Liquid Test Kit

[randalthor]

Well...umm...ya....

I just started fish keeping w/ my 10g a month ago. I have not used a test kit once. Is it really necesary?

 

[Bryan1957]

Yes, yes, yes & yes. I tested the water in my tanks daily until I was sure they were cycled. I then checked them every other day for the next week. I now test them about once a every two weeks. I change 20% of the water each week, usually on Saturday or Sunday. I additionally test the water if I notice something different in the fish's behavior or in the tanks. If you don't test the water you have no way of knowing the quality of the water and therefore the quality of the water you are subjecting the fish to live in. You will learn so much about your fish and the water conditions if you regularly check the water, and your fish will be healthier and hopefully live longer.
I forgot to mention I cloned all my tanks, the only way I knew the tank was cycled was to test the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I still have some "young" tanks, they are cycled but not entirely stable, hopefully some plants will help stabalize the other minerals in the water. You will find a planted tank will help keep the nitrates more stable over time, even though the plants require more maintenance.
Bryan

 

[Ethos]

Well, when you use testing strips, its too expansive to test every day.
I rarely test my tanks, only when I make a trip to petco, becau`se petco has free water readings.
I dont have the kind of money het to invest in my own personal one.
It seems to be a better deal to me to test it when I got to petco, which is usually twice a month

 

[Bryan1957]

I really don't know about test strips. I use a master test kit, it only cost $23 at PetSmart and I've used it for 6 months. There are a total of 700 tests in each kit. The initial expense might be a bit tough, i've found it worth every penny in the long haul.
I understand going to someone to have the water tested, I work with someone who had an established 10 gallon tank, she decided to get a bigger tank so she bought a 30 gallon. She knows nothing about the nitrogen cycle and depends on a LFS to check the water and tell her what to do. She recently bought $25 in chemicals because she had cloudy water. She took a sample to the LFS and was told to add certain chemicals to the tank. She has lost 3 fish (one of them an albino red tail shark). Her LFS is making money selling her chemicals, I would have gladly given her some substrate and filter media to clone her tank for free. She trusts the LFS so she continues to take a sample and buy more chemicals.
I'm sorry but I don't trust a salesperson to tell me if or when I need to purchase something. They might have a conflict of interest and not have my best interest in mind when they give advice. I would rather research and make informed decisions when buying anything.
Bryan

 

[randalthor]

Money is not the biggest problem for me, so off to the store. Thanks guys.

BTW, I did the fishfull cycle

 

[modernhamlet]

Money is not the biggest problem for me, so off to the store. Thanks guys.

BTW, I did the fishfull cycle

If you've never tested the water parameters, how do you know you're cycled?

 

[Fella]

Test kits are ESSENTIAL. If I were in charge, I'd make sure they were sold with every single tank.

 

[randalthor]

I went to the store today only to find that I left my money at home and my mom would not lend it to me


"how do you know you're cycled?"


Well, I have had it for almost two months now and I have 5 fish in it, so I just assume that it is complete.

 

[Ethos]

Test kits are ESSENTIAL. If I were in charge, I'd make sure they were sold with every single tank.

That'd be very nice, then I wouldn't have to figure out which is the best deal for the price, which suits me best, ect.

 

[modernhamlet]

I went to the store today only to find that I left my money at home and my mom would not lend it to me

"how do you know you're cycled?"

Well, I have had it for almost two months now and I have 5 fish in it, so I just assume that it is complete.

I'm glad you're going to get the test kit, even if your mom didn't spot you the cash right away.

But to be clear:
1. You have no idea what the conditions of your tank are right now. You have no way of knowing you're cycled.
2. Not a single fish you have purchased is appropriate for a 10g tank.

Please try to do a little more research before you go any further in the hobby. You can only get lucky for so long. Eventually a lack of patience and knowledge is going to hurt you, or more likely, your fish...

peace,

mh