how to know if tank is safe for fish without testing?

[BabyGuppie]

yeah, i should just get a new test kit so i don't have to go to store that much anymore. old one ran out a long time ago...

If u buy the one I linked. You will be good for super long time. It lasts years. It is a bit complex compared to strips. But the manual walks you through step by step. I done 100s of tests and still lots more testing I can do. ^_-

 

[GaryE]

Keep in mind that any liquid product bought online can be damaged by freezing. I don't know how the test kit reagents handle that, but shippers will throw them in the mail unprotected. If it's below freezing outside, it doesn't take long.

If you feel the need to have a test kit (I'd give you mine but it expired in 1992) you might consider paying a bit more to get one at a store.

 

[seangee]

I should clarify what I said.
The plants doing well doesn't mean that the Nitrate is good. I was talking about the Ammonia levels.
Check this out about cycling a tank with plants.

Planted/silent cycling

So ya got yourself a fish tank, and now you're wondering how to cycle it. You have a few options: 1) Fishless cycle: Set up your substrate and filter (decorations and plants are optional), buy pure ammonia, add enough to your tank to read 3ppm, wait. Full instructions here...

www.fishforums.net

@Byron i believe has more information about that.

That's absolutely correct. As long as you know your water is in the right hardness range and do regular water changes you are good to go. No bacteria will deal with nitrates anyway - that is the fishkeepers job! (and one of the reasons we change water regularly.)

 

[Sgooosh]

If u buy the one I linked. You will be good for super long time. It lasts years. It is a bit complex compared to strips. But the manual walks you through step by step. I done 100s of tests and still lots more testing I can do. ^_-

yep, that's the one that i've been using that ran out few months ago lol. I used to be super nervous and test it super frequently...

Keep in mind that any liquid product bought online can be damaged by freezing. I don't know how the test kit reagents handle that, but shippers will throw them in the mail unprotected. If it's below freezing outside, it doesn't take long.

If you feel the need to have a test kit (I'd give you mine but it expired in 1992) you might consider paying a bit more to get one at a store.

nice antique test kit!
I can actually just run over to petsmart, and it has the same prices online since it's sponsored by API. so only one run to the fish store

That's absolutely correct. As long as you know your water is in the right hardness range and do regular water changes you are good to go. No bacteria will deal with nitrates anyway - that is the fishkeepers job! (and one of the reasons we change water regularly.)

thanks for all your help!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

If one has a tank with thriving plants then there should not be any nitrate unless one's tap is loaded with it. If there are no fish or inverts and no algae or cloudiness blooms, there are no organics to produce ammonia to any degree. Whatever there might be the plants will grab and they do not emit nitrate.

Then there is the fact the plants themselves host some amount of nitrifying bacteria.

Your tank is perfectly safe for small fish liek fry As they grow so too will the plants and the needed bacteria. just do not go wild by adding too many. They grow pretty fast.

On caveat- plants as filters are no different than =mechanical filters in one respect. the more work they gave to do, the more.bigger they need to be. one plant in a 50 gal. tank will not do much. So the above advice is based on the fact that there are a decent number of plants in the tank.

edited for spelling and typos.