JoeCamaro
- #1
Hello FishLore
I am not looking to start a fight or a debate or anything like that, so bare with me.
I will start by saying: I do not own a Test Kit.
- Wait, WHAT? -
I started my tank on February 2017 and I have never owned a Test Kit. At the beginning I kept going to the LFS to get my water checked, everything was good and I never had a problem with my fish, so I kept doing the same things and everything has gone smooth (knock on wood).
Now to the point: Is it really necessary to ask for water parameters for every single situation?
Sometimes I see people ask for help and they always get asked about the parameter and if that person doesn't know, then the focus becomes the importance of having a test kit and shame on you for not having one.
I understand parameters will help greatly, but is it really necessary when 20 fish are doing great and only 1 fish has symptoms? It is prohibited to, in some cases, say something like "based on the photos and symptoms you described, it could be this or that, but if we knew the parameters it would help us determine with more accuracy"? Is everything related, affected, caused by water parameters?
It might help to at least know what could be the possible causes that are affecting the fish and then do a research, see photos and then compare to what your fish is experiencing.
I see it like a Primary Care Physician and a Specialist. Your primary doctor will tell you something along the lines of "it could be something to do with ______, so I am going to refer you to a specialist to check _______ for you". Then you go to the specialist, but at least you have an idea of what could be wrong.
Am I wrong to think this way? Have I just been lucky? Am I a crazy risk-taker?
Respectfully,
Joe
I am not looking to start a fight or a debate or anything like that, so bare with me.
I will start by saying: I do not own a Test Kit.
- Wait, WHAT? -
I started my tank on February 2017 and I have never owned a Test Kit. At the beginning I kept going to the LFS to get my water checked, everything was good and I never had a problem with my fish, so I kept doing the same things and everything has gone smooth (knock on wood).
Now to the point: Is it really necessary to ask for water parameters for every single situation?
Sometimes I see people ask for help and they always get asked about the parameter and if that person doesn't know, then the focus becomes the importance of having a test kit and shame on you for not having one.
I understand parameters will help greatly, but is it really necessary when 20 fish are doing great and only 1 fish has symptoms? It is prohibited to, in some cases, say something like "based on the photos and symptoms you described, it could be this or that, but if we knew the parameters it would help us determine with more accuracy"? Is everything related, affected, caused by water parameters?
It might help to at least know what could be the possible causes that are affecting the fish and then do a research, see photos and then compare to what your fish is experiencing.
I see it like a Primary Care Physician and a Specialist. Your primary doctor will tell you something along the lines of "it could be something to do with ______, so I am going to refer you to a specialist to check _______ for you". Then you go to the specialist, but at least you have an idea of what could be wrong.
Am I wrong to think this way? Have I just been lucky? Am I a crazy risk-taker?
Respectfully,
Joe