Water
testing cues you to what's happening in your aquarium at any given time, helping you diagnose potential problems so you can take corrective measures immediately. Every fish hobbyist should own a reliable water testing kit. Besides water
temperature, some of the basic parameters that require testing on a regular basis are:
Why Maintain Proper Parameters?
Stress due to fluctuating water conditions is one of the main causes of fish illness and death. Maintaining proper range in each of these parameters is vital to the health and longevity of your fish. Our aquarists have found that a simple way to identify factors that may be contributing to undesirable water parameters is to use a written log to chart your results whenever you test.
After testing your water parameters, identify any test results that fall outside the acceptable range. Many master test kits such as the
Freshwater Master Test Kit include an instruction booklet detailing the appropriate measures to take to help remedy the condition. However, the following are some basic steps you can take to remedy some common problems.
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High ammonia level - Partial
water changes remove and dilute the concentration of ammonia present in the water. Bacterial additives such as
Stress Zyme process ammonia into less toxic nitrite and then to nitrate. Ammonia detoxifiers such as
Amquel+ are invaluable tools in detoxifying ammonia before it climbs to dangerous levels.
- High nitrate level - Though the least toxic end product of the nitrogen cycle, saltwater invertebrates are very sensitive to nitrate. Regular partial water changes and proper feeding help keep nitrate levels low.
- Improper pH -
pH conditioners and
buffers help maintain pH at desired levels. In areas where the source water is high in minerals, consider using a
reverse osmosis unit to ensure stable and effective use of pH conditioners.
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PRODUCTS RELATED TO:
Aquarium Testing
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