Do you test the stores water when getting new fish?

So I got some rasboras yesterday and acclimated them slowly to their new home. I decided I would check the pH of the store water to see how different it was from mine just incase (since my tap water is on the harder side) and then I got curious and ended up testing their nitrates.
I use the API master test kit and the nitrates were very very red.
I have had high red nitrates in my tank before, for what I can imagine was quite a while before I noticed. I know that slow nitrate accumulation isn't immediately harmful for fish & that they can adjust unless its extreme, but I also know that high levels for a lengthly amount of time can be harmful.
Do you guys test your local fish stores water? Is this standard for a shop with lots of stock? I expected SOME nitrates but I didnt expect that much!
Just curious!

 

I don't test it, but now I think I should. That never occurred to me.

 

I have tested it a few times. Most times the nitrates were a deep red on the API test kit (from two of the best shop I've ever been to), in contrast to my nitrates which are at 5.

 

I don't test it, but now I think I should. That never occurred to me.

I did the pH just incase.. but the nitrates I was honeslty just very curious about! ... regardless my new rasboras are way more colorful and active than they were in the store.

I have tested it a few times. Most times the nitrates were a deep red on the API test kit (from two of the best shop I've ever been to), in contrast to my nitrates which are at 5.

ahhh yes okay so it must be normal for pet stores?! maybe they use some kind of nitrate blocker that doesnt register on the API kits.. or maybe they just run them high

 

Another argument for drip acclimating I think!

 

Another argument for drip acclimating I think!

or at least some form of acclimating! However, i am not sure if it is harmful to go from high nitrates to low nitrates too quick? I know the opposite way is.

 

I've tested PH before to see how different it was from my tank, and ammonia out of curiosity, but I didn't think to test anything else. I definitely will the next time I buy fish!

 

Nope never even occurred to me. Good question though.

 

Before I read this I never thought of it but if I ever get fish from Petco I probably will .

 

I personally find it unnecessary, especially since i don't even test my own tanks often. However it would be interesting since I get my fish from petsmart.

 

I have been tempted to do that too. I told my LFS about the level I kept my tanks at and they said I was an “over achiever”. I characterized 40 nitrates as high. They characterized it as low.

 

I have been tempted to do that too. I told my LFS about the level I kept my tanks at and they said I was an “over achiever”. I characterized 40 nitrates as high. They characterized it as low.

Lol, to be fair nitrates can actually go pretty high before it negatively affects the fish; I've read a vet school says 150 is their limit(although again I did read all of this so I can't be 100% sure).

 

It sounds like bringing fish home from a fish store could be like doing a big water change on a tank with old tank syndrome. If nitrates are that high, I wonder if minerals would be really low. I could imagine that water changes would be very expensive with all those tanks so it makes sense they would not do excessive changes.

 

Only once, when I brought home a rescue betta, I tested the cup for ammonia. It was actually so dark it was off the chart completely. 8ppm+ range.

 

This is definitely a great question. But i think i will still continue to do my usual acclimation as i've always done which is. Cut the bag open put a drop or 2 of Prime in it. Then let it float in the tank for 30 minutes and set an alarm for 10 minute intervals and add a turkey baster worth of my water to the bag then when the 30 minutes is up i have a bucket with a net ready and i pour all the water and fish through the net and add the fish to my tank. I've had no problems doing it this way from the 3 places i buy from. So i'm gonna stick with that method. Then again maybe i will take a sample and test it out of couriousity but i will still do my acclimation the same way i always do it.

 

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Cut the bag open put a drop or 2 of Prime in it.

2 drops is for a gallon. 8 pints in a gallon. Say there is a pint of water in a fish bag, 2 drops of Prime would be 8X standard dose. SeaChem says up to 5X is okay. However, some research AvalancheDave shared suggested that it would take close to 20X standard to kill fish. So 2 drops probably okay, but over the max dose suggested by SeaChem.

 

I've tested PH before to see how different it was from my tank, and ammonia out of curiosity, but I didn't think to test anything else. I definitely will the next time I buy fish!

I did test the ammonia too, as suspected since the pet store is obviously an established system, the ammonia was 0.

 

I acclimate by just using a 1/2 cup measuring scoop, taking about 1/2 cup of the store water out of the bag, and putting 1/2 cup of my tank water into the bag, about every 5-10 minutes. I do this about 4 or 5 times before finally adding the new tankmates

 

Even when I had high readings of nitrates I stuck with my usual acclimation method. Floating for 10 mins to temp match. Then adding a small cup of water to the bag every 5 mins for between 40 mins and an hour, sometimes longer. Even my vampire shrimp, gobies and bolivian rams came in water that gave off the colour of the highest reading (160ppm nitrates). 80 is more common though ime.

 

Even when I had high readings of nitrates I stuck with my usual acclimation method. Floating for 10 mins to temp match. Then adding a small cup of water to the back every 5 mins for between 40 mins and an hour, sometimes longer. Even my vampire shrimp, gobies and bolivian rams came in water that gave off the colour of the highest reading (160ppm nitrates). 80 is more common though ime.

