Must you monitor the nitrate/ammonia routinely?

[wllm33]

hi,
anyone can advise for L046, should we monitor the water for both nitrates and ammonia all the time, since we cannot be sure if they even eat the food as they are usually very shy and sometimes the food gets caught in the filter uneaten and not seen?

other than the poo produce, sometimes we cannot see the uneaten food as there are many creaks and crannies in a typical tank for L046, and it can be misleading if we don't see the uneaten food does not mean they were eaten.
thanks for the advice.
cheers.:)

[barmby]

Ammonia is a NO NO. For myself, I will keep little fishes to eat away the leftover. I don't breed fish. Therefore, I have Cory. Sterbai in my pleco tank.

[wllm33]

thanks for ur reply.
just a question. if u keep fishes like cories in the tank, then how will u know that the food is indeed eaten by the zebra plecos and not all taken up by the cories, and therefore the zebras may get skinny and die from not able to eat at all.
i am having this problem now so really cannot know which is better.
thnks

[barmby]

As fish owner - one cannot ensure that the food goes to your favourite fishes and not all taken up by others. Keep a few cories like three to two is fine. I think alot of hobbyists overfeed their hypan zebra. Your problem is uncommon. Anyway, I think u can keep fishes like tetra cos you should be planning to breed them.

You may want to share your tank size, number of fishes and size of these fishes, filtration and water change routine. It may just help in finding an answer to your woes.

[Edmundo]

IMO, definitely a must to monitor, if one is disciplined enuff to do so. A good way of monitoring is disciplined WC regime. That will help to curb any spikes. :)