new to ammonia testing

[midasman714]

i've kept fish for awhile but this is really the first time i'm testing my water for ammonia and the test came back at victorious 0ppm.

question is, do i need to also test for nitrite and nitrate levels if the ammonia level is good? if so, what testing do you guys reccomend.

 

[zennzzo]

i've kept fish for awhile but this is really the first time i'm testing my water for ammonia and the test came back at victorious 0ppm.

question is, do i need to also test for nitrite and nitrate levels if the ammonia level is good? if so, what testing do you guys reccomend.

Get a test kit that at least tests
Ammonia
NitrItes
NitrAtes
Ph

"drops" tests seem to be better than "strip" tests...

 

[midasman714]

Get a test kit that at least tests
Ammonia
NitrItes
NitrAtes
Ph

"drops" tests seem to be better than "strip" tests...

my lfs only had the ammonia one (API brand drop test one).. i'll shop around for "the deluxe" test kit.

i guess i'm not home free yet

 

[pacu mom]

The nitrogen cycle is very important in fishkeeping. Basically, ammonia is generated in fish waste/respiration. Ammonia is toxic to fish. When your tank is "cycled", there is enough beneficial bacteria in your filtration system to consume all the ammonia. The ammonia is converted into nitrites which are also toxic to fish. Other beneficial bacteria consume the nitrites and produce nitrates. In a cycled tank, there should be 0 ammonia and nitrites. Unfortunately, the nitrates will build up. The easiest way to lower nitrates is with water changes. How often and how much water is changed should be determined by the nitrate levels. Nitrates are not as toxic to fish as ammonia and nitrites, but high levels of nitrates are implicated in a host of fish problems such as failure to thrive, stunting, premature death, hole-in-the-head disease. You should invest in a freshwater master test kit. In a cycled tank, you may get an ammonia reading if there was a die off of beneficial bacteria, or a sudden increase of ammonia in the tank--from something such as dead or decaying matter that hasn't been removed from the tank.

 

[chesterthehero]

yer listed as being in the OC.. check ocean blue.. its in orange on katella.. theres also a nice tongs in fountain valley (google both for the addys)..

master liquid (drops) test kits are the way to go

 

[msjinkzd]

I recommend the API master test kit. You can print out petsmarts online price and have it pricematched in the store. Save you a few bucks.

 

[midasman714]

thanks people! API master kit, here i come!

 

[chesterthehero]

dont drop the test tubes into the garbage disposal... and dont let the cats chew up the caps... guess what ive done

 

[midasman714]

found some! turns out there's a little lfs shop like 3 min away from me.