Seems like high nitrates is a trend in the stores! I am deffinitely more patient and more careful with acclimation when its something sensitive like shrimp.

 

Seems like high nitrates is a trend in the stores! I am deffinitely more patient and more careful with acclimation when its something sensitive like shrimp.

Yes, I drip acclimate shrimp. The time I got a reading of 160 was when I was the most careful, especially as the fish and shrimp I got then were some of my favourites.

 

For me, acclimation process is pretty simple. I did this for all my fish(might do it differently when I get shrimp though). Float the bag for around 10 minutes, make sure the temp is matching, pour most of the water out of the bag, and slowly add around 1-2 cups of tank water over a period of 5-10 minutes. Never had issues, I started using this method when i got neons.

 

Yes, I drip acclimate shrimp. The time I got a reading of 160 was when I was the most careful, especially as the fish and shrimp I got then were some of my favourites.

Im shocked shrimp could survive at 160! When I tried adding shrimp to my main tank my nitrates were high (Probably around 80) and nobody made it to day two sadly. But this may have happened because it was back when I only floated the bag before adding. Thankful to have learned so much about acclimation through this forum.

 

I


2 drops is for a gallon. 8 pints in a gallon. Say there is a pint of water in a fish bag, 2 drops of Prime would be 8X standard dose. SeaChem says up to 5X is okay. However, some research AvalancheDave shared suggested that it would take close to 20X standard to kill fish. So 2 drops probably okay, but over the max dose suggested by SeaChem.

i may have exaggerated the 2 drops its more like taking a skewer and letting a drip or 2 drop into the bag. Either way i will continue doing my acclimation the same way till i have an issue sorry for the confusion.

 

I do sometimes, if I'm shopping at an unfamiliar or chain store. It's a rough guideline for me to know whether to expect residual problems during quarantine.

Only once, when I brought home a rescue betta, I tested the cup for ammonia. It was actually so dark it was off the chart completely. 8ppm+ range.

I had a betta imported from Indonesia and had a very bad transhipping experience (on my end) where I thought I had a doa, I tested his water and he too had an off the charts ammonia reading! I plop and dropped him and he managed to make a full recovery without even contacting ich. I was amazed!

 

kallililly1973 I may adopt your system. It makes a lot of sense to me.

 

kallililly1973 I may adopt your system. It makes a lot of sense to me.

It's worked for me from the start. Including floating plastic betta bowls. The only thing i did different with bettas was the same 30 minutes but a bit less water cause the bowl doesnt hlod as much water and when i'm ready to add them to the tank i pour out the water till there is as little as possible and put them in the tank so i don't have to risk them gettin tangled in a net.

 

I did when I first started, just curious, but... now understanding more, just the pH if I do not know the source water. Similar acclimation to Feohw

Excellent Question!

Learning all the Time.

 

I am going out to my LFS today and I'll test the bag water then. I wonder what the readings will be.......

 

It would certainly send a proactive message to the retail community. I must admit I have more successful transactions buying from fello fishlorians and online through ebay.

 

The TDS of a LFS was over 1,000 despite being on the same tap water. They probably just didn't change much water. Don't assume that because your LFS is local to you that you'll have the same water... A lot of these places just don't change much water.

Stendker discus says their nitrates are off the chart yet their fish are among the best.

The Asian breeders can probably pump water for free from a pond and not have to pay for it or to pay to heat it.

When water and heating water costs money then businesses start pushing the limits...

 

I have not tested the water from lfs. I imagine the small lfs is horrible water since the fish are not the best. People working have no idea about fish. Told a friend that she cannot put a rainbow shark in a 55g but you can add a piranha. Smh

For saltwater if I buy locally I will definitely test the water to be able to match my salinity in qt tank.

 

PH and hardness only and strips are accurate enough. After I know a store's parameters I only check the pH in the bag to be safe.

 

I am planing to

 

PH and hardness only and strips are accurate enough. After I know a store's parameters I only check the pH in the bag to be safe.

Test strips are a great idea. That would be quick and easy. Would not need to be super accurate. Just need to know very generally.

 

Test strips are a great idea. That would be quick and easy. Would not need to be super accurate. Just need to know very generally.

We just need now the ph is not “18” ( like I once found )

 

I got some fish yesterday and I dumped out the store water before I could test it
Now I'm kicking myself. Not only did I want to post the results on here, I also REALLY wanted to know what the stores water levels are.

 

I just tested the water from my LFS again, and here is what I got. It may not show well, but I believe it read as 40. Not as high as before if that's the case.

 

That pic looks like 160 to me.....lol Thats pretty red.

 

I just tested the water from my LFS again, and here is what I got. It may not show well, but I believe it read as 40. Not as high as before if that's the case.
View attachment 694163

The test tube looks kinda pink to me lol. I'de say its 80-160 ppm, maybe 140 ppm?