Basics of Freshwater Aquarium Water Testing
Aquariums contain substances that can be harmful for your fish if not kept in check.
Aquarium water testing kits ensure that substances like ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are kept under control.
Since there are various types of water testing kits, it can get confusing to choose the right kit.
This article will elaborate on the various types of aquarium water testing kits available.
Checking the Ammonia levels in your Aquarium Water.
Ammonia is released into the aquarium through fish poop and ammonia is also created by the gills of fish.
This chemical is considered very toxic if the levels increase significantly.
Water testing kits that test for ammonia indicate the levels of ammonia so that the owner knows when to change water in the aquarium.
What are Nitrites and Nitrate in Aquarium Water and why your should check the levels of both.
Nitrite is created when the nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites.
Nitrites are a lesser toxic form of ammonia but Nitrites are also dangerous.
The nitrifying bacteria convert nitrites to a lesser toxic form known as nitrates.
Nitrates are controlled in the aquarium with the help of filters and water changes.
Aquariums that have completed the nitrogen cycle only have nitrates in them.
Nitrite and nitrate testing kits work on the same principal as ammonia testing kits.
How to be checking out the PH in your Aquarium Water.
PH is a term used to indicate the hardness of the water.
The PH 7 is considered as a neutral level while anything lower than 7 is considered acidic.
PH that is higher than 7 is considered alkaline.
PH testing kits test the hardness of the water and these kits are only used by fish keepers who keep delicate species of fish.
Fish keeps that keep certain cichlids often use PH testing kits to know if they need to alter the water chemistry.
There are various types of kits available in the market.
The colorimetric test kit if easy to use and alerts the user that the specific substance in high in the aquarium through the change of colors.
In order to use these kits the person requires to put a few drops of the aquarium water on the strips provided.
The kit contains instructions on the various colors that will appear on the strip if the water contains a specific substance.
Titrimetric test kits use a reagent to test the water.
In this type of test kit the water a few drops of water have to be put in a glass container and the reagent has to be added to the water.
If the water contains high levels of the specific substance then the color of the water will change.
Stick on aquarium water testing kits are easy to use but they are not precise.
A ticker is provided in these kits and these stickers have to be stuck inside the tank.
These stickers change color when the water contains a specific substance.
Things to Remember about water chemistry in your freshwater aquarium.
While using water testing kits you should remember that the PH of the water does not need to be changed for most fish.
Most tap water after water conditioners are normally 7.
0 Ph.
If you feel the need to change the PH of the water then you should use driftwood to lower the Ph or crushed coral to increase the PH.
Aquarium water testing kits ensure that substances like ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are kept under control.
Since there are various types of water testing kits, it can get confusing to choose the right kit.
This article will elaborate on the various types of aquarium water testing kits available.
Checking the Ammonia levels in your Aquarium Water.
Ammonia is released into the aquarium through fish poop and ammonia is also created by the gills of fish.
This chemical is considered very toxic if the levels increase significantly.
Water testing kits that test for ammonia indicate the levels of ammonia so that the owner knows when to change water in the aquarium.
What are Nitrites and Nitrate in Aquarium Water and why your should check the levels of both.
Nitrite is created when the nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites.
Nitrites are a lesser toxic form of ammonia but Nitrites are also dangerous.
The nitrifying bacteria convert nitrites to a lesser toxic form known as nitrates.
Nitrates are controlled in the aquarium with the help of filters and water changes.
Aquariums that have completed the nitrogen cycle only have nitrates in them.
Nitrite and nitrate testing kits work on the same principal as ammonia testing kits.
How to be checking out the PH in your Aquarium Water.
PH is a term used to indicate the hardness of the water.
The PH 7 is considered as a neutral level while anything lower than 7 is considered acidic.
PH that is higher than 7 is considered alkaline.
PH testing kits test the hardness of the water and these kits are only used by fish keepers who keep delicate species of fish.
Fish keeps that keep certain cichlids often use PH testing kits to know if they need to alter the water chemistry.
There are various types of kits available in the market.
The colorimetric test kit if easy to use and alerts the user that the specific substance in high in the aquarium through the change of colors.
In order to use these kits the person requires to put a few drops of the aquarium water on the strips provided.
The kit contains instructions on the various colors that will appear on the strip if the water contains a specific substance.
Titrimetric test kits use a reagent to test the water.
In this type of test kit the water a few drops of water have to be put in a glass container and the reagent has to be added to the water.
If the water contains high levels of the specific substance then the color of the water will change.
Stick on aquarium water testing kits are easy to use but they are not precise.
A ticker is provided in these kits and these stickers have to be stuck inside the tank.
These stickers change color when the water contains a specific substance.
Things to Remember about water chemistry in your freshwater aquarium.
While using water testing kits you should remember that the PH of the water does not need to be changed for most fish.
Most tap water after water conditioners are normally 7.
0 Ph.
If you feel the need to change the PH of the water then you should use driftwood to lower the Ph or crushed coral to increase the PH.