Sailfin Mollies

[stephstar]

I do not know what my GH is?
I will have to go to the pet shop to have them test it.

 

[KarlTh]

Buy a kit. GH dictates what fish you can keep more than any other single factor, and you need to know if it changes seasonally.

 

[stephstar]

ok, thanks!
Off to the pet store for me. By the way is there anything other testing kit I should buy? I live in the boonies, and my pet store is 45 minutes away. I would rather just make one trip.
Thanks so much for your help.

 

[KarlTh]

KH.

 

[robbob2112]

I use the 5 pad dip strips for quick checks, and have a liquid reagent kit with all the tests (gh, kh, ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, iron, and a few others I don't remember) to check that the strips are accurate enough.

If you get a liquid kit read on there for an expire date and make sure it isn't past or close.

Strips aren't always very accurate, but they sure are convient as an indicator if you want to do the liquid version of the test.

 

[stephstar]

ok,
I am a bit overwhelmed here.
So what I have is NO2, NO3, NH3.

I need to get
GH
PH
KH
?

Geez, this is a lot of things to monitor.

 

[KarlTh]

Once the tank's established, you only need test routinely once a month or so, or when you suspect a problem. It's fishkeeping, not chemistry.

 

[stephstar]

. It's fishkeeping, not chemistry.

Thank Gawd!

 

[captaincaveman9]

overall you are better off using the liquid tests than the strips, I've had way to many false readings on the test strips

 

[stephstar]

thanks everyone! A world of help, and if I succeed in keeping sailfin later down the road, I will give full credit to you!