| In order to keep your aquarium in the best condition | | | | adding fish. Always keep a record of the date and |
| for the fish to live, you will need to know how to | | | | time of the pH readings since they can vary. This will |
| test for your pH. This is an area where many | | | | allow you to formulate an accurate view of the |
| inexperienced and some experienced fish hobbyists | | | | readings. The pH levels can change from the |
| fail to understand that correct pH levels are what | | | | beginning of the day to the end and if you see this in |
| your fish depend on for survival. There are a wide | | | | the results, you will know it's normal and nothing to |
| variety of test kits that can be used to check the | | | | worry about. |
| water and they range from simple and inexpensive | | | | Years ago, it wasn't as easy for hobbyists to have |
| to costly and complicated. | | | | access to the kind of testing that were used by |
| There are dozens of water tests that can be | | | | professionals but now there is a wide selection of |
| performed on the water in an aquarium tank, all are | | | | kits for purchase. Some test kits have different test |
| important, but some of them are more important | | | | strips to check for different problems like too much |
| than others. If you're just starting out as a fish | | | | ammonia or how hard the water is. There are also |
| hobbyist, you don't have to have a kit with all the | | | | multi use strips which can test for a multitude of |
| bells and whistles. You can just buy a basic one. | | | | problems on a single strip. This saves both time and |
| However, in the long run, you will need to have a kit | | | | money. |
| that can test anything from pH levels to nitrate and | | | | Most of the test kits contain small tubes or vials that |
| ammonia levels. | | | | you put water from your aquarium into. Then you dip |
| Each different kit will come with a set of instructions, | | | | thin test strips into the water. There will be a color |
| but most of them are similar, so once you get the | | | | coded instruction card that will show you where your |
| hang of it, it won't matter which kit you use. How | | | | levels are. Still other kits use drops of chemicals in |
| often should the pH in the water be tested? Once a | | | | test tubes that you mix with aquarium water, shake |
| month is the minimal, but if you notice problems such | | | | and then the water mixed with chemicals will turn |
| as sick fish, then you will want to test again to make | | | | different colors depending on what the results are. |
| sure the pH levels aren't the problem causing the | | | | You can then compare the reading to the color chart |
| sickness. When first setting up a tank, you'll want to | | | | to know what your pH is and what it should be. |
| check the level, wait a day and check it again before | | | | |