An aquarium water test kit is essential for maintaining a safe environment for your fish. Test regularly with an aquarium test kit for Ammonia (a waste product excreted through the fish's skin and gills or through buildup of fish waste or decaying food). It is very harmful to fish and will cause stress, lower resistance to disease, damage gills and skin or even result in death. You should test weekly with an aquarium test kit for ammonia build-up.; PH ( the measure of acidity or alkalinity in water); Nitrite (a waste product produced by bacteria in the biological filter as it breaks down ammonia.); Nitrate (A by-product of nitrifying bacteria in the biological filter breaking down ammonia and nitrite.); Hardness (a measure of calcium and magnesium in the water. Most fish and plants prefer a hardness level of 50 to 150 ppm. Hardness below 50 ppm can affect PH and over 150 can result in formation of white mineral deposits on equipment.) and Chlorine (a chemical found in tap water, although not harmful to humans is deadly to your fish. It is essential that you test your water with an aquarium test kit before and after water changes to make sure chlorine levels are safe.)
