When Should You Test Water Again?

[lowthy76]

ok i have my tank fully cycled for 2 weeks now, the last 2 weeks the readings have been as follows.

ammonia 0.00ppm

nitrite 0.00 ppm

nitrate 0.20 ppm

i left it for 2 weeks once i first got these readings, and today i changed 50 percent of the water with ro from my lfs.

when should i test the water again?

 

[Tizer]

what have you been adding to the tank to start the cycle off? no ammonia in the water means no bacteria will be forming in your filter. i dont get it. you are not cycling anything. did you start doing a fishless cycle with daily household ammonia doses?

 

[lowthy76]

what have you been adding to the tank to start the cycle off? no ammonia in the water means no bacteria will be forming in your filter. i dont get it. you are not cycling anything. did you start doing a fishless cycle with daily household ammonia doses?

i did a fish in cycle nearly 6 weeks ago i started and have been monitoring the water every day since

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Were you using RO water in that tank while cycling with fish? If not, potentially that 50% change to RO today could kill your existing fish.

 

[lowthy76]

Were you using RO water in that tank while cycling with fish? If not, potentially that 50% change to RO today could kill your existing fish.

yes i always use ro water for my tanks from my lfs

 

[soybean]

So you cycled with fish? Keep checking the water every few days and when you're satisfied you're not having any spikes you could do it weekly just before a water change. It's up to you really, depends how much you want to monitor it.

 

[lowthy76]

So you cycled with fish? Keep checking the water every few days and when you're satisfied you're not having any spikes you could do it weekly just before a water change. It's up to you really, depends how much you want to monitor it.

thanks, so as it was fine for 2 weeks and today i did a water change, the readings should stay the same?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Were you using RO water in that tank while cycling with fish? If not, potentially that 50% change to RO today could kill your existing fish.

yes i always use ro water for my tanks from my lfs

Thank goodness for that. Because you have not mentioned it so far, I have to ask, are you re-mineralising the RO water or does the LFS definitely do this for you?

 

[cynic]

For the time it takes to do the test assumption is a dangerous thing. If in doubt test it.

I nearly got caught out with mine due to a duff pump, after changing it I thought all was good but had a big jump in the nitrite levels.

 

[lowthy76]

Were you using RO water in that tank while cycling with fish? If not, potentially that 50% change to RO today could kill your existing fish.

yes i always use ro water for my tanks from my lfs

Thank goodness for that. Because you have not mentioned it so far, I have to ask, are you re-mineralising the RO water or does the LFS definitely do this for you?

yes i always pay the 50p extra to get the minerals