Water Testing. How Often?

[Paul70]

Now I have my first batch of fish, how often do I need to test my water for ammonia, nitrites etc?

I checked it yesterday at 1610hrs and found pH 8.1 (plant food added pre-test), nitrites 0ppm, ammonia 0.25ppm, nitrates 40-80ppm. did a 25% water change..

 

[KittyKat]

Until your ammonia and nitrite stay always at 0 ppm, you should be testing at least once per day, and probably twice. You must *never* let those two rise above 0.25 ppm and keep them as close to 0 ppm as possible.

 

[ian]

just be aware that certain plant foods contain ammonium (the bound, harmless form of ammonia). These register on off the shelf test kits.

 

[Paul70]

so if it does rise above 0.25ppm I just water change it down?

I gave the fsh less food today and am only feeding them once as you advised. food lasted approx 30 secs

 

[KittyKat]

so if it does rise above 0.25ppm I just water change it down?

Do one before it reaches 0.25 ppm, probably when it first registers is a good time to do a small one

I gave the fsh less food today and am only feeding them once as you advised. food lasted approx 30 secs

Excellent! Once you stop getting ammonia and nitrite readings, start increasing this by feeding twice per day at 30 seconds each time.

 

[Paul70]

have just done a check on some of my treated tap water. i use seachem prime as a conditioner.

pH 7.4, ammonia 0.25-0.50ppm, nitrites 0, nitrates 40ppm

it seems that there is already 0.25-0.50ppm in my norm water supply so water changing it down isnt an option
it also appears that my colony of a-bacs is not only dealing with the load from my fish but also with the background ammonia as well and the n-bacs are coping just fine. just need to figure what has caused the pH spike. I think it may be the plant food i put in the tank yesterday. what do you think kat?

 

[KittyKat]

have just done a check on some of my treated tap water. i use seachem prime as a conditioner.

pH 7.4, ammonia 0.25-0.50ppm, nitrites 0, nitrates 40ppm

it seems that there is already 0.25-0.50ppm in my norm water supply so water changing it down isnt an option
it also appears that my colony of a-bacs is not only dealing with the load from my fish but also with the background ammonia as well and the n-bacs are coping just fine. just need to figure what has caused the pH spike. I think it may be the plant food i put in the tank yesterday. what do you think kat?

Ah.. in that case, do test until you get into a regular feeding habit, and then start slowly dropping off the testing until once per week.

The pH is more likely affected by your rocks, the plant food normally doesn't affect it.. and when it does, it is considerably more likely to lower the pH than raise it.

 

[Paul70]

about a week I did get a pH crash down to 6.8 with these rocks in-situ so not too sure what is causing it, unless it is the red swords. I have removed these and thrown them away and will go get some more aquatic plants tomorrow.

I am hoping that the pH will settle down again soon. good to know that the plant food probably won't increase pH.