shawmutt
Aquarium Advice Addict
Well, it's that time of the week again. My weekly testing routine! My test results, especially nitrate, have been really weird. Last week my nitrates were way up there, now they're barely readable. My pH (which is hard to read anyway) has been wierd too but my fish and plants are fine. (Weird meaning totally different results from one week to the next for no known reason.)
Should I test the water before or after a 20% water change?
Additionally, I flunked chemistry in high school. Is mixing up all those chemicals going to make something explode...or worse, ruin my clothes if I spill them or use a different test tube for a different test each week? Or even more importantly, is residue from a different test going to affect the readings of the next?
I know I can easily boil the test tubes, but what about the caps? Does anyone sell the test tubes without the kits?
And finally, does anyone use the electonic meter for pH? Good results? Bad? Ugly? Seeing how I need a low pH in my tank (6.4-6.6), and I use CO2 injection, do you think it's a good idea to get an inexpensive meter? Or are the inexpensive meters no good?
Phew...ok, I think that's enough questions Thanks in advance for reading all this and for your help!
Should I test the water before or after a 20% water change?
Additionally, I flunked chemistry in high school. Is mixing up all those chemicals going to make something explode...or worse, ruin my clothes if I spill them or use a different test tube for a different test each week? Or even more importantly, is residue from a different test going to affect the readings of the next?
I know I can easily boil the test tubes, but what about the caps? Does anyone sell the test tubes without the kits?
And finally, does anyone use the electonic meter for pH? Good results? Bad? Ugly? Seeing how I need a low pH in my tank (6.4-6.6), and I use CO2 injection, do you think it's a good idea to get an inexpensive meter? Or are the inexpensive meters no good?
Phew...ok, I think that's enough questions Thanks in advance for reading all this and for your help!