Which Tests?

[NottoosureN.Z]

Hi everyone,
Any info on which type of water tests are the most important?

 

[tttnjfttt]

Absolutely essiential - ammonia, nitrite, pH - things that can immediately impact your tank and stress fish very quickly.

very useful - nitrate - can become toxic in HIGH amounts, useful to know, extremes don't build up quickly. If they are very high can lead to old tank syndrome.

good for starting a tank - GH, KH - good to know when setting up a tank to work with fish preferences, knowing how stable your pH is to be (aka buffering capacity). A good LFS might be able to tell you this in general for your community.

 

[NottoosureN.Z]

Thanks am heading to the lfs now so will stock up on test kits and post my results.Would appreciate any comments on the readings.Cheers.

 

[NottoosureN.Z]

Have just tested my water for the first time and am pretty hapy with the results.

Amonia= 0 ppm

Nitrite= 0 ppm

Nitrate= 15 ppm

Ph is 7.6

Is the Ph too high?

 

[mm_simb]

You can just leave the ph alone since most fish take better to adjusting to it than having to deal with the stress of it fluctuating too much.

 

[NottoosureN.Z]

Thanks do you have any ideas as to why i am having an algae problem at the moment?

 

[mm_simb]

Do you have the light on too much? Or is the tank by a window? Because if either of that is true, then that could be it. Other then that, I wouldn't really know since I've never dealt with it.

 

[The-Wolf]

Thanks do you have any ideas as to why i am having an algae problem at the moment?

when you say algea problem, what kind of problem?
green water? hair algea, brush algea, brown algea etc?

 

[NottoosureN.Z]

Brown algae and a green kind of brushy algae as well.Think the light issue could be the answer thanks mm_simb.

 

[Gazman]

Hey man, you sound like i did yesterday!! lol, i did my tests for the 1st time last night and got identical results to you, apart from my amonia was 0.25. Freaky! Anyway, about the light, i used to leave mine on ALL day. Now it goes on about 3pm and stays on for about 7 hours and its now fine. The suckers clean it all up anyway!

 

[NottoosureN.Z]

Thanks Gazman my light is on all day at the moment.Too much you think?Have heard ten to twelve hours is good but no idea really.

 

[NottoosureN.Z]

Also my algae eaters were only introduced yesterday because my last two died within a week of eachother about a month ago.So the algae has built up since they died.Have no idea what killed them!Heres hoping my new two survive'theyre not looking too happy at the moment.Hoping it's just the stress of the move.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I believe brown algae are caused by too little light (green algae by too much). Maybe your lights are just a bit weak, I know mine are. You could try leaving them on a bit longer. Also, they commonly occur in newish tanks.

 

[Gazman]

From what i have been told and what i have learnt, yes, thats too much. mine doesnt go on at all in the day, it either goes on about 3 or when i get in from work around 5. Then off again at about 9-10.

My algae eaters were quiet for a day or 2. Then all of a sudden i woke the next morning and all the rusty coloured algae covering the stones was gone!! So i knew they were settling in a bit better.

 

[Gazman]

I believe brown algae are caused by too little light (green algae by too much). Maybe your lights are just a bit weak, I know mine are. You could try leaving them on a bit longer. Also, they commonly occur in newish tanks.

I can see the logic behind that theory too tho! I've only had an algae prob when i 1st set up my tank.