Alkalinity

[momodig]

I bought a "5 stests in one strip Quick Dip" and it appears my alkalinity is pretty high? is this an issue? how do I lower it?
Thanks,
Darcy

[Boxermom]

Test strips are very inaccurate. Liquid test kits are recommended, such as Aquarium Pharmaceuticals' Master Test Kit.

Don't mess with the pH of the water, that causes more problems. Fish can adjust to pretty much any pH if they are acclimated properly.

[momodig]

Well I have 2 liquid test kits one for PH and one for amonia, any others I should get?

[puffergeek]

Test your tap water. If it is also high in alkalinity, I wouldn't worry if your fish are doing fine... they are probably used to it and so messing with it would be worse than leaving it alone.

It your tap is not high in alkalinity, I'd just do your 50% weekly water change and watch it closely until it evens out.

AFAIK, in a brackish tank, alkalinity is a good thing... it should not be a problem as long as it is not "out-of-control" high.

I'd also recommend nitrIte and especially nitrAte test kits. That should be fine for a simple brackish tank. If this were a marine tank, the list would get a lot longer

I do use chlorine/chloramine test strips to monitor my tap water since I have not found any other test kits for it.

[Boxermom]

Chlorine and chloramine test kits aren't needed IMO if one is using a good declorinator like Prime.

[momodig]

So it's a 50 percent water change every week, my local pet store said once a month... If so, I haven't did my water changed in about a week and half... Should I wait for the month or do it as soon as possible? I work 12 hour shifts night so I might not beable to do for another 5 days is that gonna be okay?
Thanks

[nmonks]

What do you mean by high? So long as it isn't above 8.0, you shouldn't have a problem with low end brackish fish (like mollies or orange chromides) while high end stuff like monos and scats will take marine levels of pH perfectly well.

Cheers,

Neale

[Hilly]

It would be worth giving them a water change before another 2.5 weeks are up. Ideally you could do with test kits for Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate to give you a better idea on water quality. If 5 days time is the earliest you can do a water change do it then, if you can squeeze it in a bit sooner, do it then.

A big water change of around 50% wouldnt hurt.

[puffergeek]

Chlorine and chloramine test kits aren't needed IMO if one is using a good declorinator like Prime.

Just paranoid... I want to make sure I'm not using to much or too little Prime.

The water company is out to get me and my puffers... I know it!

momodig: I'd do it as soon as you can, but don't sweat to much. I got way behind recovering from surgery and then immediately catching a nasty cold that turned into a sinus infection. October was not fun!

Puffers are messy eaters and weekly changes are recommended.

[Boxermom]

Can't use too much Prime, its safe to use in large amounts. Even 5 times the recommended normal dosage is recommended for emergency use. Matter of fact, I normally use quite a bit more than the recommended because I don't have a dropper that small for my smaller tanks, so I just pour a little in.

[momodig]

What is prime? So I should always do a 50% water change very week, or can it be brought down to 25%?
Thanks for all the Advice
Darcy

[Boxermom]

Prime is a declorinator that detoxifies ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, etc. Its the only chemical type deal I use and I swear by it.

I do water changes of 50% every week on most of my tanks, some get more.