| The qualityy of the water in your aquarium is vital | | | | the color it turns to the color on a chart. A PH |
| to the health of your fish in the well-being of your | | | | below 7 is acidic, PH of 7 exactly as neutral and |
| fish tank and one way to make sure that this | | | | anything above 7 is alkaline. it's best to have your |
| water is in tip top shape is to test it often. You | | | | pH between six and seven and if you find that it |
| need to be sure that the water is the right | | | | is too acidic or two alkaline you can stuff at the |
| temperature, not too acidic or two alkaline and | | | | pet store which you can add to the tank to bring |
| has the right amounts of ammonia, nitrite and | | | | it back in range. Be aware, that any time you add |
| nitrate. | | | | anything into the aquarium it can change the PH |
| Although testing your aquarium water should be | | | | so you want to run a PH tests after you add |
| done on a regular basis it doesn't need to be done | | | | new water, or put in any decorations or plants. |
| every day and can probably be done once a | | | | It's also very important to test the ammonia in |
| week or if you notice a change in the look of the | | | | your tank as high levels of ammonia can be toxic |
| water in the tank. One thing you should check | | | | to your fish and leave them susceptible to disease |
| every day, however is the temperature of the | | | | and eventually kill them if It is left unchecked. |
| water. Tropical freshwater fish a very sensitive to | | | | Ammonia caskets are easily found at your pet |
| the temperature of the environment and you | | | | store and just as easy to use as the PH test kits. |
| need to be sure that the water temperature is | | | | These will come in handy when you first start |
| not too low or too high or your fish could become | | | | new tank and it is cycling through the nitrogen |
| susceptible to disease. | | | | cycle as you can watch the ammonia level drop. |
| Different species of tropical freshwater fish like to | | | | Once your tank is established the ammonia level |
| be in different temperatures of water. Typically | | | | should always be zero and if it is not you will have |
| this is around 68 degrees but you need to make | | | | to do something to bring this back down. |
| sure to find out the exact range that your fish | | | | Nitrite and nitrate levels should also be checked |
| prefer when you buy them. you should have a | | | | and once again you can buy test kits that are |
| good heater and thermometer so that you can | | | | easy to use. If you find that you have high levels |
| make sure to keep the aquarium water in the | | | | of either one of these, your biological filter may |
| optimal temperature range. Also, when you | | | | not be working properly and you will need to |
| change the water in your fish tank or add new | | | | clean it and then retest the water. |
| water you want to make sure that the | | | | Testing your aquarium water religiously can help |
| temperature is the same as that In the tank as if | | | | keep your tank clear in your fish healthy. By |
| you put in water that is too hot or too cold he | | | | finding out about problems early for your testing |
| can shock or kill your fish. | | | | you can correct them early on thus avoiding |
| The PH or acidity of the tank is another thing that | | | | serious problems that may happen if the situation |
| needs to be tested. PH test kits are not very | | | | gets out of hand and the conditions become so |
| expensive and it only takes a second to test the | | | | severe that it makes your fish stick or even kills |
| water. using the test kit, you'll put a little but of | | | | them. |
| water in a vile add some solution and compare | | | | |