We're Much Betta (:

Monitoring water conditions is always a good idea to ensure we are providing our betta fish with ideal environmental conditions. It is impossible to see or smell toxins in a betta’s water without proper test kits. If we have an uncycled tank, it is especially important to monitor pH, Ammonia, and initially Chlorine levels. It is generally assumed that tap water contains Chlorine, so if necessary we could skip purchasing that kit. For a cycled tank, we will need to track pH, Ammonia, Chlorine, and Nitrite levels initially, but once the tank is cycled pH and Nitrate levels become the most important. For a more thorough testing and knowledge of water conditions, kH and gH should be tested as well. These may not need to be tracked on a regular basis, but it is good to know what your water level is in terms of these factors.

There are two main types of water testing materials that we can buy. Paper-like test strips are available that we simply dip into the water to obtain readings, and there are kits where we must remove water from the tank, add to the provided test tube, and add a few drops of chemicals to obtain results. While test strips are certainly better than not testing your water at all, it is generally accepted that test tube kits provide more accurate water readings.

Note: Make sure to test our water frequently around the change of seasons. Many water treatment facilities use more chemical additives come spring or summer. We may have to slightly alter our usage of water conditioners to accommodate for this.