I realize that many enjoy the hands on aspect of water parameter testing via home test kits. Personally I've never owned a test kit and never will. I'm a little embarrassed about how long I've been an aqua nerd, " 3 decades". Lol. Long before home water testing became the norm.
I experienced a negative incident yesterday regarding an errant water test at my LFS, which ensures my assessment of testing.
Yesterday, I bought 2 White Tail Acei African Cichlids from a very good LFS. The employee had a difficult time netting the Aceis, knocking over rocks and decor. During the acclimation process, I noticed one of the fish had large abrasions on both sides. Undoubtedly sustained while being netted. The noted Acei died within 2 hours. The LFS's return policy requires the corpse and a water sample. I sacked up the deceased, and filled a new disposable plastic cup with tank water, sealed with plastic wrap. The LFS test revealed Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate:
less than 20 and the PH was "5". Five! Really? The involved tank is equipped with double the required filtration, 50% WC every week w/ Gravel Vac, is not over stocked. To top it all off, the tank is scaped with over 100 lbs. of Limestone. No chance of a PH crash.
Two more tests were performed, results PH 5, PH 6. It would be a difficult to keep a Discus alive in acidic water W/ a PH of 5 let alone the hard water, high PH loving fish I keep.
I knew the test was way off; the fish in my tank are thriving, including the surviving Acei.
The LFS employee was emphatic about the validity of the PH test. After a lengthy conversation, educating the employee about aquarium water management and fish keeping, the management honored their return policy despite the "false" PH reading. The replacement Acei is doing great as well as the other 14 African Cichlids in the tank.
My point is: Whatever happened to traditional (non-testing) fish keeping skills for water quality? Recognizing irregular fish behavior, or the clean chemical-like smell of healthy BB in filter media. Why rely on test kits to maintain an aquarium. No offense meant to testers. Any thoughts?
I experienced a negative incident yesterday regarding an errant water test at my LFS, which ensures my assessment of testing.
Yesterday, I bought 2 White Tail Acei African Cichlids from a very good LFS. The employee had a difficult time netting the Aceis, knocking over rocks and decor. During the acclimation process, I noticed one of the fish had large abrasions on both sides. Undoubtedly sustained while being netted. The noted Acei died within 2 hours. The LFS's return policy requires the corpse and a water sample. I sacked up the deceased, and filled a new disposable plastic cup with tank water, sealed with plastic wrap. The LFS test revealed Ammonia: 0, Nitrite: 0, Nitrate:
less than 20 and the PH was "5". Five! Really? The involved tank is equipped with double the required filtration, 50% WC every week w/ Gravel Vac, is not over stocked. To top it all off, the tank is scaped with over 100 lbs. of Limestone. No chance of a PH crash.
Two more tests were performed, results PH 5, PH 6. It would be a difficult to keep a Discus alive in acidic water W/ a PH of 5 let alone the hard water, high PH loving fish I keep.
I knew the test was way off; the fish in my tank are thriving, including the surviving Acei.
The LFS employee was emphatic about the validity of the PH test. After a lengthy conversation, educating the employee about aquarium water management and fish keeping, the management honored their return policy despite the "false" PH reading. The replacement Acei is doing great as well as the other 14 African Cichlids in the tank.
My point is: Whatever happened to traditional (non-testing) fish keeping skills for water quality? Recognizing irregular fish behavior, or the clean chemical-like smell of healthy BB in filter media. Why rely on test kits to maintain an aquarium. No offense meant to testers. Any thoughts?