catbtony

I just read in a tropical fish mag on-line (FAMA) an intresting test:
3 aquariums
3 different water test products-
1-test strips-
1-lig type test-
1-powder type test
All 3 gave equal misleading results and correct results
how interesting...
If you have high results on your test what do you do??
water change
so why do you need to test your water if in the end you do the same thing? Water change
If your fish are acting "funny" test water then
water change
Fish at the top or at the bottom, test the water
water change
fish not eating-test the water
water change
Don't get me wrong, I test my water, I use test strips and I do a water change if anything is off before water changing day and my fish are acting funny/different in some way.
The article just got me thinking/questioning why I test the water when the treatment is always WATER CHANGE.
So why do we spend money on costly test products when the answer to the problem is water change or am I missing something. Just a thought.......

Lucy

When a fish is acting ill and your water tests come out ok, you know to pursue a different avenue, however fresh water never hurts.

If it's acting ill and your water parameters are off, you can usually stop there and perform water changes until the parameters are back in check, which will usually help the fish feel better if that was the cause.

Peterpiper

As ammonia and nitrite are toxic, you should be testing for them because they will harm your fish. Plus any readings will show that there is a problem with the cycle in the tank.
pH should be tested as any swings will show that something is wrong.
Nitrates should be tested as this will tell you how much water should be changed.
If you are doing a WC every week of 10% and your nitrates are still going up, then you need to increase the % of water changes.
Tests are done to see the health of the water and the system in which the fish are kept

pepetj

Good point. Unless you really need to know there's no point in testing for water parameters.

I don't do water parameter readings unless:

a) Some of my water source parameters are unpredictable (my case: my source water mixes the City water and a deep well water: both are nitrates free but with slight variations in pH 7.6-7.8 and significant variations in GH and KH: 7-19 dGH; 5-13dKH). For this readings I let water sit overnight in a shallow plate and measure next morning.

b) I am tampering with water parameters (my case: I have 9 tanks running, seven of them already stable at 6.8pH -mixture of R/O processed drinking water+peat+Indian Almond Tree Leaves+mineral traces as needed -one of those with CO2; one at 7.2 -peat+Indian Almond Tree Leaves; one at 7.2-7.4: CO2 only).

And I won't go into temperature differences (e.g. chiller or heater or nothing), Dissolved Oxygen (sensitive fish as some Rainbowfish species), REDOX potential (also named ORP, health related),or Dissolved CO2 (DIY-drop checker).

c) I need to rule out my cycle was disturbed (my case: after using medication or temporarerly re-stocking and pushing limits in bio-load)

d) Another reason: I enjoy doing this, otherwise I wouldn't test as often as I do.

Pepe
Santo Domingo
PS I use test strips as screening. They are quite good in detection of nitrite and nitrates.

Peterpiper

One more reason to test,
It gives me peace of mind, that I am doing all I can to ensure the wellbeing of the animals in my care.

Dozey

So we can justify carrying 10 gallon buckets of water from the tub to the living room.

Lucy

Sorry this is off topic, Dozey you should look into getting a python.

Dozey

I'm still trying to figure out the whole fishy thing. I know even less about snakes

Lucy

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2754886

Sorry for the hi-jack catbtony. We'll behave now lol

Red1313

Really Lucy? Really?

(Sorry for the 2nd hi-jack)

Dozey

I too apologize for the highjack. Would love to get a python but since my business revolves around the N.A. automotive industry, I’ve recently taken a 60% loss in business; carrying buckets of water will be in my future for some time to come unless our governments step in soon.

Red1313

seen the sate of the canadian government lately? AirFarce couldn't have done a better job.
(sorry again just had to comment will stop now)

Dozey

Our government We have a government Is that the one that just went on holidays or the one that is trying to overthrow our government? OK way I will try to behave now too.

catbtony

You guys are nuts....thats what makes this site so great-us fishy folks are just good people. And, yep Python, got 2- 25ft and 50ft-couldn't live without it with 7 tanks running, still got to do hand vacum with fry tanks thoo. I am lucky I have great well water a bit on the hard side. I still check my water with test strips but I WC weekly anyway fish love it, Oscars look foreward to it and play. I thought the article was interesting Aug 2008 FAMA mag on the water testing products.

Plecolover12

You guys are silly! Fighthing over a simple thing, off topic. . . it's silly! It's like you say something when you are deaf! Sorry if I was rude or if I offened you, but it was a joke.

Lucy

No one was fighting. catbtony asked a very good question and received some good responses. The rest was all in fun.