How often do you test your water parameters?

[CLDarnell]

I have the combo stick on ammonia and ph indicator and at least two thermometers in all my tanks. The indicators do seem to be pretty accurate. I haven't changed stocking levels for quite awhile, so I haven't been checking parameters to thoroughly. I check around once a month just to be sure nothing is sneaking up on me.

Consistency with stocking levels, filter maintenance and water changes goes a long way to keeping parameters in check...and even further with peace of mind

 

[GolemGolem]

I guess I shouldn't feel lazy then, Seachem needs to make a nitrate stick on thing, I'd buy that in a second, gonna pick up one of the amonia ones next time I'm out.
Daily when setting up a tank or adding new fish, untill everything is stable. I check the temp every day, because I'm a little afraid of a heater ****ing the bed. Other than that I only test nitrates once a month or so, unless something goes wrong of course.

 

[dwacudo]

wow ive dont think ive every tested my water ill 2morrow at the pet store never really thougth it was that big of a deal i kinnda just know when needs to because my oscar does some random A** S*** like this morning he was floating in the water at like a 45 degree anle with his tail barely touching the the gravel froaen like a satue so i changed the water ang i havent seen him do it since

 

[GolemGolem]

wow ive dont think ive every tested my water ill 2morrow at the pet store never really thougth it was that big of a deal i kinnda just know when needs to because my oscar does some random A** S*** like this morning he was floating in the water at like a 45 degree anle with his tail barely touching the the gravel froaen like a satue so i changed the water ang i havent seen him do it since

Was he sleeping?
I have one angel that floats backwards and bumps into things, and another that lays on his side beside a rock when they sleep. Freaked me right the heck out the first time I saw it. I hear oscars do even weirder things.
Good idea testing the water tommrow all the same.

 

[dwacudo]

Was he sleeping?
I have one angel that floats backwards and bumps into things, and another that lays on his side beside a rock when they sleep. Freaked me right the heck out the first time I saw it. I hear oscars do even weirder things.
Good idea testing the water tommrow all the same.

naw he wasnt sleeping he always leans up angainst a rock next to my red devil there like a couple when he was doing this the ligths in the tank where on and he was wide awake in full color but idk you may be rigth ill see if he dose it again he such a charater

 

[aclockworkorange]

Decided to give pH one another chance. I guess the one I got 1 month ago was spoilt as the new one changes colour in minutes.

How long do they usually last?

Package says 3-6 months for ph, 1 year for ammonia.

If you got a bad one, contact Seachem. They are very good with customer service.

 

[calioutlaw1a]

Just something to add... Ive been using the Seachem ammonia indicator on my tanks. You just stick it on the glass and it changes color if there is any ammonia in the tank. I've found it to be very accurate as well. It's less than $10 and I think it's a great little tool because you can instantly know if something is up when you look at your tank throughout the day. They also have a ph one.
I've seen cycles get screwed up for no apparent reason so testing is always good. I generally check for nitrates just out of curiosity to see how fast they build up and when changing stock around.

I just purchased the ammonia indicator and the pH indicator, and I agree that they work great!

I tried the seachem one too. But the pH one didn't work

I thought the same thing. Initially, it was reading as 8.2+ for me, which I tested against my API test that has always shown about 7.8. Then suddenly after a few days it changed to 7.8 and has remained there since. Not sure why this happened, because according to the directions it should be accurate almost immediately.

 

[aclockworkorange]

The directions note that with time it will become more accurate. So I think that's normal... Sort of a calibration phase.

 

[calioutlaw1a]

The directions note that with time it will become more accurate. So I think that's normal... Sort of a calibration phase.

That's true for the ammonia alert, but I was talking about the pH alert. The pH alert should be accurate after about 30 minutes.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

I thought the same thing. Initially, it was reading as 8.2+ for me, which I tested against my API test that has always shown about 7.8. Then suddenly after a few days it changed to 7.8 and has remained there since. Not sure why this happened, because according to the directions it should be accurate almost immediately.

This is happening to my new seachem pH alert now! The dot is now freaking red (> 8.0) which is ridiculous since my water has always been between 6-7