| Water testing is an integral part of owning a | | | | fish just like ammonia. To remove nitrites from the |
| saltwater aquarium, so it pays to know how to do it | | | | water you have to conduct a water change. Bacteria |
| properly. Water test kits for aquariums allow the | | | | in the water and filters eventually transform nitrites |
| aquarist to run chemical tests on the water for | | | | into nitrate. A nitrite reading must be 0. |
| ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, salinity, pH, carbonate water | | | | Nitrates are produced, as mentioned above, during |
| hardness, alkalinity, chlorine, chloramine, copper, | | | | the natural cycling process. While not as toxic as |
| phosphate, oxygen, iron, carbon dioxide, and more. | | | | nitrites and ammonia, nitrates can cause your fish |
| Each test kit is rather expensive, although it's possible | | | | stress in high amounts. A partial water change will get |
| to save some money if you purchase a master test | | | | rid of nitrates, which should be less than 20 ppm. |
| kit. | | | | Reef tanks should have a reading closer to 0.pH |
| How do aquarium test kits work? The process is | | | | refers to a water's acidity or alkalinity. The pH scale is |
| very easy - all you have to do is dip the strips in a | | | | between 0 and 14. Zero is the most acidic, seven is |
| test tube containing your aquarium water, and | | | | neutral, and fourteen is alkaline. Water changes can |
| compare the color on the strip to the information | | | | raise or lower the pH level, as does the addition of |
| cards that come with the package. | | | | specific chemicals to the water. The right pH level |
| Another type of test kit comes with liquid droppers | | | | depends on the type of fish you have in your tank. |
| containing a solution you drip into a test tube of | | | | An alkalinity kit tests the stability of your water in |
| sample water. Then you just shake and wait a few | | | | regards to a changing pH level. Essentially, this type |
| minutes for the results. Again, match the color in the | | | | of test specifically looks for your aquarium's |
| test tube to the color on the card to find out what | | | | capabilities for stabilizing the pH in the water. The |
| the results mean. | | | | reading in saltwater tanks should be between 7 and |
| Saltwater master test kits look for ammonia, nitrite, | | | | 12 dkH. |
| nitrate, pH, and even alkalinity. | | | | Testing the water in your aquarium is an important |
| Ammonia builds up in a saltwater aquarium from fish | | | | part of maintaining the tank and keeping your fish |
| waste and leftover food that has begun to rot. It's | | | | safe and healthy. Regular maintenance will ensure |
| extremely important to keep your tank free of | | | | your aquarium continues to run smoothly, but you |
| ammonia, as it's the main reason why fish die. | | | | always have to double check by carrying out the |
| Readings should always be 0. | | | | required tests. |
| Nitrite develops when bacteria present in the tank | | | | We recommend the easiest to use Salifert or |
| feed off ammonia. In new tanks that have not been | | | | Seachem test kits. |
| cycled, nitrite levels are very high. Nitrite is toxic to | | | | |