kimo
Aquarium Advice Freak
I change my water when IT needs it. Sometimes 10%, sometimes 20%... monthly.
I do not have a test kit as I do not need one. After 35+ years of maintaining tanks (including an LFS) I use the plants and fish as indicators of what is going on in the tank. As long as you never overcrowd or overfeed you will never have a problem.
I also isolate any new fish for at least 3 weeks, plants 10-14 days to make sure there is no disease introduced. Since I moved 12 yrs ago my 150g has been torn down once and that was to go back to fresh from salt water. The plants are growing great and there has never been any sign of disease.
I do not have a test kit as I do not need one. After 35+ years of maintaining tanks (including an LFS) I use the plants and fish as indicators of what is going on in the tank. As long as you never overcrowd or overfeed you will never have a problem.
I also isolate any new fish for at least 3 weeks, plants 10-14 days to make sure there is no disease introduced. Since I moved 12 yrs ago my 150g has been torn down once and that was to go back to fresh from salt water. The plants are growing great and there has never been any sign of disease.