Testing Kits - cycling & what you need

[seeyoudownthere]

Folks

In the quest of understanding when a tank has cycled i'm wondering if there's a summary of the testing kits (chemical, electronic etc) recommended so we know what to add to our shopping carts!

TIA!

[jemswira]

Well generally the most basic you need to get by would be ammonia and nitrite. You're looking for the ammonia spike, then drop to zero followed by the nitrite spike, then drop to zero.
Those are only the most basic you need. For fish "happiness", you might also want pH, nitrate, gH and kH test kits as well as a thermometer.

[seeyoudownthere]

Ok...how about water hardness also testing brands?

[Urban Aquaria]

For my tanks, i use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit, it tests for pH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate... the most common parameters to check during the cycling process and during regular maintainence (for most fishes and RCS shrimps).

An accurate thermometer is also useful... make sure it is accurate (counter check it with other thermometers). If it is off by 1-2 degrees, you might end up getting worried unnecessarily.

For CRS shrimp keepers and breeders, due to the more sensitive nature of those type of shrimps, they would also usually also get kH, Gh and TDS testing kits too.

[wongce]

hi TS,

See my blog for the information you need to get started with the test kits and cycling of aquarium

http://theplantedtankblog.blogspot.s...-kits-for.html

http://theplantedtankblog.blogspot.s...g-of-tank.html

hope it helps..

[seeyoudownthere]

Very good - thanks for the links too.

Is there any info advising which areas of Singapore have what type of tap water conditions? ie different hardness/chlorination levels, etc I'm assuming *dangerously!* it's probably all very similar with just piping that's the biggest influence here?
*EDIT* I just found this link and assume it's pretty accurate http://www.pub.gov.sg/general/pages/watertreatment.aspx

Also regarding water changes i'm thinking about just leaving a single bucket of water out at least 24hrs prior to let chlorine evaporate instead of using dechlorination liquids - is that good enough? And is choloramine a problem in tap water here? i'm not trying to be a skint-flint so would prefer using less chemicals if I can.

[Urban Aquaria]

The PUB chart is a rough guide... i stay in the west side (bukit batok area) and i've tested my tap water pH is around 7.0, ammonia and nitrite is 0, nitrate around 5-10ppm.

I guess the water parameter can differ slightly between areas in Singapore, but overall should be similar. The piping in buildings (especially older housing or older commercial buildings) can sometimes affect water quality too.

In addition, occasionally when there is major maintenance or repair work done on water pipings in an estate, the maintenance crew likely add in extra chemicals to clean the pipes and it'll show up as altered water parameters temporarily... i've heard of friends who got entire tanks of fauna wiped out in those situations (especially those with very sensitive shrimps and fishes, and they happen to do large water changes at the same time).

Our local tap water has chlorine and chloramine, so just letting it sit in a bucket will only reduce chlorine, but the chloramine will still be present (along with various metals and minerals), so its still advisable to use a good water treatment additive to condition the water. It'll help protect the fauna and good bacteria in the tank.

What i usually do is add water treatment (ie. Seachem Prime) and also let the bucket of water sit for 24-48 hours before i use it to do water changes.

Imho... our tap water is already choc full of chemicals, adding abit more to counter and stabilize it for aquarium use is normal.

[jemswira]

Bro urban. I would actually like to disagree with 1 point you raised. I believe different parts of Singapore can have quite different water chemistry, to do with the water treatment and water plants that supply your area/house. But the rest I agree quite completely. Sometimes adding more of something you know about would be better than not knowing what's in your water. I use rainwater for my softwater tanks and sometimes still add dechlorinators. Just to be safe.

[seeyoudownthere]

@Urban
Thanks - your points are noted. Given there would be trace elements (let's say some dodgy heavy metals...no not Iron Maiden) do water conditioners manage to remove that stuff too?

@jemswira
My bro used to collect/use rainwater when I was growing up...it's pure, assuming there isn't industrial pollutants/radiation etc! Would you prefer this over tap water for any specific reason? I didn't want to ask this originally as i assumed i'd be considered a weirdo!

[Urban Aquaria]

@Urban
Thanks - your points are noted. Given there would be trace elements (let's say some dodgy heavy metals...no not Iron Maiden) do water conditioners manage to remove that stuff too?

Most aquarium water treatment/conditioners nowadays usually remove or reduce harmful metal content too, just check the products to find those which have that feature.

[seeyoudownthere]

Thanks - that's good to know!

[wongce]

Hi TS,

what do you intend to keep? sensitive and expensive shrimps? or just normal fish? the requirement is different.

Expensive shrimps: hobbyist are dead serious will use distilled water and top up minerals along the way and control the parameters carefully

Normal Fish: General anti chlorine treated water should be alright ... " unless you are keeping some seriously exotic and rare fish"

[jemswira]

Well I collect after about 20 minutes of heavy rain, so that it's "cleaner". I hope. I prefer it because I'm keeping soft water tanks so I don't have to lower the hardness again.

[seeyoudownthere]

@wongce: The intention is a simple plant tank potentially with a few shrimp. I travel for work so the livestock are just a thought as a possibility.

@jemswira: Okay good to know.