Q. What to test for?

[FishyLovers]

i am a beginer and i want to know, besides amonia, nitrate, ph, kh, and gh,what else do i have to test for? and what trace elements do i need?
oh ya i have a FOWLR tank with 2 clowns, a copperband butterfly, and many snails and am not planning on corals for a while.

 

[aznt1217]

If you are running a FOWLR. The key tests are Ammonia, pH, Nitrate, Nitrite, and phosphates. I wouldn't worry about anything else yet.

 

[crxin]

how are you making out with the copperband, they are very difficult fish to keep. If you are a beginner then I would almost suggest to hold off on trying to keep a copperband.

 

[FishyLovers]

thanks

 

[FishyLovers]

oh and my copperband died today -i feel guilty

 

[KathyC]

RIP Copperband

How long has this tank been up and what size is it please?

 

[LongIslandAndy]

You really shouldn't feel too guilty. He most likely have died in someone's tank. They are diificult to acclimate, tankmates harass them and then when you think you have a good one, you will find it dead in the tank for no apparent reason. IMO it's a real hard fish to keep

 

[SevTT]

i am a beginer and i want to know, besides amonia, nitrate, ph, kh, and gh,what else do i have to test for? and what trace elements do i need?
oh ya i have a FOWLR tank with 2 clowns, a copperband butterfly, and many snails and am not planning on corals for a while.

Seems like you're well-covered there.

I'd advise you to do research on the copperband butterfly and think seriously about the purchase, or purchase a proven eater/survivor from another reefkeeper.

 

[bizarrecorals]

Dont feel too bad about the copperband, pros sometimes can't keep them alive either, do a research or post a thread here before buying ANY livestock, most LFS just push to make a sale.