What water tests for a freshwater aquarium? How to choose tests for a freshwater aquarium. Here is a micro-guide to discover the essential water parameters to analyze in fresh water, but also the models or test cases to choose from. You will also find out how to perform these tests and how often. Everything you need to know about water testing for freshwater aquariums

A mini-guide for aquarists who wish to maintain healthy water for their freshwater fish.

Why perform water tests in a freshwater aquarium?

Being in possession of an aquarium requires special attention to its maintenance. If you keep freshwater fish, you have recreated an ecosystem for them, and like any ecosystem, you must maintain its balance and not weaken it, to allow your fish, shellfish and crustaceans to live in an environment adapted to their their needs. To maintain your freshwater aquarium, you will make sure to carry out water analyzes on a regular basis, to check the quality of the water, by controlling data such as the rate of nitrates or even the levels of chlorine and carbon dioxide. In this article, you will discover how to carry out water tests, how often to carry them out and which tests to choose. Follow the guide!

How to perform water tests in your freshwater aquarium

How often do you analyze your aquarium water?

If you have just acquired your aquarium, you have most certainly equipped it optimally to accommodate your freshwater fish. That is to say, you have equipped it with, at a minimum, some plants, gravel and a landing net. If your fish are in warm fresh water, you have invested in additional equipment, such as lighting, heating, a filter, an air pump: the essentials!

At the initial impoundment of your freshwater aquarium, you must imperatively test your filling water to check its quality, before plunging your fish into it. The recommendations for impoundment are to wait two to three weeks before immersing the plants, then the fish, because the presence of nitrates can be fatal to them. You should perform tests every three days to check the composition of your aquarium water.

Regarding maintenance tests, when the water in your aquarium is of good quality and your plants, fish, and other microorganisms have been living there for a certain time, the frequency of maintenance and checking the quality of the water, is different. It is recommended to do tests once a week, approximately, to guarantee a good balance of the elements of composition of the water of your aquarium.

What are the parameters to check, to maintain the good quality of fresh water?

Be aware that analyses, interpretation of results and water treatment solutions fluctuate, depending on several factors:

• The biotope (the tropical Amazonian aquatic environment is different from the Asian biotope)
• The size of the aquarium (a small ball aquarium is not maintained in the same way as a large column aquarium of 100 liters or a wall aquarium)
• Equipment (if you treat the environment with a water conditioner to eliminate chlorine or if you maintain filter aeration, your aquarium will require less maintenance)
• Fish (resistant or fragile fish, large number of fish in the aquarium, exotic fish?)
• Installations (maintenance of natural aquarium plants or cleaning of artificial plants)

Nevertheless, in any case, you will have to control the quality of the water in your aquarium, by frequently analyzing:

• Temperature control
• Ph and Kh tests (to check the acid/base balance and analyze the carbon hardness)
• Gh measurement (measurement of water hardness and the presence of limestone)
• Analysis of the content of NO2, NO3 and NH4 (indicates the contents of nitrates, nitrites and phosphates)
• Mineral content tests

If you do not carry out these tests on a weekly basis, you jeopardize the balance of the physico-chemical composition of your water, and you put, at the same time, the life of your fish in danger.

For example, a strong presence of nitrates or phosphates can kill certain species, in the same way that the lack of oxygen, the poor regulation of nitrogen or carbon dioxide lead plants and animals to asphyxiation.

Which water tests to choose to maintain good quality fresh water in your aquarium?

The fragile balance of the physico-chemical composition of your pets' living space challenges you, and that's normal. It is up to you to preserve the habitat of your small aquatic animals. The good news is that there are several kinds of reliable tests, water maintenance kits, easily usable and interpretable, even for a neophyte!

From simple single-use tests, to complete maintenance kits, to electronic testers, there are different tests to accompany you in your aquarist adventure:

Droplet water tests

Easy to use, the drop water test allows a reliable and precise analysis of certain composition parameters of your aquarium.

Water test strips

Easy to use, economical, but much less accurate than the drop test. The strip test can be used regularly for a quick and comprehensive water analysis.

Analysis kits

Different water analysis kits exist, adapted and optimized for the specific tests you wish to carry out (for example, “water hardness and Ph” kit).

Maintenance cases

The case is the most complete solution and the most reliable for the maintenance of your aquarium. It contains all the products necessary to maintain your water quality

Thermometers

The thermometer is useful for checking the water temperature if you use a heater for your aquarium water

Conclusion

By now you know that you need to check several essential factors in the composition of the ecosystem of your freshwater aquarium, at least once a week. Your aquarium skills and your analysis tools will allow you to properly maintain the water in your aquarium.

We hope you enjoyed this mini guide to freshwater aquarium testing!