How often do you test your water.

[edmlfc]

Just curious how often everyone test their water?
Here are the 3 questions I have and my answers:

1)How often do you test your water? 2X a week
2)Do you keep a chart of your water test? Yes
3)For those with multiple tanks how do you do it? I purchased a vial holder for my test tubes so that I can test them all at once.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: How often do you test your water.

I do once a month or at least once every two months.....if I suspect iffy tap water I test before using it.

[CichlidFan]

Re: How often do you test your water.

Last time I checked my water  6 months ago
No

CF

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: How often do you test your water.

I track my results in EXcel and I use the Quick Dip Strips with 5-pads on there. I check this between waterchanges, so about 1-2 times a month.

I only check ammonia during new tank setups, and my tap source after a heavy rain.

[edmlfc]

Re: How often do you test your water.

Wow! I must be obsessed.  8O I don't think I could skip a week much less wait 6 months. I would be a nervous wreck.

[CichlidFan]

Re: How often do you test your water.

I grew frustrated from multiple tank readings.....I'd get readings of all kinds ...good and bad from similar tanks sitting right next to each other with similar filtration and on the same water change schedule. It was a real POA trying to get all tanks to balance, so I quit doing them....i have enough on my hands just to get the water changes done every week in all 7 tanks.

I only have one tank that I feel is over loaded, but the fishies in this tank, seem to be the happiest of all my tanks. It has a mixture of S. Americans, S. Africans and even central america....but again, the fish seem to be thriving. This tank is a 135 with over 40 fish, both large and small. All my other tanks have less than 25 fish in them and most of my tanks are 110 or better. My meat eaters tank is a 150 and there is only 16 fish in it.

CF

[edmlfc]

Re: How often do you test your water.

I'm just not that confident. Most of my tanks are only a year old. I guess once I am sure they are fully mature I might cut back on the testing, until then I just feel more comfortable doing it twice a week.  

[CichlidFan]

Re: How often do you test your water.

In almost any situation, it's always better to be safe, than be sorry....you're doing it right..... :)

CF

[eklikewhoa]

Re: How often do you test your water.

There's no telling what the water quality is unless you test......this way you know if something goes wrong or even know before it goes wrong.

This way you are on top of things and don't need to post for help after it's too late.

[wesleydnunder]

Re: How often do you test your water.

The only time I test is when setting up a new tank, or if there seems to be a problem in one of them. When cycling a new set up I keep a log to track the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate curves. Some of my tanks haven't been tested in years.

Mark

[imagirlgeek]

Re: How often do you test your water.

1)How often do you test your water? 2X a month
2)Do you keep a chart of your water test? Yes - Database
3)For those with multiple tanks how do you do it? I use a syringe to pull out the water 5mL at a time so I don't have to keep trying to get the right amount of water in the vial over and over.  :)

[Zulaab]

Re: How often do you test your water.

1) How often do you test your water? Every 3-6 months.
2) Do you keep a chart of your water test?  NO
3) For those with multiple tanks how do you do it? I use a syringe to pull out the water 10mL at a time and fill two vials with 5ml in each -- I use the API Freshwater Master Kit.

[finfan]

Re: How often do you test your water.

1) How often do you test your water?

Ans: When I set up a tank, I check water parameters everyday or everyother day until the tank cycles.  Once its cycled, I check every 3 or 4 days for about 2 weeks.  After that, I only check if there seems to be something wrong (fish acting different or disease or death or something out of the ordinary).  I have not checked my older thanks in at least 6 months.

2) Do you keep a chart of your water test?  NO


3) For those with multiple tanks how do you do it?

I always use the API Freshwater Master Kit.

[Tiapan]

Re: How often do you test your water.

1>How often do i test? Only when i suspect a problem or see one happening. and thats on a tank by tank basis. havent tested a tank probably in over a year.

2. how often do i do water changes. probably once every other month or so i do a fairly large change. like 40-50 percent. sometimes smaller. and thats about it. i go for a more natural approach and have lots and lots of live plants in all my tanks. as long as my fishies seem happy/and breeding. now on smaller tanks i will do changes a little more frequently, about once a month. (and yes i know this goes against the grain, but it works for me)

3. since i dont test i dont have a way of doing multiple tanks, but if i do i just bring the samples into work and i test it there (sure beats buying kits :wink: ) for free.

[txfatcat]

Re: How often do you test your water.

OK   I am stupid anal about all this.


1)How often do you test your water? 2-3X a week on some and 1x a month on others using Quick Dip Strips. On the Troph tanks a have a Electroninc PH Meter thats more accurate than the strips. During cycle time I have a master test kit that is used if there is a question.

2)Do you keep a chart of your water test? Every Tank has a physical log or diary. EVERYTHING is documented.

3)For those with multiple tanks how do you do it? Most of my tanks seem to be very stable. The test strips are accurate enough and fast unless we see an issue.