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How often should one check the hardness and pH levels in a tropical freshwater tank?

I like that question "Should" is the very big word here.

I dont think I have done a PH test for at least 12 months or more and I cannot remember when a hardness test was done.

OK to clarify all that being 35+ years experience you pick up very quickly if some thing is wrong also you should know your local water conditions. I also add a PH adjuster at every water change. One of my checks I do is look at my floating water sprite if it starts to slow down in growth or just starts to die back I know there is trouble in the tank. The plants are a very good check to see if every thing is running perfectly.

Next point if you dont have any plants you must be extremly tuned into your fish as they will tell you very quickly if any thing is wrong.

If you must check it do it at every water change test the water from your supply if you think there is some thing wrong and at least mid week between water changes.

I have also heard that the PH can change during the day to test that do several tests in one day over a period of a few days. Also if you want to test regually always do it at the same time and I would suggest about an hour after the lights turn on in the morning.

This might not be the exact answer you are looking for but it will give you something to think about.

Finally if you must test regually buy a very good test kit and get some one to explain to you how to use it correctly.

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Keith

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Hi,
I would test the tank each week, and do it at the same
time of the day. pH tends to climb during the day once
the lights come on and drop during the night when they
are off. Along with doing it once a week, I would do it
just before performing the weekly maintenance. That will
give you the "worst case" readings before the water change.

Honestly, many don't test every parameter, and many don't
test at all. My comment is that if you are relying on
plants or fish to tell you the water condition, then you
will only find out after the fact when things are really
wrong. It can take quite a while before a bad pH will
cause plants to visibly change, the same way with all the
other parameters. Same with fish, they can tollerate some
change but when they really start to show symptoms then
the water has gone too far.

If you test weekly then you will be on top of things and
catch shifts as they happen and not days, weeks, or even
months later.

Personally, once a tank has fully cycled, I'd test for
nitrite, nitrate, pH, and in my case KH weekly.
I inject CO2 gas for my plants and I need to know what
the pH and KH are so that I can plot the CO2 saturation
on the charts.

Depending upon the source of your water, you don't need
to test the GH that often, perhaps once a quarter. Cities
tend to change sources on a regular basis throughout the
year. They will draw from deeper in a lake during the
summers and from a more shallow intake during the winter.
Or they change wells to give each well time to recharge.

Frank


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