Questioning Water Quality

[dixaisy930]

Can a tank's water be in poor condition, even if the water perimeters are normal? (i.e. ammonia and nitrite 0, nitrate low, etc). I'm wondering this because I'm slightly overstocked in my 60 gallon (72 inches of fish), but my water perimeters are always good, even if I go a couple of weeks without doing a partial water change *bad, bad, bad fish mommy...bad bad bad* I also had some massive deaths in my tank over a month ago, but my water perimeters were also perfect then. Just curious if the water perimeters will always reflec the quality of the water.

 

[MAM]

just curious, what all doyou use to treat your tank water? i know that some chemicals can cause false readings with some test kits.......................

 

[karrihug]

there are things that we can't/don't test for. but if your fish seem to be ok, and all tests are good, then your water is probably good. the deaths you experienced could have been from some foreign substance getting into your tank. most of my tanks are not overstocked, but my angel tank is at least heavily stocked, and it is also heavily planted, and i can go 2 or 3 weeks without water change with no problems or rise in nitrate. could possibly go longer but i have never been brave(or lazy) enough to push more than 3 weeks. hth

edited to add, i was not implying you were lazy, but i get that way sometimes and that is why i know i can go 3 weeks

 

[dixaisy930]

I use Aquasafe (I'm pretty sure that's what it's called....yellow bottle). And when I treat anything, I try to just use Melafix or Pimafix if I can. Although, neither has been added since I had the mass suicide in my 60 gallon (I tested the water yesterday). I mean the meds...not the water treatment... ) And when I was having the problems, I had the water tested by three or four different places, and they each had a different type of test kit....but maybe it could have "fooled" all of them?

edited to add, i was not implying you were lazy, but i get that way sometimes and that is why i know i can go 3 weeks

Oh that's exactly what you were implying! j/k