How to Test Aquarium Water Chlorine

An aquarium is a fragile environment. Small changes in the water's quality and composition can cause problems for anything living in the water. For example, excesive chlorine levels can injure or kill your fish and other water life.

Things You'll Need

  • pH test kit or chlorine test kit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Shut the faucet. Don't add untreated water from your faucet to the tank. Chlorine and chloramine in the water can harm your fish.

    • 2

      Stabilize the water in the aquarium before adding your fish. Fill the aquarium with water and use treatment products to balance the water. Once you treat and test the water, add your fish. Whenever you add or change water, treat it again to align chemical levels.

    • 3

      Test the chlorine level in the water with a pH kit or other water testing kits. Testing usually involves dipping a paper tab into the water and comparing the colors revealed against a chart. High chlorine levels or other pH imbalances should be treated.

    • 4

      Treat chlorine and chloramine adequately. Specialized products, such as Insto Chlor, can stabilize these chemicals. Add the liquid form of this treatment into the aquarium, as directed by the manufacturer.

    • 5

      Continually test the aquarium water with a test kit even after treatment, to ensure all the chloramine and chlorine has been removed. No chlorine should be present in the water before you add the fish.