water test

[Peg]

Hi Everyone
Just did my first real water test with a master test kit. A far as I can tell numbres look good, but wanted some comments on the numbers. Tank is 75 gal.
I 5" fancy gold fish
2 2"goldfish
1 6"catfish
1 3" algae eater
1 4"algae eater
Ammonia 0.6 tank is due for a water change tomorrow
Nitrate 0.1
Ph low 7.6
Ph high 7.9-8.0
Gh 180 mg/l ppm
KH 90 mg/l ppm
Salt 0
going to do the pond tomorrow. wanted to do a test run on tank first.

[Jackie Ramo]

Ammonia and nitrites are not things that should show inthe test. Seems a lot of inches of fish for the tank but then I've not really kept tanks in years in spite of having one koi in a tank now.

[Peg]

Hi All,
When is the best time to do a water test. I do about a 25% water change every week in the small pond. Is it better to test right after a water change or is it better to do it a day later after the water has had a chance to cycle. I test about twice a week right now.I am just starting to get a bit of string alge, and have screened over the pond to help slow it down and add some shade as it is taking longer for the water lillys to grow this year.

[Jackie Ramo]

i'd test the water when I am not changing it. Also be sure to test the source water. One does need to know what is going in. Sometimes its a very unpleasant surprise, sometimes is extremely good.

[Peg]

Hi Jackie,
Ill check the water on friday and the pond as well. I try to do the water change on Sundays as Its not as nuts around here then. Ill post the tap and pond #'s later friday and will see whats up. I know that they have been adding chlorine because It is really strong when the hose is turned on.

[Terri]

Are there fish in the tank?

Seems your pH is in the high range so no need to use the pH low test. I didn't see nitrIte? With ammonia at 0.6 nI should also be tested. KH is a little low.

For your source water testing - place the water into a bucket and aerate for about a half hour then do the tests.

To get a base line for the pond test twice a day - morning then evening - pH shifts through the day.