Ron's being a good and diplomatic cop. I'll take up the bad and blunt part.
IMHO and IMHE, if you want to own any fish but most especially MFK type fish and one as big and heavy as an RTC, you must own a test kit (which is $20 for hundreds of tests) and test your water right away at the very first sign of any appetite and health-in-general problem.
The longer you go on without the kit, the longer your fish will be suffering and dying sooner or later, more often or less often.
I'm not preaching from a high chair but from my own miserable experience as a rookie and that of countless other peers.
It is analogous to the following scenario.
- Doctor, I think my child is getting sick. He is not eating as he used to, he is coughing, and his skin color changed. I think he needs medication for his cough.
- I see. When was the last time you entered his room?
- Hmm, never.
- Then how do you know it is not filled with smoke?
- Hmm. I don't.
*******
We can't enter and evaluate the water appropriateness for breathing and living for our fish. That's why we rely on tests. Must start with basics.
