| One of the most important pieces of equipment in | | | | increase in any one could be disastrous to your fish. |
| your range of aquarium equipment is your testing kit. | | | | Regular water testing is a vital part of aquarium care, |
| This crucial kit allows you to ensure that the water in | | | | so make sure to buy all the necessary kit from the |
| the aquarium is clean and has the right balance of | | | | very beginning. The water must be prepared before |
| chemicals needed to keep the fish healthy. There are | | | | any fish are even introduced to the water. |
| a number of different things you might need to | | | | The temperature in your aquarium is also very |
| regularly test for, depending on what types of fish | | | | important so you will need to buy a thermometer. If |
| live in the aquarium. An aquarium for saltwater fish | | | | you are planning to keep saltwater fish you'll also |
| and corals will demand a more rigorous testing routine | | | | need to buy a hydrometer. This equipment allows |
| than a standard freshwater tank containing less | | | | you to test the level of salt in the water. As with all |
| sensitive fish. | | | | the other elements of the water in your tank, the |
| The standard testing kits are those that test the pH | | | | salt level should be precisely balanced. You should |
| balance of your aquarium. This is extremely important | | | | have the proper marine salt close to hand at all times, |
| to know so that you can maintain the right pH | | | | just in case the salt levels fall below tolerance. This |
| balance for the species in the tank. A better testing | | | | might not appear to be as important as some other |
| kit will contain methods of testing the water for | | | | elements but fish can be very delicate and are |
| hardness, nitrate, ammonia, and oxygen too. These | | | | sensitive to such changes in the water. |
| are all things that should be carefully controlled, as an | | | | |