I changed the cartridge in the aquatech 20-40. Im going to go get a AC70 so i have it for my next water change. So still feed them a little? I go off the 5 minute consumption rule. So shave that down to 2 minutes? Also my water test seemed to be within the parameters ive found for similar tanks with similar fish, keeping in mind the person that helped me tests swimming pools not aquariums. For 24 hrs i will say i noticed when my platys are stressed they follow the EBA around and today they were on the other side of the tank doing there own thing. Seems to be more "zen" like behavior for them.
Just keep an eye out, I don’t know what pool chemical tests will do for you but if one is ammonia check for that. You should be ok with an established tank but that’s the main reason I don’t like cartridge filters. Should only ever have to replace the felt filter and thoroughly rinse everything else.
Thank you. So the paper strip kits arent as valuable? Someone in a previous post said that. Well the test kit he gave me is the strips. He also had a chem test for coy ponds etc. I will have to get that kit from him. I will admit the strip is hard to decipher because its based on diffrent shades of the base colors and im slightly color blind.
Color blind is a small issue since all the hobbyist tests I’ve seen are based on color. If unsure you can take pics and post them here.
I don't "know" for a fact that the test strips are really that bad as far as accuracy is concerned and are surely better than nothing at all. It is one of those conventional wisdom general consensus type of things that I have always just accepted as true. An example of why I believe in test kits is the story of my old caprintis. I had just gotten rid of some fish and did a nice cleaning on a 29 gallon before bringing home this fish I had been eyeing at the lfs. After a day or two the fish was near death and I was scouring the net and posting on forums for help. Someone suggested testing the water, which in my mind had to be fine since the previous occupants were doing well, and I had done my big water change prior to getting the new fish. Turned out my ammonia was through the roof and nitrite was getting there. I must have neglected to use water conditioner when I did the water change and compromised the cycle. Ever since then if something is amiss in a tank I test the water parameters first before looking any further. Posting test results here is a great idea.
