How often do you test water parameters?

[rmamjvv]

I recently got back into the hobby after a long exodus (pre-computer and YouTube). At the time, I had Oscars in a 65 show. I never tested water parameters and my Oscar’s lived to a ripe age. Now that I am back in the hobby, I scoured the internet and watched YouTube video religiously before I purchased a 125g. I became intrigued with African Cichlids and learned everything I could. I properly cycled my tank, testing water parameters religiously until I had 0% ammonia and nitrites. I now have 16 peacocks in my tank and all are doing well.

I still follow my pre-fish regimen and test the water parameters every morning. Is this too much? Does anyone test the parameters every day? If not, how often do you test?

 

[itiwhetu]

I never test water parameters unless I see something isn't right. You will know when to test by how the fish are behaving.

 

[imw]

Hi,

As above really, but given you are recently back in the hobby, I would have thought once a week should be ample.

 

[MonsieurLaGrenuoille]

For me that's too often, do you have taken breakfast before testing? I do test the parameters only rarely, not often than one time a week, but usually less. I would say that's not necessarly.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

After the initial testing for cycling I don't bother unless I see something off, a death in the tank or strange behaviour

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah once cycled I will test for a day or two after adding fish. Its not really needed but just to make sure.

Other than that I only test if something looks wrong (odd fish behavior for example). Every so often I will check water hardness and PH to make sure its not drifting but that's only because I'm using substrates and things that may effect them over time.

 

[Deleted member 149562]

Testing only done during aquarium cycle but after that its not alot. The fish behaviour and body language are the best way to see if there is something squiffy in the water chemistry. Just weekly water changes and general filter maintenance as/when required for me, if anything is squiffy, the fish will let me know

 

[FishHobby99]

I recently got back into the hobby after a long exodus (pre-computer and YouTube). At the time, I had Oscars in a 65 show. I never tested water parameters and my Oscar’s lived to a ripe age. Now that I am back in the hobby, I scoured the internet and watched YouTube video religiously before I purchased a 125g. I became intrigued with African Cichlids and learned everything I could. I properly cycled my tank, testing water parameters religiously until I had 0% ammonia and nitrites. I now have 16 peacocks in my tank and all are doing well.

I still follow my pre-fish regimen and test the water parameters every morning. Is this too much? Does anyone test the parameters every day? If not, how often do you test?

I am new to the hobby so test weekly. I have several tanks and a test tube rack, so my little assembly line runs smoothly.

 

[Colin_T]

Test the water when cycling a new aquarium.

Test the water a couple of times a week for a month after it has cycled and when you have fish in the tank to make sure the filter has settled and stabilised.

Then test the water for pH and nitrate once a week before you do a water change. If the pH drops during the week, or the nitrates go up rapidly during that time, you need to either:

• do more water changes,
• have more live plants in the tank,
• reduce the number of fish in the tank,
• reduce the amount of food going into the tank.

GH and KH can be tested a couple of times a year because they don't normally change much throughout the year.

The pH of the tap water can be checked once a week or at least once a month. It should be monitored though because it can change a lot in a short space of time, depending on where the water company gets the water from. When testing tap water for pH, get a glass full of tap water and check the pH straight out of the tap, then put the glass of water on a shelf or table somewhere safe. Test that same sample of water 24 hours later, and if possible a week later to see if there is any major fluctuation in it during that time.

If you get a sick fish, or any fish look unwell, or the water smells funny/ bad, then test the water for everything you can (eg: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH)

 

[Slaphppy7]

Once my tanks are established, I rarely test my water, unless something seems amiss, as others have already stated.

 

[rmamjvv]

For me that's too often, do you have taken breakfast before testing? I do test the parameters only rarely, not often than one time a week, but usually less. I would say that's not necessarly.

Actually, I take care of my animals (I also have dogs, horses and now fish) before I take care of myself. Since they can't take care of themselves and I have chosen to have them as part of my family, they are always taken care of before I take care of (feed) myself. May be a little quirky but I've always done so.

 

[rmamjvv]

Thanks everybody for your advice. I don't think that I'm quite ready to go the "rarely test" route, but I like the idea of letting my fish's behavior telling me if there is something amiss.

I know that I kept Oscars before without cycling or testing the tank and they survived. Maybe as I get more comfortable and settle back into this hobby, I'll reach the point of "rarely," but for now I'll test before water changes or if something is amiss.

 

[BLK]

Thanks everybody for your advice. I don't think that I'm quite ready to go the "rarely test" route, but I like the idea of letting my fish's behavior telling me if there is something amiss.

I know that I kept Oscars before without cycling or testing the tank and they survived. Maybe as I get more comfortable and settle back into this hobby, I'll reach the point of "rarely," but for now I'll test before water changes or if something is amiss.

I'm still testing my parameters once a week, 4 months into the hobby, although probably don't need to, since my tank is pretty established and stable and i do weekly water changes.

 

[Uberhoust]

I don't think that I'm quite ready to go the "rarely test" route, but I like the idea of letting my fish's behavior telling me if there is something amiss.

Many rarely testing types started this way but got tired getting the same results weekly. If you have a number of tanks the tests with the 5 minute waits can take a significant amount of time. Monitoring and counting your fish daily is something that is fun, and catches issues soon.

Nothing wrong with testing more frequently, and overall it is another monitoring method to help keep your fish happy.