Water Testing: A Primer

**missjessicafaye** · 04-25-2012, 12:40 AM

FORGOT TO PUT.
I bought the tank with the fish, a few tetras, 2 BIG plecos, 2 kuhli loaches and the peacock eel. I was there when he emptied it.
I kept all the fish in a smaller tank to let it run for a few days because I added all the new water and wanted to test it to make sure everything was all right.
I rehomed the plecos because they were far too large for the 55 gallon tank and gave the tetras to my friend.
It's been closer to 2 weeks of having the fish in the tank, and because the tests were all good I bought a new kuhli loach.

I don't have the exact number but when I first tested the nitrates they were below what the directions said was safe, and then after the water changes I did they are now almost zero.

**direlobo** · 05-09-2012, 03:01 PM

Thx 4 all the great info. Started a few weeks ago when I was unexpectedly given a betta in a vase and decided to save it instead of give it away...so much to learn and don't want the fish to suffer while I get knowledgeable.

**MrsMolly** · 10-16-2012, 07:20 AM

Jeddi, we were testing nitrates in our 6-week-old tank and getting zeroes, too. We realized today that we weren't following the instructions completely, i.e., we weren't shaking the second chemical before adding it or shaking the test tube afterwards. Now we're reading 40 ppm.

**Goes to 11!** · 10-16-2012, 07:31 AM

MrsMolly Welcome to the forum

Just a heads up that this thread is nearly four years old and the post you are replying to is over two years old.

Might want to check the dates of the threads you post on :-P

Enjoy the forum.

**Westbeef** · 10-29-2012, 11:42 AM

Will I be able to use strips to test my water and still feel fairly confident the water is fully cycled due to the readings, or are they too unreliable? I know you would suggest go for a drip test, but currently budgets are tight :).

**Cermet** · 10-29-2012, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by Westbeef

Will I be able to use strips to test my water.

Simple answer:
No - most test strips do not have an ammonia testing ability; even if they do, the strips tend to get inaccurate fast if not kept very dry (from mositure in the air.) Just the cheaper, better liquid test kits - they also make many more tests.

Consider starting a new thread since this is so old and really for reading - also, best not to use other people's threads.