Testing? How often?

So my tank is now 5 days new and I was just wondering how often I need to be testing my water.

Thanks

Jay

 

It is all personal preference... during cycling I would test often.. I assume by 5 days old you are still waiting for a cycle. I test mine about every other day waiting to see the spike...

Otherwise on my already setup tank.. I tested about every other week or so.

 

I would test for ammonia and nitrite almost daily and nitrate once a week until these have spiked and then dropped to zero values. After that I would just monitor nitrate, phosphate, calcium, magnesium and alkalinity. I monitor these every 2 weeks just before I do a small change so that I can adjust with the water change if necessary.

 

This is my preference as well. Only I tested weekly after the cycle calmed down. Once my tank was about 9 months old and had been extremely stable for about 4 or 5 months, I started testing once every 3 weeks. By this time I was real comfortable with what my tank inhabitants should look like that I felt comfortable doing this.

Which reminds me...