How often do you test your water parameters?

[aclockworkorange]

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.

I believe you'll get a reading in 30 min, but it will be more accurate over time with both products. I'm using the ph and ammonia one in my 90. I think they are more guidelines that super accurate results--so you can notice notable swings and test with a more accurate liquid test.
The main complaint I have with the ph one is it's hard to read. It's easy enough to see the difference between big swings, but once you get around the 6.8-7.4 range, it's very slight color differences. The ammonia indicators don't have this issue because all the readings are very different colors--yellow for safe, then it goes to green and purple (can't remember what they are off the top of my head, but it's definitely easy to tell the readings apart with the ammonia product).

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Great, I just brought the API pH test kit. Reads 7.4

The Seachem pHalert is still red...

 

[epond83]

New set up i'll check more often but once cycled I'll test once a week on nitrates to see at what rate it goes up, then once i know how fast nitrates go up i figure out my water change schedule. Then I'll test once a month or longer to keep an eye on things to make sure my schedule is working.

 

[Conner]

I think I've only tested once in the last 8 months, and that was because I had two fish die in a row. Nothing showed up.

I've also set up 3 new tanks in that time, but I used established media, and didn't have any losses, or even fish that looked stressed.

Its very rare that I test anymore. I have multiple tanks, so if I'm setting a new one up, or setting up a new filter, I just borrow some media from another filter/tank.

 

[Conner]

I did used to have a digital pH meter that you left in the tank and took continuous readings, but that was on a SA biotope tank that had extremely low pH (3.5 average).

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Hmm, how much do those digital pH normally cost?

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

I rarely test. Maybe twice in the past year.

 

[Joeygee23]

I never check....I have some of the best municiple water in the country. I do weekly 50% water changes, biweekly gravel vacs.....my fish are happy and show it!

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Hmm, i thought the bulk of us would test like at least once a week, guess I was wrong

 

[Conner]

Hmm, how much do those digital pH normally cost?

The one I used retails for $89 on BigAls:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/Fish_Hi...ollers_pH-Monitor_10057729_82.html?tc=default

I got it off craigslist or ebay for like $40. Just bought some new calibration liquid and it was ready to go.