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	Aquarium Test Kits Usage
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Gang, Being a curious guy and having been in the business for only 4 months now, I am wondering what type of test kits you use for your tank, how often you use them, and what the optimal readings, in your opinion/tank, are. I know that “optimal” varies depending on the tank itself, for example planted or not, so a short description of the tank would be helpful. Also, personally I am not concerned about the cycle phase of a tank as testing during it is done on a much more frequent base. I have a well planted 29G tank, no CO2, and 40W of light. All my test kits are in liquid form where you fill a tube with water and add various drops of the test liquid to get your results. Here are my results: 1) Ammonia – I test only when one of my fish is sick (or dies) – readings are 0 which is optimal 2) Nitrite – I test only when one of my fish is sick (or dies) – readings are 0 which is optimal 3) Nitrate – I test occasionally, mostly when I am not happy with my plant growth – readings are 0 which I believe is too low but I am not doing anything about it (yet) 4) ph – I test only when one of my fish is sick (or dies) – reading is 6.8 and given my assortment of fish seems ok, although my Platys (I believe) would prefer 7.0 and higher 5) kh – I test occasionally, mostly when I am not happy with my plant growth – readings are basically non detectable as the test kit changes colors as soon as I add the first drop. I believe that is not good because it means that my water cannot hold a sufficient amount of CO2. Yet again, I am doing nothing about it. And that’s it for me, so far. Let me know what you think (no yelling) and what you do. Thanks, Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
Fallout Moderator Communications Specialist Posts: 6416 Kudos: 4053 Votes: 742 Registered: 29-Jul-2000	1) Ammonia - never - 0 is optimal 2) NitrIte - never - 0 is optimal 3) pH - never - what fish you keep will determine optimal 4) nitrate - never - depends on your tank, but usually 10-20 5) hardnesses - never - again, depends on the fish/environment.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
stariel Fish Master Posts: 1870 Kudos: 107 Votes: 13 Registered: 01-Feb-2001	I test ammonia and nitrite only when cycling, and then maybe once every 6 months to make sure the readings are 0. Haven't had a problem yet. Nitrate - I do water changes weekly or every 2 weeks at the least, the tank has plants so it's not a problem. I test pH weekly, my optimal would be 8.2 (African cichlids)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
sirbooks Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004	I don't have a test kit, but if I did it would be the liquid test kit from Aquarium Pharm. I feel that as long as you keep your water clean, there's no real need to test. I do large water changes every week, so... And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
Light_Bright Moderator Posts: 1156 Kudos: 1403 Votes: 351 Registered: 16-Jan-2002	when cycling a tank I test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates weekly. Once established I check the ph. My ph out of the tap is 7.8 so I like to check on it occasionally. Only if I suspect there is a problem with a tank will I check. Otherwise test kits can sit for months without being used. ___________________________________________ If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
justicerulesok Enthusiast Posts: 195 Kudos: 161 Votes: 2 Registered: 27-Jun-2004	I never test except when cycling, but when cycling a new tank I take the chance to check my existing setups just in case.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
mattyboombatty Moderator Tenellus Obsessor Posts: 2790 Kudos: 1507 Votes: 1301 Registered: 26-Mar-2004	I have a 38G planted tank. I checked everything once a day during the first couple weeks I set it up(already cycled filter) to get a feel for the co2 and NO3 levels in the tank. Now I test once a week for NO3, PO4, pH, and KH. My optimal levels are as follows: NH3/4 - 0ppm NO2 - 0ppm NO3 - 10ppm PO4 - .5ppm pH - 6.8ppm KH - 5 Last edited by mattyboombatty at 03-Jul-2005 16:03 Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
kj fishy-finn Big Fish Posts: 385 Kudos: 200 Registered: 21-Jan-2004	with pH it is easier to buy fish that prefer what your pH is in your tank. a lot easier then trying to change it to what you desire. kj fishy-finn <*)))>< 20 Gallon Album 5 Gallon Album
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
divertran Fish Addict Posts: 784 Kudos: 469 Votes: 165 Registered: 14-Nov-2004	when I set up my first tank I tested every day, sometimes twice, until I knew the thing was cycled and had a good handle on what the water was doing. then weekly after that and if something looks amiss. now I don't test too often but I do weekly water changes, religously.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58
jacnyr Hobbyist Posts: 63 Kudos: 67 Votes: 0 Registered: 14-Jan-2004	Since you are quite new a this I would test weekly for 2 months just to set a standard for your tank. After that I would go biweekly. Right now I know that ammonia is never a problem for me as is nitrites, my ph is constant range for fish I have. The only problem area I do have is nitrates. I monitor this to make sure to keep in range. I sometimes change water weekly to get it back in range.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:58


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