Fritz Liquid Test Kits

Wide Range pH

Testing the pH of your aquarium water regularly to make proper adjustments is crucial to keep your fish, plants, and other aquarium animals healthy and stress-free. pH is the measure of acidity or basicity of liquids. Acidic water will measure between 0 and 7 pH, while basic, or alkaline, water will measure between 7 and 14. Knowing your animals is important: the preferred pH range of each species in your aquarium can vary. 

A consistent pH reading is more ideal than frequent changes up or down. pH is influenced in the aquarium by many factors, including the KH content, respiration, organic waste decomposition, even the ammonia cycle. Because of this, frequent testing is recommended. Established systems should be tested once a month, and new systems or aquariums with fish illness or death should be monitored more often. Establishing a baseline pH of your aquarium throughout your normal routine will help alert you to problems early on. Any unexpected pH change can indicate water quality issues and should be addressed right away.

Ammonia

Ammonia is one of the most important parameters to monitor in aquariums because any amount can be toxic to livestock if it is not addressed right away. Ammonia is commonly elevated in new tanks while establishing the beneficial biological filter. High ammonia can also be present in established aquariums from lack of maintenance, overstocking, or when the bio filter has been interrupted by medication. Ammonia can reach lethal levels very rapidly, and should be tested immediately in the case of fish illness or death. Monitor ammonia levels closely when using any medications or treatments. 

The ammonia level in any tank should ideally always be at 0 ppm. Symptoms for acute and chronic ammonia poisoning include: heavy breathing and gasping at surface, clamped fins, discoloration, increased occurrence of disease, death.

Nitrite

Nitrite is produced continually during the ammonia cycle by nitrifying bacteria in the biological filter. While not as immediately toxic as ammonia, any accumulation of nitrite should still be addressed as soon as possible. The nitrite level will eventually be broken down to non-toxic nitrate. Regular testing for nitrite is recommended - chronic exposure to even low levels of nitrite can cause brown blood disease in fish, which can cause suffocation and death.

With the exception of a system establishing a biological filter and progressing through the nitrogen cycle, the nitrite level in any tank should ideally be zero.

Nitrate

Nitrate is considered the non-toxic end product of the ammonia cycle. While not directly a problem for fish at low levels, excess nitrates can cause stress and other water quality issues. Nitrate is continually produced as fish respire and released waste products move through the ammonia cycle, and can accumulate rapidly if not properly maintained. The nitrate level should be monitored regularly and routine maintenance is needed to keep concentrations low for a healthy aquarium. High levels of nitrate can also contribute to undesirable algae growth.


Phosphate
Excess nutrients can lead to poor water quality very quickly. If not controlled, phosphate (PO4) can rapidly build up in aquariums from fish waste and uneaten food, decomposing algae and other organic matter, and aquarium supplements and tap water that contain phosphate. Phosphate is important to the aquarium in many ways, but when it accumulates too rapidly it can contribute to undesirable algae blooms. In saltwater systems, high phosphate can also affect the calcium and magnesium levels, inhibiting proper coral growth. Conversely, too low phosphate can limit nitrifying bacteria’s ability to convert nitrite to nitrate. Phosphate is also necessary for aquatic plants to photosynthesize.


Alkalinity - KH
Carbonate hardness, or alkalinity (KH), is the measure of both carbonates and bicarbonates present in the water. The KH value of your water is important to know, as the carbonate hardness plays a significant role in the water’s pH and the water’s buffering capacity to keep that pH stable. KH naturally falls over time with the introduction of CO2 and other acids, and nitrification. Reverse osmosis water should be buffered with carbonates before use to raise and maintain KH. Some municipal tap water can have variable KH levels throughout the year and should be checked regularly. In saltwater tanks, KH can be tested to monitor the proper ionic balance when dosing.

Soft water fish, like Discus and other South American cichlids - 0 to 4 dKH (0 - 70 ppm)
Tropical community fish, like tetras and betta - 4-8 dKH (70 - 140 ppm)
African rift lake cichlids - 8 to 12 dKH (140 - 215 ppm)
Marine species - 8 to 12 dKH (140 - 215 ppm)


GH
General hardness (GH) is commonly overlooked in many aquariums, but this parameter plays a very important role in your aquariums overall health. GH is the total mineral content of calcium and magnesium in the water. These are important for various biological functions in fish, invertebrates, and even plants. Deficiencies of calcium and magnesium can cause poor growth and faded colors in fish, molting difficulties in shrimp, improper leaf development on plants, or thin, brittle snail shells.

Freshwater systems will typically have a GH of 4-8 dGH (70-140 ppm). Soft water species like Discus prefer very soft water below 4 dGH (140 ppm).