Did you ever keep an aquarium successfully without having to use water testing kits?

Question

I did and i am. right now, I'm keeping hardy fish (tiger barbs, serpae tetras, and a red tail black shark. and a trimac cichlid in another tank. i just use NovAqua and Nov Amquel as my water conditioners and do regular water changes. and my fish are doing fine without me testing the water for ammonia, nitrates, etc.

Answer 1

I've never used a water testing kit. :)

Answer 2

Never owned or used a water test kit for 10 years now.  I have a mixture of angels and serpae tetras with a pleco and buncha snails cleaning up scum.  Admittedly, I have not changed the tank as much as I should (I usually just top off any evaporation with aged water).  I have two corner filters going and a high-density plant growth of java ferns too.

I do keep some water conditioner/chlorine remover on-hand at all times in case of emergencies though.  Also good to help with the slime coats.

Answer 3

i have had healthy fish for 13 years

axolotl

goldfish

danios

corys

and have never used one

but i am buying one for my new tank

Answer 4

Yep I've had healthy fish for years without testing the water.... they were mostly pretty hardy fish like goldfish and tetras though. As long as you don't overstock the tank, and keep up with regular maintenance, it's not usually necessary.  

If you're keeping more sensitive fish like discus, it's usually good to have test kits though.

Answer 5

i actually kept my goldfish for 6 months without a test kit, then one day the water quality was so bad she got a slight pop-eye.

so now i keep a close eye on her and the ammonia/ph levels. i hope she'll live a long full and happy life.

it's possible to keep fish without test kits, but they're very handy to have.

because without test kits, it's like you're blind to what's going on.

Answer 6

I've heard you can, and thats what I do with my goldfish's tank. But with tropical fish I would think it'd be more of a risk than a goldfish.

Is your shark a rainbow (red tail/fins with black/gray body) shark? Just wondering because of the colors you said.

Answer 7

I had a 20 gallon tank and I never used a test kit. I had tetras to chiclids. I never had a problem with the water, but it's a good idea to check once and while just to make sure that you're on track. Good luck!

Answer 8

it is almost impossible,u need them.