Understanding Reef Tank water Testing and Parameters. By Michael Soda (a.k.a. skeety) Purpose The purpose of this article is to help new comers to the hobby understand the various water parameters that are tested for in this hobby. For each water parameter, I will explain the following: What is it? What the parameters is. Why's it Important? Brief Introduction Some of you may be like me, and came from the freshwater hobby. I know when I first got into the hobby, there was an overwhelming (and somewhat difficult to understand) amount of info on marine water chemistry flooding my brain. I blame part of this on the fact that like some of you, I came into this hobby with a fair amount of freshwater aquarium experience under my belt.
Below are details of each water parameter, what makes them important to monitor, and what/how they affect your system. Reef Aquarium Water Parameters (by Randy Holmes-Farley) Temperature: What is it? How hot or cold the water is. Why's it Important? Any More Info? pH: System Components For The Aquarium Garden. What type of 'gear' does it take to have REAL freshwater aquariums (i.e. ones with live plants)?
Minimally, just a water-holding container, light, nutrient, plants and water. Many of my friends and associates in our hobby around the world get by on little else and have luxuriant plants. lf these folks keep healthy fishes and plants in such 'bare' tanks; without heaters, filters, pumps, meter/dosers... how come your retailer insists on selling you all that stuff? How do these "pro's" get by on such a minimalist approach, and can or should you? Yes, it is possible to have an aquatic garden in a veritable "jar"; but there are definite downsides to this approach. More careful set-up, diligence in regular maintenance, and lower non-plant (fishes and invertebrates) stocking to name three.
Here's an outline of the major components of aquarium gardening; with comments on their function and alternatives. Aquarium Garden System Components A) Physical Container: Do you need a top? B) Lighting- Close: The Vermont Marine Aquarists - Aurora. Untitled Page - Aurora. Acuario. System Components For The Aquarium Garden. Advanced Aquarist — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog - Aurora. KH - The Free Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Encyclopedia Anyone Can Edit - The Aquarium Wiki - Aurora. Reefkeeping Blog.