Titration test - how does it work?

With a titration test you determine the concentration of a substance by comparing it with a colour scale or by a colour change. For the measurement, you first fill a certain amount of your aquarium water into a measuring cuvette and then add a defined amount of one or more test reagents in a given order. Then you can compare the colour of the sample with a colour scale and determine the concentration. As the measuring procedure varies slightly from test to test, you should follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Instructions pH-Test

Instruction Alkalinity-Test

Instructions phosphate test

Instruction Nitrite/Nitrate test

Instructions Ammonium/Ammonia Test

Using a reference solution you can check the accuracy of your measurements and, if necessary, calculate a factor to correct your measurements.

Which water parameters are important in the reef hobby?

Apart from salinity and temperature (whose importance cannot be overemphasised), the alkalinity value, phosphate and nitrogen components (ammonium/ammonia, nitrite, nitrate) are particularly important at the start. With the further development of your aquarium, other water parameters such as calcium, magnesium and trace elements can also become increasingly important. However, at the beginning, with low coral stock, few stony corals and regular water changes, it is absolutely fine if you first concentrate on the elementary water values (salinity, temperature, alkalinity, phosphate, nitrogen compounds, pH).