how often to test

[ineke]

Hi All,

My tanks are finally all stable and have been for about 3 weeks. No spikes of any kind just my nitrates but they are stable between 0-5 -I am getting better with not over feeding just need to cut back a tad more. I have been testing weekly and doing minor water changes or just top ups. So now that they are stable and I've learnt less is more -the less I mess around with them the better they are!- how often should I do water tests. Would monthly be OK as long as there are no problems with a tank? I'm happy to do them as often as necessary but don't want to do them if not necessary

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

[BlueBolts]

That's great, well done ineke. I observe/test my TDS each fortnight, and nitrates on obeservation (unexplained deaths, behaviour issues...) but perhaps once each month or two......unless there's new shrimp additions, or circumstance out of the ordinary.

Learnt how to observe the behaviour of your shrimps, their activity...etc, and you'll know when to perhaps test your WP...

[Squiggle]

+1 agree with BB, I only check nitrates every two weeks before WC, I'm still getting used to what TDS dose between WC so I stick the pen in each day & I don't test anything else unless the shrimp start acting strange or dying :encouragement:

[ineke]

Thanks BB and Squiggle that sounds a go to me. The TDS does slowly creep up- very slowly so yes I will test that more often. I still don't have any tanks on just RO water but this week I will have the salty shrimp and will use that for water changes.

Cheers

ineke:encouragement:

[OzShrimp]

I never test :)

[ineke]

I'm learning I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it its just a bit hard not to do anything. I will need to keep checking the PH because it comes out of my puratap at 7.4 and the RO is 6.8. I must admit though I have always had white coat fever- I used to have to test all kinds of unspeakable things in my nursing days!!!!

[OzShrimp]

As squiggle and that have said you will learn in time when to identify when something is wrong based on how your shrimp respond and what not :)

[ineke]

As squiggle and that have said you will learn in time when to identify when something is wrong based on how your shrimp respond and what not :)

Yes its time for me just to sit back and watch the troops and see how they all interact. Apart from eventually changing the CRS tank to Benibachi soil mostly everything is stable and not needing anything done. I am getting some new shrimp this week but basically I'm done now - running out of spending money has put an end to anything else. I would like to get a couple of yellow females as I only have 1 female but it's not cost effective to have 1 sent to Adelaide and I don't know if there are any members in Adelaide with female yellows available that would sell only a couple so as I said I'm done for now.

Cheers

Ineke

[JohnH]

Once a tank is cycled I only test if something is wrong. Although I am looking at getting one of the RO units so I will more than likely pay a bit closer attention to the water.

[ineke]

Once a tank is cycled I only test if something is wrong. Although I am looking at getting one of the RO units so I will more than likely pay a bit closer attention to the water.

Hi JohnH I have just started using RO water but didn't get the salty shrimp so I have only done partial water changes with the RO water. The salty shrimp will be here this week and then I will have more to learn but it is all getting easier

cheers

ineke:encouragement:

[JohnH]

Hi ineke, I have been reading your posts on your RO Water experience. It's what has made me start thinking more about my water quality.

When I first started with a fish tank I basically just tested for ammonia. Then I moved on to Nitrites & Nitrates. Now it's going to be KH GH and TDS.

[ineke]

Hi ineke' date=' I have been reading your posts on your RO Water experience. It's what has made me start thinking more about my water quality.

When I first started with a fish tank I basically just tested for ammonia. Then I moved on to Nitrites & Nitrates. Now it's going to be KH GH and TDS.[/quote']

I'm with you John I kept fish for years with no issues and no testing and now here we all are with our white lab coats on and testing testing testing!!! When you start getting the more expensive Shrimp you could lose 1 shrimp that costs more than all your test kits combined so I'm happy to learn with my Cherries and my CRS culls and hopefully will be able to keep the better quality shrimp when finances eventually allow. It's all good! Oh and don't forget all the nutrition now - it's not just one or 2 types of fish food its a chemist full of nutritional aids!!!!

Cheers

Ineke

[Squiggle]

Lol, you're becoming the real shrimp expert there Ineke, it awesome watching your knowledge, confidence & experience grow day by day, I hope mine is growing too :encouragement:

[ineke]

Lol' date=' you're becoming the real shrimp expert there Ineke, it awesome watching your knowledge, confidence & experience grow day by day, I hope mine is growing too :encouragement:

[img']http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a580/Betta_lover/image-74_zps1c9a4a95.jpg

Thank you Squiggle. If I find myself catching up to you I'll let you know you are slipping. I still well and truly have my L plates on. I have learnt so much through this forum but realise there is so much more to learn. Better than sitting back and letting Alzheimers get me!!!!

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

[Squiggle]

What were we talking about again?? :confused:

[ineke]

Were you speaking to me??? Who are you????;)

[JohnH]

What were we talking about again?? :confused:

Was it bacon?

mmmmm bacon

[ineke]

Nurse there are these strange people talking to me on that thingy over there!!!!

[ineke]

Actually I shouldn't make fun I used to be a Clinical Nurse in charge of a Dementia unit and although we had a lot of fun its pretty sad. My Dad went that way too.

Cheers

Ineke:encouragement:

[ineke]

Back to more normal things I have just upped my temperature in my Cherry tanks from 21 to 23/24 as we are now getting cooler weather except tomorrow when i think it will be low 30's again. It certainly has made a difference. It was getting a bit boring watching them not doing much to now going back to their busy little selves. Didn't know a few degrees could make such a difference.

[Squiggle]

Was it bacon?

mmmmm bacon

Mmmmmm' date=' chocolate covered bacon :victorious:

[img']http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a580/Betta_lover/image-74_zps326c995d.jpg

[ineke]

Mmmmmm' date=' chocolate covered bacon :victorious:

[img']http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a580/Betta_lover/image-74_zps326c995d.jpg

MMM sweet and salty that does it I'm going to make some microwave popcorn back soon!!!!