Since I'm a lazy guy, I'm guilty of not testing my water for couple of months. My LFS can do test, but it's about $2 a test; since I only visit on Fridays. Any of you know who do test?
+1 Weekly water changes can be good for nutrient export but also risk instability if the params in the new batch of saltwater aren't consistent. Well at least you're willing to pay for testing so that's good.
hahaha red sea is about the same as the hanna checker if not easier red sea: measure 5 ml of water in vile add reagent A 5 drops shake add reagent b one scoop of powder then fill syringe with reagent c and go to town I just timed myself doing a test less than 3.5 min really too much work a freeking water change will take longer c'mon
If you think the Red Sea kit is too much work you're gonna hate the Hanna Calcium checker. Just pay someone. I'm not an LFS but if you roll down to Long Beach with some water I'll test it all.
Test once a week until all levels are where you want them and have been stable for at least a month with you following your normal routine. After that you can start to slack off.
I like to test every day for two to three weeks during that time create a log and write down all the test results then test once a week when you make change to the tank like adding fish and or corals do it again trust me its nice to have some thing to reference when you see something going on in the tank you can look back in the log and narrow down the problem to what it is for me that's the only way to run a system its called cya ( cover your A$$) cause when things go wrong and you loose a expensive coral for being lazy you will kick your self in the but its it is not a question of if its going to happen but when I have been doing this professional for almost ten yr and been in the hobby since I was 11 yrs old and I speak from my experience and from others that I have helped