The Puffer Forum

My BW tank is fully cycled. There're no traces of ammonia and nitrite presence for the past two months. PH is around 7.5-8. I use a hanging bio-filter from Eheim. I guess the bacteria have fully developed.

Should I continue to test the water weekly or can I assume that the bacteria will be permanent in the filter and I do not need to worry about ammonia/nitrite anymore? How frequent should I test the water?

What do you have in your tank or are you doing a fishless cycle?
If so, how much ammonia have you been adding?


Kim

Once a tank is established I rarely test for ammonia or nitrite, unless the fish do not "look right" or do not act normal. I do test nitrate and KH at least monthly to be sure that water changes are doing their job.

If the tank is not yet occupied, you do have to add ammonia in some form to maintain the biofilter.