Anyone here test the water after the pump is turned off?
- Thread starter Gemma
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
- Messages
- 7,046
- Reaction score
- 7,240
- Location
- Water Valley, Alberta
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 2a
- Country
Make sure you test KH, Gemma.
Ideally, take a few O2 (dissolved oxygen) readings over time (there's a test kit for that as well).
Ideally, take a few O2 (dissolved oxygen) readings over time (there's a test kit for that as well).
I was thinking more in the line of Ammonia but (dumb question) what's KH?
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
- Messages
- 7,046
- Reaction score
- 7,240
- Location
- Water Valley, Alberta
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 2a
- Country
KH is the measurement of carbonates in your water.
You can think of it as food for bacteria (in addition to the ammonia that your fish produce), and keeping the KH level at a healthy level (about 6-8 drops on the API test kit) will prevent your PH from dropping to unhealthy levels.
Test whatever other levels you're interested in, as well as temperature and PH. The temperature and PH numbers will help you determine if any ammonia readings you get are unhealthy for your fish.
You can think of it as food for bacteria (in addition to the ammonia that your fish produce), and keeping the KH level at a healthy level (about 6-8 drops on the API test kit) will prevent your PH from dropping to unhealthy levels.
Test whatever other levels you're interested in, as well as temperature and PH. The temperature and PH numbers will help you determine if any ammonia readings you get are unhealthy for your fish.