Thanks to the friendly advice here I found out about water testing. I bought a test kit today and used it to check the water. It says it tests for NO2, NO3, KH, GH, pH.
So according to the test the parameters are: NO2 - OK, although it is hard to tell with this particular test because the difference in color is only slight. Then, NO3 is between 10 and 25, KH - 6, GH - >21, pH - 7,2.
Despite all the info I've read here and in the lit leaflet it is still difficult for me to conclude whether the water is good for my fish. I have a 40g tank with barbs, an angel, some cories, two ancistruses, a mysterious catfish, lots of teenage applesnails. The cories will go to a new tank soon.
I understand that the water is pretty hard. I have a bogwood piece in there, maybe I should do something else?
This is a strip test. I don't think liquid ones are available. Ammonia is not on the list. The info leaflet says that ammonia and ammonium produce nitrites. But it offers no testing for this stuff.
There is almost no coloring for NO2 - nitrite, and there is no reading. The bar says it's OK or not OK if the colour is stronger pink. Mine is very feeble.
The tank is about 7 years old. It has never been heavily stocked, but we have bought a new tank and some creatures have been introduced into the old one temporarily. They will be relocated very soon. Also some of the snails will have to move house.
We have actually done some partial water change lately, and I am afraid to disturb the tank. But maybe it is necessary after all. My tiger barbs do swim with their snouts down anymore... I will have to watch it for some time.
I have never tried ebay. In fact, I do not know how to do it. It will probably take some time for shipment.
I will go to the nearest pet shop tomorrow (where I bought the one I have) and ask them to research for Api in Riga. If they have no luck I will check in Lithuania, as I am planning a short trip there soon.
What if this cannot wait? I will change some of the water anyway. Also what if the new water I put into the tank already contains nitrates and nitrites?
I am also worried about the hardness of the water.
ok if you are using tap water there is no nitrate or nitrites that is part of the cycle process which wont be in tap water. and they make water test kits for hardwater and if u have hard water use a water conditioner.
and for the api master test kit try aquabid as well
I have a nutrafin liquid test kit as it was the only one in the lfs at the time but it seems to do a good job. I'm gonna take Kate's advice and get an API one from ebay when it runs out though. I never think of buying this kind of thing form ebay, but when I checked the prices, they were cheaper thean in a lfs.
Prices should be better, everything connected with aquariums is quite costly here. But how do you pay if you buy ebay? I just don't have any experience. I've heard it is safe... I am a bit concerned about shipping.
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