To get a complete picture of water quality, regular testing is important.
It is therefore wise to do a drop test monthly, as this will give you a more complete and precise picture.
Nearly all water parameters are interconnected. A complete picture of your water quality is therefore crucial.
Are the water parameters too high or too low? Then take action to correct this.
Want to get it right? Then consider the needs of the plants and fish in your aquarium. For example, some plants need extra calcium, while some shrimp prefer a lower pH.
We have various types of water tests, such as test strips, individual drop tests, and complete test kits, which are listed below.
Most strips can measure the following water values: PH (acidity), GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness), NO2 (nitrite), NO3 (nitrate) and CL2 (chlorine).
With a drop test you can also test the NH3 (ammonia), NH4 (ammonium), PO4 (phosphate) and FE (iron) values.
For example, a pH that is too high causes NH4 (ammonium) to convert more quickly into NH3 (ammonia), which is harmful to your fish.
If the water values are too high, a water change and less feeding is usually the solution.
When changing the water in this situation, be careful not to change the values too quickly. Add clean water in stages so the plants and fish can adjust gradually.
Are the water parameters too low? Then fertilization is usually the solution.
