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

[Sgooosh]

Hello, I usually go to the store for water tests but the weather is really bad right now.
Is there a way I can test tank water for fish?
I have a new tank going for mroe than a month and plants are doing OK in it.
i want to start off the tank by putting some xiphophorus babies in it.

 

[Boundava]

You need a testing kit. There is no other way that I know of to test water to tell if it safe for fish

 

[Sgooosh]

You need a testing kit. There is no other way that I know of to test water to tell if it safe for fish

thanks, I'll just get a new set later then

 

[JuiceBox52]

If you have lots of live plants it should be fine. Could you order a testing kit online? Amazon or chewy for example

 

[connorlindeman]

Hello, I usually go to the store for water tests but the weather is really bad right now.
Is there a way I can test tank water for fish?
I have a new tank going for mroe than a month and plants are doing OK in it.
i want to start off the tank by putting some xiphophorus babies in it.

If the plants are growing well then chances are you are good. Thats how you silent cycle a tank.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Never trust anyone else to test your water.

Get the API Master Test kit, and do it yourself. It takes a little practice, but is not difficult.

It's an essential part of successful freshwater fishkeeping, IMO

 

[GaryE]

If it's run that long and has live plants, put the Xiph babies in. They'll be fine. Feed carefully, and don't overcrowd them.

 

[Boundava]

If the plants are growing well then chances are you are good. Thats how you silent cycle a tank.

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with that. My plants are going really well and then I did a water test and found that my nitrates were so high they weren't testable. So yes your plants may be doing fantastic but that doesn't mean that the water quality and parameters are safe for your fish so it's always good to have a water test kit to test those paraimeters and not just assume because your plants are doing fantastic that your fish will be too.

Additionally you cannot cycle a tank with plants. Plants will produce very little to no and ammonia and one of the beneficial bacteria need the ammonia in order to grow because that is their food. The other beneficial bacteria will live off of the first bacterias waste product which is nitrite. So without ammonia you will not have a cycle.

 

[connorlindeman]

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with that. My plants are going really well and then I did a water test and found that my nitrates were so high they weren't testable. So yes your plants may be doing fantastic but that doesn't mean that the water quality and parameters are safe for your fish so it's always good to have a water test kit to test those paraimeters and not just assume because your plants are doing fantastic that your fish will be too.

Additionally you cannot cycle a tank with plants. Plants will produce very little to no and ammonia and one of the beneficial bacteria need the ammonia in order to grow because that is their food. The other beneficial bacteria will live off of the first bacterias waste product which is nitrite. So without ammonia you will not have a cycle.

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.

 

[Sgooosh]

Never trust anyone else to test your water.

Get the API Master Test kit, and do it yourself. It takes a little practice, but is not difficult.

It's an essential part of successful freshwater fishkeeping, IMO

the store i go to uses the API master.

If it's run that long and has live plants, put the Xiph babies in. They'll be fine. Feed carefully, and don't overcrowd them.

i should also add that many types of little pest snails have already established in there

 

[connorlindeman]

the store i go to uses the API master.

i should also add that many types of little pest snails have already established in there

You should be good to go.

 

[Slaphppy7]

the store i go to uses the API master.

Why travel, if you don't have to, especially in bad weather?

That's the origin of this thread

And who knows if they know how to use the kit properly?

Get the kit. If you need help using it, plenty of folks here can help you

 

[Ed Pursell]

API Master kit, like $40.00 bucks… You can do a lot of tests with this kit. All in a nice container, chemicals, 4 glass tubes, very nice, get the API and you are set.

 

[BabyGuppie]

Everything said above is really great information mostly. Anything not was disputed already.... If you dont have a test kit you can order one on Amazon (API FRESHWATER MASTER TEST KIT 800-Test Freshwater Aquarium Water Master Test Kit, White, Single, Multi-colored https://a.co/d/85rf9IB).

like stated above there is no way of knowing your parameters without a test kit. Now...do you need to test your water daily? This maybe unpopular opinion but if it's not broken don't fix it? If your fish plant life look healthy and doing your regular maintenance. You should have nothing to worry about.

No....you don't need to test your water....but prevention is the best way to stop having to deal with water issues. But you can fix problems after the fact for exsample. Your fish swimming weridly might be a good time to test water. Or plant life dying etc etc.

 

[Sgooosh]

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...