kits are, as assume you already have the basics, like phosphate etc? So, I would go with the better powerheads every day of the week

Seffie x

 

[dayzofspeed]

Well, its all according what the test kits are, as assume you already have the basics, like phosphate etc? So, I would go with the better powerheads every day of the week

Seffie x

actually no i dont have any of the tests yet, but there is reason behind my madness. all the rock i have was transported in water (30mins travel time), no apparent die off & i have a good amount of stuff happily growing away in there including bristle/fan worms, copepods, snails, bristle & asterina stars and a mushroom also the aiptaisia that appear at regular intervals and no increased algae growth so took a bit of a gamble and decided not to get test kits until i was ready for an increase in the bio load once the sand was put in place. although i did add 1 red legged hermit

 

[seffieuk]

Naughty naughty, get yourself a nitrAte and Phosphate kit Mr you wont need calcium or mag until you are keeping several hard corals as your water changes should take care of that.

 

[dayzofspeed]

Naughty naughty, get yourself a nitrAte and Phosphate kit Mr you wont need calcium or mag until you are keeping several hard corals as your water changes should take care of that.

think i got off quite lightly with that
going to go for either api saltwater master kit or might splash out and give the respective salifert ones a go
and i apologise for being so cavalier, it wont happen again

 

[dayzofspeed]

my shopping spree has now been temporarily put on hold, as i got paid for the work by cheque, so much for my planned shopping tomorrow oh well, rome wasnt built in a day

 

[jameshughes1989]

Go for the Red Sea kits, bit more money but far better.

 

[dayzofspeed]

Go for the Red Sea kits, bit more money but far better.

see this is what confuses the hell out of me, got 3 different recommendations now

 

[jameshughes1989]

For me API is a No No, Salifert is the standard a lot use but from all the stuff Ive seen on the internet if you want accuracy and consistency then go for Red Sea, DD or FM.

 

[dayzofspeed]

just checked d&d, thats stupid money!!! £23.99 for phosphate test with enough for 5 tests i dont think so somehow. but thanks for the info james at least i'm getting different choices to look into

 

[jameshughes1989]

No worries, some are expensive but sometimes you really do get what you pay for.

ps, the DD is 5 tests for the reference solution, not the actual tests.

 

[HappyGeorge]

This isn't a recommendation but I have 3 yr old Nutrafin test kits, very poor standard and everyone hates them, but they do show exactly the same results as the Red Sea and Salifert kits at my LFS. He laughed at my kits so I took them in and he tested them alongside his.

Sorry just saying.