Nitrates test kit necessary?

[Medusa]

I have an ammonia, ph, and nitrites test kit. I don't have a nitrates test kit. Are they necessary?

 

[yhbae]

One reason I check for nitrate is to see how often I need to do water change in a tank. Nitrate isn't anywhere near as harmful as ammonia or nitrite so you don't need to check it as carefully or often as those, but still it could be a useful indicator.

If you reach really high levels (e.g. 100 or higher), it will not be a healthy tank for your fishes. If you do weekly water changes and not overstock your tank, most likely, your nitrate level will not reach high enough for you to be concerned with...

 

[FishDan]

My thinking on all test kits is that outside of initial cycling or diagnosing a problem, they are not really neccesary. A healthy, cycled tank should never have ammonia or nitrites, and regular water changes will take care of nitrates. I have the kits for emrgency use after my tanks were cycled. I don't test regularly unless I notice my fish behaving strangely or have an unexplained death or the like. Nitrate, I think, is the least important, but it's still a good one to have in your kit.

\Dan

 

[yhbae]

My god, I need to proof-read what I write at least once! I know English is not one of my strengths, but it shouldn't degrade like this all the time!

 

[Zorba]

I only have a ph test kit.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I disagree with you all, especially yhbae. After the period of cycling there should be no amonia and nitrIte and there is not likely to be unless you have a problem. NitrAte is a good indication of any problems in the tank before they get to the stage of amonia and nitrIte readings and for that reason I think it's important to test NitrAte frequesntly and have amonia and nitrIte kits available if you need them.

I do not test ph, but I have a kit should I need to.

 

[yhbae]

I disagree with you all, especially yhbae. After the period of cycling there should be no amonia and nitrIte and there is not likely to be unless you have a problem. NitrAte is a good indication of any problems in the tank before they get to the stage of amonia and nitrIte readings and for that reason I think it's important to test NitrAte frequesntly and have amonia and nitrIte kits available if you need them.

I do not test ph, but I have a kit should I need to.

To certain extent, I do agree with you...

In fact, the last time I tested ammonia is over 6 months ago in any of the tanks, while I probably tested for nitrate few times in some of the tanks with the last 6 months.

But once the tank has been running for over 6 months, I pretty much don't test water parameters for any tanks, unless if I have a hunch that something is wrong with the tank...

 

[Arfie]

NitrAte is a good indication of any problems in the tank before they get to the stage of amonia and nitrIte readings and for that reason I think it's important to test NitrAte frequesntly and have amonia and nitrIte kits available if you need them.

Forgive my newbie ignorance, but surely if there are problems in the tank, such as a spike in ammmonia or nitrite reading the nitrates will show it up after the event as the nitrate is a byproduct of the other 2 being cycled?

I'm not questioning your knowledge by the way as I know there'll be a simple explanation for why your theory is correct, but I just dont fully understand it.

Arfie

 

[skimpy]

I disagree with you all, especially yhbae. After the period of cycling there should be no amonia and nitrIte and there is not likely to be unless you have a problem. NitrAte is a good indication of any problems in the tank before they get to the stage of amonia and nitrIte readings and for that reason I think it's important to test NitrAte frequesntly and have amonia and nitrIte kits available if you need them.

Hi cheese specialist, your quote 'NitrAte is a good indication of any problems in the tank before......' - It what way???

If the NitrAte rises suddenly does that not mean that there may have already been a spike in Am or NitrIte ??? Sorry to sound thick but how does nitrAte indicate problems in tank.

Don't get me wrong I understand the cycle of how nitrAtes will gradually rise and water changes will help to keep a good balance. But are you talking about an extra big rise or what???

I have started to test PH Am NitrIte & NitrAte less often now tank has finished cycling, but I do still test once a week, and randomly if worried. It gives me peace of mind as I'm still very new to this.




EDIT: I hope my question makes sense, I think I'm sort of saying same as Arfie above - can you explain further how your theory works.