API testing and timing

[Dalfrey86]

Hey All, question about the timing for water testing. Is it best performed right after a water change or wait a day and let everything settle again before testing?

Ph levels I don't think would matter much for timing, but nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia might be effect by the introduction of new water, thoughts?

I'm of the mindset that there is never too much testing but I also don't want to test just to say I did it.

 

[DN328]

How long has your tank been running? If your tank is cycled, I would test before WC for nitrates before a WC and test after to see how much it went down from the WC.

Unless there's a concern, I dont test for anything else.

 

[esoxlucius]

Hey All, question about the timing for water testing. Is it best performed right after a water change or wait a day and let everything settle again before testing?

Ph levels I don't think would matter much for timing, but nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia might be effect by the introduction of new water, thoughts?

I'm of the mindset that there is never too much testing but I also don't want to test just to say I did it.

As above really. New water shouldn't effect your ammonia and nitrite at all, it should be 0ppm before and after a water change. PH might move a bit depending on how long it was before your last water change and PH of your tap water. Your nitrate is the big mover, again depending on how long it was before your last water change.

If it's nitrate you're trying to get a handle on then you need to do a test just before a water change and then a couple of hours after your water change, just give it a bit of time to let your system mix the new water in with the old.

Your before and after readings will then tell you if your water change schedule is good.