| Did you know that water testing is one of the most | | | | Once your aquarium is established, you should keep |
| important aspects of aquarium maintenance? In fact, | | | | testing the water daily for the first few weeks. As |
| it's important to begin testing the water even before | | | | the aquarium adjust to having fish living in it, your |
| you place the first fish in the tank. Before selecting | | | | water quality levels should be closely monitored. |
| the fish you wish to keep, test your water. Natural | | | | After this initial period, test the aquarium water |
| qualities of the water, such as pH and hardness, can | | | | weekly. If the water quality indicators test poorly, it |
| restrict your choice of fish, as each fish species has | | | | is probably time for a water change. You may also |
| specific water quality requirements. | | | | want to examine your aquarium care habits, such as |
| While most aquarium supply stores will test your | | | | the amount of food you are giving your fish, to see |
| water for you if you bring in a sample, it is much | | | | if they could be adjusted to improve the health of |
| easier to do it at home with a water test kit. | | | | the aquarium. The only way to ensure that the |
| Aquarium supply stores offer a wide range of testing | | | | water in the aquarium stays healthy is to test it |
| kits. The most basic is a six-on-one strip, which | | | | regularly and change the water, add products, or |
| measures pH, water hardness, ammonia, nitrites, and | | | | adjust your routine as needed. |
| nitrates, all indicators of overall water quality. Don't | | | | What can you do if the water tests indicate that |
| forget a thermometer as part of your water testing | | | | your aquarium is not in the best health? If the pH is |
| supplies. | | | | too high or low for the fish species living in the |
| After purchasing your new aquarium, fill it with water | | | | aquarium, there are many ways to adjust it. |
| and set up all of the equipment. Wait several days | | | | Decorations, rocks, or aquatic medications can |
| before adding fish. This gives time for the aquarium | | | | change the pH. There are also chemicals formulated |
| ecosystem to begin the important nitrogen and | | | | specifically to adjust the pH in an aquarium to your |
| bacteria cycles. Then, add your fish. During this setup | | | | fish's optimum range. Driftwood or peat can make |
| time, it is crucial to test the water every day in order | | | | the aquarium more acidic, while lime rock or seashells |
| to monitor the nitrogen cycle. This is a natural | | | | will make it more alkaline. |
| process that occurs on a microscopic level inside your | | | | High ammonia levels can kill your fish. To reduce the |
| aquarium. As your fish produce waste, you will see | | | | ammonia in the aquarium, do a partial water change. |
| the ammonia levels spike. As beneficial bacteria begins | | | | Nitrites should be as close to zero as possible. High |
| to convert the ammonia into nitrites, the nitrite levels | | | | nitrites may indicate that it is time to replace your |
| will spike on your water tests. If you are monitoring | | | | aquarium filter, since they are normally removed |
| the water quality daily, you will know exactly when | | | | through filtration. |
| each of these important steps has happened. | | | | |